We always love to discover companies that have been in business for decades, and here is another one: Houck Industries, maker of Go-E-Z undermount drawer slides. Thanks to reader Gerry for the discovery. He wrote me:
Pam, I am trying to rehab my 1968 kitchen cabinets and drawers.
The jury is out on whether I can restore the finish or if I will need to repaint. But I did discover that the old undermount drawer slides are still being made by Houck Industries, so if you have old slides with broken wheels these could be a good option. The slides are called Go-E-Z, which is the name on the existing slides in my kitchen. I found several sellers online with a quick search. A universal kit is available that you cut down with a hacksaw to the size you want as well as kits for 19, 22, and 24 inch long drawers. Houck has been making these slides since 1948 per their website so this could be a good option if you want to keep your kitchen but update the slides. I bought a set to try.
About Houck Industries, from their website:
Houck Industries was the innovator of the four-point suspension system designed for the kitchen cabinet industry. Over fifty years ago the company founder, Mel Houck, invented and started manufacturing and selling the GO-EZ drawer guide system in Tulare, California. The slides were originally sold by “Mel Houck Products”. In 1959, Mel Houck incorporated “Houck Industries” in Tulare County, California.
… All of Houck’s 100, 150, 200, 500, 950 and 1209 series drawer slides and storage systems are proudly Made in USA.
I also nosed around the www to see if I could find out anything more about this company, and I found this obituary of Elsie Mae Houck, who with her husband ran the company.
Thank you, Gerry, for this tip!
To learn more about — or buy – Go-E-Z drawer slides:
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- Info about all of Houck’s drawer slides here.
- 500 Series drawer slides (the original designs, per their website) for sale from Houck on ebay (affiliate link)
Cher says
Hi, I have an interest in a mid century modern front door and just found that Crestview doors is no longer available. Do you know of another source for doors? Thank you!
Pam Kueber says
Use the categories, your answer is the leading story in Exteriors: https://retrorenovation.com/category/exterior-design/
Heart says
Love supporting small businesses that are still around. Thanks for the link 🙂
Erik says
Funny I seen this I just installed these on my kitchen cabinets/drawers I’m fixing up. The old black nylon “ez-rollers” wore out and ard no longer made. I found these drawer slides featured in this article at rockler.
Its a easy DIY project with a little modification to your drawers this took me about 20 min, a tool to notch the wood, a screwdriver and tape measure. You can see the old worn out black rollers I left there.
[links did not work, pam took them out]
Erik says
http://i.imgur.com/j6FsVD1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/naPfNal.jpg
Links to pictures! Hopefully refinishing these original 1956 stick built cabinets soon.
Dave says
I am using them right now as well on our Kitchen spruce-up. My cabinets are the original stick built cabinets as well. Now they roll like it is 1956!