Burton G. Tremaine (1863-1948) Franklin S. Terry (1862-1926)

Enthusiasm and organizational skill are two ingredients of business success. Rarely are they combined in one individual. The story of Franklin S. Terry and Burton G. Tremaine represents another approach: the complementary qualities were embodied in a brilliant team of two men who though and acted as one.

Organization talents were supplied by Terry. Born in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1862, he began his career at 18 with the Electric Supply Company of Ansonia. In 1884 he was sent to Chicago to establish a branch office. In that city, in 1889, he formed the Sunbeam Incandescent Lamp Company. Regarded by his peers as a "keen analytical mind" and "an apostle of the system, efficiency and harmony among men," he became a leader of the lamp industry.

At a turn-of-the century meeting of lamp manufactures, Terry met Burton G. Tremaine, a founder of Fostoria (Ohio) Incandescent Lamp Company. Tremaine, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1863, was an enthusiastic, outgoing salesman who had begun his career in insurance and real estate. His optimism and opportunism had earned him the nickname "Lucky B.G."

Putting together their complementary talents, Terry and Tremaine joined their two companies in 1901 to form the National Electric Lamp Association. Other lamp manufactures were brought into the combination, which set up its headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio. The "National," was in fact (although not in name) a principle lamp manufacturing arm of the General Electric Company, which held 75% of its stock.

As co-managers of the firm, the two men acted together on virtually every important matter. Nearly every letter or memo emerging from their office was signed "terry and Tremaine;"nearly every business decision was made by them jointly.

The two were concerned with the welfare and development of their employees, as well as with profits. They created Nela Park, now the headquarters of GE Lamp Division, an attractive campus-like setting for business operations. Their interest in encouraging new talent led to their setting aside annually a Company-paid week-long outing for the younger staff members - "a week of jollity, sports, interspersed with comparing of notes." From this custom grew GE's later tradition of camps at Associated Island.

For their services to General Electric, the two men were named Vice-Presidents in 1922-23. Terry died three years later; Tremaine remained active in civic affairs in the city of Cleveland until his death in 1948.

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