Black Bear Company

During the late 19th century, Frederick Sondheimer, forseeing the need for specal lubricants for the industrial growth taking place around Long Island City, established the BLACK BEAR COMPANY, INC. in early 1888. In 1937, during the depth of the depression, when BLACK BEAR COMPANY was acquired by Rowell A Schleicher, the Company turned its attention to recession-proof needs of state and government agencies. During World War II, BLACK BEAR COMPANY concentrated its progressive technology on military challenges -- solving problems for Army searchlights, Air Force bomb bay doors and creating highly effective corrosion preventatives for military aircraft -- applications which still find new applications to this day. After World War II BLACK BEAR shifted its technology to the construction industry which was booming due to returning servicemen's housing demands. New lubricants were created such as track roller grease, non-leaking gear lubricants, non-dripping heat resistant grease and pioneering firsts in multi-purpose gear oils and multi-purpose greases. Not neglecting its industrial customers, special micro-switch greases and metal forming lubricants were also formulated to meet customers needs.