The next year Acme moved its head-
quarters to Fort Worth.
As with any company boasting
over a century of operation, Acme
has seen its share of ups and downs.
During the Great Depression brick
sales plummeted from 165 million in
1928 (a record high that lasted some
20 years) to 98 million in 1930. In
1932, annual sales dropped to just
24 million brick, and in 1934 Acme
recorded its first annual loss. By 1940
sales had rebounded to 85 million
brick. During the post-war (WWII)
era beginning in 1945, sales tripled
from $3 million to $9 million.
According to the official history:
“From 1968 to the mid-1970s, the
company began branching out and
purchasing additional subsidiary
companies including Justin Boot
Company and Featherlite. When the
housing market hit an all-time low
in 1981, the company continued
operations, stockpiling inventory. The
400 million bricks created during the
housing slump led to record sales
Continued on page 80
66
Old photograph of the management and
workers at the Bennett Plant