- 1930
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1930
Paul S. Jones and Howard C. Vining combined finances and talents to form Jones & Vining Incorporated to manufacture shoe Lasts. The setting was Brockton, MA, a town struggling out of the Depression. Brockton became the traditional home of the US shoe industry. The factory produced wooden shoe lasts and soon wooden shoe trees were added to the sales line. A last is the foot-shaped form over which a shoe is made and is the single most important and scientific element in shoemaking. The last determines the shape, look or fashion of the shoe; it determines the fit and size of the shoe; as well as influencing the shoe’s tread, heel height, toe shape, comfort and overall balance and proportion of the shoe.
- 1945
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1945
Joseph Corcoran joined Jones & Vining as head of Sales and Marketing.
- 1959
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1959
Howard Vining died and was succeeded by Joseph Corcoran.
- 1962
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1962
Paul Jones died, leaving Jones & Vining stock in trust. His death marked the end of an era in Jones & Vining history.
- 1965
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1965
The first lathe was developed and introduced by Jones & Vining to produce lasts two pairs at a time.
- 1967
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1967
Jones & Vining merged with United Last Company of Canada, a company formed and owned by Arnold, Bob and Bud Iredale and specialized in “women’s fashion lasts”. United Last Company was the largest manufacturer of women’s shoe lasts in Canada with factories in Quebec and Ontario. This merger allowed Jones & Vining to have the first significant entry into the women’s last business.
- 1968
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1968
Jones & Vining Incorporated – became a public company. Jones & Vining acquired Leader Last of Salem, MA – a manufacturer of lasts for women’s shoes.
- 1970s
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1970s
The shoe industry was thrown into upheaval as imported footwear flooded the US market. Shoe manufacturing went into a decline. Those that survived the competition turned to a new synthetic to replace the old wooden lasts. Plastic lasts replaced wood lasts.
- 1970
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1970
Jones & Vining introduced a major innovation to the footwear industry – the Unit Sole. This innovation first began in a garage in Conway, NH. JV’s experience in the manufacture of lasts gave JV broad exposure to fashion and manufacturing requirements of the shoe industry. From this base of knowledge, there was a potential for the unit sole, a one-piece heel and sole unit, molded of manmade materials cemented directly to the bottom of a shoe upper. Although JV was not the first to manufacture the unit sole JV was the leader in developing a volume market for unit soles in the USA. The unit sole simplified shoe construction and offered the shoe industry substantial manufacturing advantages. The unit sole has proven itself to not be a substitute for other soling materials, but a superior product offering greater style and durability at a competitive price.
- 1970
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1970
Consolidated Auburn Last Co and Corey Last remodeling company and now began to operate in Lewiston, ME factory under a single entity, Jones & Vining of Maine, Inc. Specializing in shoe last remodeling, manufacture of shoe trees and a base for providing style service for Northern New England.
- 1971
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1971
Jones & Vining built the Conway, NH unit sole factory, which was eventually consolidated into a new modern plant in Maine. The unit sole has significantly changed shoe manufacturing because of its simplicity, flexibility, and economy. Unit Soles (TPR, PVC and PU) were made and available in both the Canadian unit sole factory know as JV Components as well as the Conway, NH and Maine operation. In addition to unit sole manufacturing in Conway, NH, JV opened a unit sole factory in Iberville, Quebec to service the Canadian customers, subsidiary of United Last company.
- 1971
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1971
JV’s concept of marketing by bringing advanced trend setting styles to our customers both in shoe lasts &in the fast growing unit sole division, has been so well received that JV opened a Design center in Montreal, Place Bonaventure.
- 1972
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1972
Jones & Vining acquired Western Last Company in St. Louis, MO – one of the leading manufacturers of Women’s lasts. Subsequently referred to as JV Western Inc.
- 1972
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1972
Injection molded unit soles are now produced in JV Maine as well as Conway, NH, and Brockton and Leominster, MA.
- 1973
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1973
JV Research and Development Company was formed with a concentration on the development of new materials to be used in the manufacture of unit soles and the development of new products within the shoe component field.
- 1974
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1974
Jones & Vining introduced the manufacturing of Polyurethane based unit soles to the North American market.
- 1975
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1975
Joe Corcoran was elected Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Office.
- 1975
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1975
Jones & Vining purchased certain assets of the Dunbar Pattern Company. This subsidiary, JV Pattern & Design, Inc, specialized in the styling, design and production of shoe upper patterns.
- 1976
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1976
Mr. Sven A. Vaule Jr. elected president and COO.
- 1977
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1977
J-Von, a new material compounding operation, is formed. J-Von was established to supply the shoe industry with specialty compounds and at the same time explore opportunities to diversify business (footwear and non-footwear companies).
- 1979
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1979
JV Maine’s unit sole operation moved into its new manufacturing facility located in Lewiston, where it specialized in the manufacture of unit soles and related unit sole molds. Two Jones & Vining Missouri last factories were consolidated into one factory location.
- 1979
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1979
Production last manufacturing in Missouri, which was previously conducted in two factories is consolidated into one.
- 1984
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1984
Jones & Vining introduced “Compu-Last®” — a computer controlled last production system including digitizer, controlled lathe and operating software. Compu-Last® numerically defines the last, precisely grades and reproduces production lasts for consistent and accurate fit. Compu-Last® also communicates directly with overseas production facilities.
- 1984
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1984
Mr. Corcoran died this year and Sven Vaule became his successor
- 1990s
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1990s
With the increased popularity of “comfort” products, plus the shift in manufacturing to Asia, Jones & Vining launched a partnership with the makers of “Poliyou® cushioned insoles”, based in Taiwan.
- 1991
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1991
Michel Ohayon became the new president of Jones & Vining
- 1992
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1992
Jones & Vining opened it’s first Asian manufacturing facility in Thailand to produce lasts using our Compu-Last® systems.
- 1997
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1997
Jones & Vining voted Supplier of the Year.
- 1999
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1999
Jones & Vining purchased Vulcan Corp. — Walnut Ridge, AK (where we currently manufacture our domestic production lasts)
- 2000
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2000
Jones & Vining purchased Sterling Last Company — we are now the “last” remaining Last manufacturer in the USA.
- 2000
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2000
Jones & Vining purchased Mobbs Miller Ltd of Kettering England.
- 2001
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2001
Jones & Vining introduced Emax and proprietary EVA based outsole material with excelent abrasion resistance, deep groove molding capabilities in single or dual density and various hardness and price points.
- 2003
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2003
Jones & Vining opens China PU factory for the manufacturing of quality outsoles and insoles.
- 2004
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2004
Jones & Vining introduced Bi-Fit™ multi density insole board material, made of 80% post consumer plastic
- 2005
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2005
Jones & Vining opens Last factory in China on this our 75th anniversary and redesigns logo and introduces new tagline “step into the future”.
- 2007
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2007
Jones & Vining opens new ZhongShan China PU and Injection molding factory for the manufacture of quality molded outsoles and insoles.
