About Us
Johnson Bros.
beginning occurred when Edwin
Johnson, Sr. decided to go into
business himself. In 1947, he
started constructing the company's
first roll forming machine (now
in storage) in his basement.
He had offered his five brothers
and equal share of the business
if they matched is life savings,
$700 investment. One brother,
Harold Johnson, did; hence the
name Johnson Bros.
 5500 Outside When the first machine was
finished and tested it had to
be disassembled, carried from
his basement and reassembled
in Edwin's garage. After a few
months the neighbors complained
about the noise as production
of small orders began and Edwin
was forced to find new quarters.
He found an uninsulated, dirt-floor
garage that had formerly been
a stable at Cicero Ave. and
Chicago Blvd. in Chicago. The
brothers, Edwin Sr. and Harold,
insulated the garage/plant,
built a small office and heated
the building with a small stove
in the cold months.
In 1950, Edwin Sr.'s son, Edwin
Jr., who had been working parttime
for the brothers since 1947
while going to college, and
another brother of Edwin Sr.
and Harold, not active in the
 5500 Inside In 1951, they rented a storefront
on the garage property, built
two more roll form machines
and grew the business. Besides
conducting all sales, Edwin
Sr. designed all the dies (rolls
and cutoff) and the equipment
(roll formers and flying cutoffs)
in his attic from 10 pm. (at
 Low-stress day for our shipping foreman Two more brothers, Rudolf and
Arnold, and a neighbor were
hired and the growing business
was moved to Bellwood, IL, in
1954 to a building formerly
occupied by an old millwright.
It was located behind Borg-Warner,
  4th generation works - Ed Johnson Sr.'s great grandchildren  Rich Sandeen's retirement In 1963, Edwin Jr. designed
(in the rough) a new plant (modular
for expansion), which the architect
of course finished. The building
was completed and the company
moved into its new plant in
Berkeley, IL, in 1964. A 10,000
sq. ft. addition was completed
in 1969, additional offices
were built in 1978 and the business
purchased its neighbor to the
west's plant in 1998. Harold
had retired in 1965 and Edwin
Jr. became vice president/treasurer.
 World's smallest roll forming and slitter line In 1978, Brad Johnson, Edwin
Jr.'s son, had joined the business
working in the plant and learning
the mechanical aspects very
well. Their purchasing agent's
open heart surgery moved Brad
into purchasing. From there
he moved into sales and in 1985,
Brad became vice president/sales
manager. Today Brad is vice
president/general manager. For
seven years, Johnson Bros. was
a three-generation company.
 World's smallest flying cutoff press & runout table The nature of Johnson Bros.
roll forming has seen an evolution
from a lockseam and openseam
tubing emphasis, which accelerated
their growth, to a diversity
of shapes for many industrial
uses and now to sophisticated
computer controlled in-line
fabrication. Their forming of
 Personnel Edwin Johnson,
Sr.
The death of Edwin Johnson,
Sr. on September 26, 1988, marked
the passing away of an American
Pioneer in the traditional sense.
Johnson was President and Chairman
of the Board at Johnson Bros.
Metal Forming Co. Born in Canada
in 1903, growing up on the farm,
 Edwin Johnson, Sr.  Marian & Ed Johnson, Jr. (President & CEO), Rich Sandeen, Brad Johnson (Vice President & General Manager) The Great Depression forced
him back to his dad's farm on
northern Minnesota where he
cut his own trees and built
a log cabin. One cow, hunting,
fishing, gardening and odd jobs
provided for his young family.
In 1934, he returned to Chicago
to work for Kroh-Wagner in custom
roll forming and in the mid-1940s
for Maplewood Machinery in roll
form machine building. In 1947,
he began building his first
roll forming machine in his
basement and in 1948 he founded
Johnson Bros. Co. (later to
be Johnson Bros. Metal Forming
Co.) As President he was actively
engaged as chief engineer/tool  Ed Johnson, Jr. (President & CEO) and MaryAnn's retirement Johnson Bros. Metal Forming
Co.'s service and expertise
continues. The addition of expert
technical personnel during Mr.
Johnson's final years, together
with the ongoing management
team allows Johnson Bros. to
continue with the same competent
and conscientious service they
have sought to provide since
their founding, but they sorely
miss their pioneer, Edwin Johnson,
Sr.
 Original founding Johnson Bros. preparing headlight lens ring circa 1948
Johnson Bros. First Building on Cicero Avenue.
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Edwin Johnson, Sr., and Brother Arnie preparing Roll Forming machine for sale at Cicero Avenue.
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Harold Johnson performing Tool & Die work at Cicero Avenue.
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Ed Johnson, Sr., and Harold Johnson preparing machine for sale at Cicero Avenue.
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2nd Building in Bellwood, IL, owned by Johnson Bros. Sign painted by Ed Johnson, Jr. Arnie Johnson and his Olds.
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Arnie Johnson on the fork lift at Cicero Avenue.
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Flying Cutoff Press Model. Designed, built, and sold by Johnson Bros. 1957 Cicero Avenue.
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Early Model Roll Former built at Cicero Avenue location.
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Rudy Johnson and Ed, Sr., at Cicero Avenue with Ring Profiles Rolled & Bent.
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Rudy Johnson and Ed, Sr., at Cicero Avenue with Ring Profiles Rolled & Bent.
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Ingwald Speed Johnson welding at Bellwood facility.
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