In 1951, the company came to Trenton where it has remained. Arthur W. Bidwell Jr. took over control of the company when his father suddenly passed away, and at age 84, he remains active with the company.
“The product we made at that time was used in virtually every water heater in the world,” said Bidwell Jr.’s son Martin Bidwell, who has been Magnode president since 1997. “All the major water heater companies in the U.S. at that time were located within a 200-mile radius around Trenton, so it just made sense.”
Magnode has grown more diverse over the years, however, while maintaining family control. It now makes aluminum extrusions for the automobile industry, as well as guard rails and bridge railings.
“If you were to start a family business, the chances of staying that way for 65 years are rare,” said Bidwell, a third generation COO of Magnode.
“We’ve had offers, but my dad absolutely loved Magnode, Bidwell said. This is our company and our community and that is always the goal.
“It’s a conversation back and forth,” he continued. “I can sit up here and work myself to death, but if those guys out there (pointing toward the plant) aren’t doing it, we can’t survive. It will not work if we all are not constantly working in the same direction.”
Bidwell’s brother, Joseph, and his sisters, Kathleen Gramke and Marrianne Walter, are also involved in running the company. Walter runs the fabrication facility in Indianapolis along with her husband.
“My dad always said this is a great business and we have the opportunity for all of us to have a great life if we do this right and we have,” Bidwell said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or Skip.Weaver@coxinc.com.
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