10 Oldest Metal Architectural Mouldings That Can Still Be Made Today

In 1904, Charles Dahlstrom invented and introduced the world’s first fireproof steel door. It didn't take long for word of his new company to spread, and for his architectural mouldings to become popular too.

The history of Dahlstrom mouldings is extensive, and so is our catalog of metal mouldings. For your amusement, we dug through the archives to find the oldest profiles designed for what was originally called the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company.

The earliest date on these drawings is 1911; many were included in some of our oldest recorded projects. All of these mouldings still exist for manufacture today, and are available for custom ordering.

Care to take a fascinating peek into architectural design history?

10 Oldest Metal Architectural Mouldings

1. Moulding #130

• Originally drawn on Sept. 23, 1911.
• First recorded job was March 27, 1951.
• The original client was Diebold Inc.
• This profile was quite popular over the next decade -- many of the orders then were made for the old Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Co., which requested both steel and bronze versions.

2. Moulding #152

• Originally drawn on Sept. 23, 1911
• First recorded job was Nov. 30, 1953
• The client was Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Co. (early adopters eh?)
• Many orders ensued in the decade to come, mostly in steel.
  
  

3. Moulding #296

• Originally drawn on Sept. 27, 1911
• First recorded job was on Aug. 20, 1949
• The client was Engineering Metal Products Co.
  
  

4. Moulding #263

• Originally drawn on Sept. 27, 1911
• First recorded job was Oct. 6, 1950
• The original client was George R. Habgood Co.
  - a Philadelphia-area architectural contractor.
  
  

5. Moulding #166

• Originally drawn on Jan. 25, 1912
• First recorded job was Aug. 9, 1950
• The original client was Otis Elevator Co.
  - To this day, they still produce elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and more.
  
  

6. Moulding #115

• Originally drawn on June 3, 1912; revised on Sept. 23, 1925
• First recorded job was May 12, 1948
• Client was Virginia Metal Products Corp.
  - an architectural products manufacturer located in Orange, Va.
  
  

7. Moulding #200

• Originally drawn on Nov. 22, 1912
• First recorded job was Jan. 2, 1948
• The client was A.H. Marty Co.
  - a Cleveland-based metal fabricator who has been in business since 1910.
  
  

8. Moulding #305-A

• Originally drawn on Dec. 10, 1912
• First recorded job was June 8, 1948
• The client was Interior Steel Equipment Co.
• This profile was also ordered twice in 1959 by American Metal Works
   - which continues to do business today.
  
  

9. Moulding #38

• Originally drawn on June 6, 1913
• First recorded job was March 28, 1949
• The client was Pioneer Fireproof Door Corp.
  (Once other companies took over the steel door industry, we supplied the metal trim for them.)
  
  

10. Moulding #299

• Originally drawn on Oct. 14, 1914
• First recorded job was Dec. 1, 1948
• The client was Harner Elevator Manufacturing Co.
  
  

Where a Rich Past & Emerging Trends Intersect

We can still make these 10 metal moulding profiles today, plus a whole lot more. Curious about what’s popular among our selection of 1,400+ moulding profiles? Click here for the Top 10 List.

If you’d like to see a decorative metal moulding in person, click the graphic below for a free sample.