September 22, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Lexington Tent & Awning Co, Inc. announces the compilation of its archival corporate history, documenting the operational shifts, manufacturing contributions, and structural expansions of the organization since its inception. Established initially as the Robinson Shade Company by Overton T. Robinson, the firm operated within the regional manufacturing sector before expanding its footprint among awning businesses in Lexington, KY. The historical record traces the organization’s development from early twentieth-century shade production through wartime government contracting, post-war residential expansion, and late-twentieth-century retail operations.
The earliest records of the enterprise highlight the introduction of aluminum Venetian blinds to the local and national markets. Prior to this development, wooden window treatments served as the primary option across the southern region. The introduction of aluminum alternatives marked an early shift in standard materials for commercial and residential window coverings. During the period leading into World War II, the facility altered its production lines to support federal manufacturing requirements. The Lexington plant produced military tents and naval artillery covers under contract with the United States government.
To meet wartime output quotas, the facility acquired specialized heavy equipment, including a double-needle industrial sewing machine designated in company logs as “Big John.” The machine was initially leased through federal procurement channels to fulfill military specifications for heavy canvas fabrication. Following the conclusion of the war, the organization purchased the equipment outright from the federal government. The unit remained operational in standard production for several decades before being retired from daily service. It remains preserved at the company facility as an artifact of mid-century industrial output.
Following the war, returning service personnel and post-war construction activity drove increased demand for structural and fabric products across central Kentucky. The enterprise reorganized under the corporate name Lex-Tent Corporation to accommodate a broader scope of commercial and residential offerings. During this era, product manufacturing shifted toward canvas and vinyl fabric window shades. These products were regularly supplied to educational institutions, municipal facilities, and corporate offices across the region, remaining standard equipment in public facilities through the late 1970s.
On November 30, 1964, the business officially incorporated under the name Lexington Tent & Awning Co. Shortly thereafter, management established a distinct operating unit known as Durawear Products Co. This division broadened the scope of company operations beyond basic shade and canvas manufacturing. The expanded catalog included patio and den furniture, storm windows, storm doors, patio doors, carports, garage doors, aluminum screens, and shutters. Additional commercial products included bathroom accessories, shower doors, shower curtains, shower rods, medicine cabinets, bulletin boards, chalkboards, tackboards, lockers, storage shelving, folding partitions, flagpoles, and standard telephone booths.
This structural diversification positioned the enterprise to serve both general commercial contractors and individual property owners during a period of urban development. Among awning businesses in Lexington, KY, the company maintained dedicated facilities to handle the storage, assembly, and distribution of diverse architectural and building supplies.
During the early 1980s, corporate management initiated an operational move to expand commercial reach. The Durawear Products Co. division transitioned its primary operations from its original location at 419 South Broadway in Lexington, Kentucky, to a larger retail site at the Lexington Mall off Richmond Road. This expansion marked a direct entry into full-service interior flooring distribution.
The Lexington Mall facility housed a dedicated carpet sales division along with a permanent staff of professional carpet installers. Historical sales receipts from this operational period indicate annual distribution volumes reaching up to one million yards of carpet for residential homes and commercial office spaces across the region. The move reflected broader trends in mid-century and late-century business operations, wherein manufacturing entities expanded directly into retail and installation services to meet growing regional infrastructure needs.
The formal consolidation of these historic records provides a documented account of how local manufacturing entities adapted to changing material standards, wartime supply requirements, and mid-century suburban expansion. The archived records, equipment, and historical corporate filings remain maintained at the primary operational facility in Lexington, Kentucky. Further historical documentation and details regarding past corporate records are available through corporate administrative channels upon request.
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For more information about Lexington Tent & Awning Co, Inc, contact the company here:
Lexington Tent & Awning Co, Inc
Lexington Tent & Awning Co, Inc
(859) 208-4044
LexingtonTentAndAwningCoInc@gmail.com
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