The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame

Born in 1895, Ettore Steccone came to this country from Italy in 1922, small of stature but possessed of that unique combination of stubbornness, ambition and ingenuity that has meant success for so many immigrants to this country. He tried his hand at this and that, returned to Italy for a brief while, and came back to Oakland with bride Emma in the early 1930s. They worked together in the janitorial business, with Ettore washing exterior windows and Emma cleaning homes and offices.

But Ettore, who became a familiar site on Oakland's streets astride his Indian motorcycle with a ladder and bucket, wasn't satisfied with the heavy, cumbersome Chicago squeegee most window washers used. So, like many a dreamer in this area, he tinkered away in his garage. He would clean by day and perfect his squeegee by night. His innovations revolutionized the squeegee business. He came up with a streamlined squeegee, with a single rubber blade held in place by a pair of clips rather than a number of screws. Window washers dangling many stories up could easily change the rubber as it needed replacing, sometimes several times a day.

Just how Steccone got people to try his new squeegee is the stuff of company legend. In 1938, Steccone paid a visit to the largest supplier of window-cleaning tools in the United States, in New York. The owner refused to buy Steccone's squeegee, so Steccone challenged him. He bet George Racenstein the finest hat in New York that Racenstein would place an order for the squeegees within the month.

The camel-colored Borsalino hat resides in a glass case in the Ettore boardroom. The wily Steccone had given away his tool to window washers, telling them to ask for it at the J. Racenstein Co.

Ettore Productus Company

COMMENTS:

Mr. Nelson;

Thank you very much for the honor you have bestowed on ETTORE.
Ettore Steccone was my father and I know that if he were still with us, he would be proud to be a receipient of your award.

Again, thank you very much for your consideration.

Regards,
Diane



	The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame 2008 Inaugural Class Inductees Ettore Steccone Born in 1895, Ettore Steccone came to this country from Italy in 1922, small of stature but possessed of that unique combination of stubbornness, ambition and ingenuity that has meant success for so many immigrants to this country. He tried his hand at this and that, returned to Italy for a brief while, and came back to Oakland with bride Emma in the early 1930s. They worked together in the janitorial business, with Ettore washing exterior windows and Emma cleaning homes and offices. But Ettore, who became a familiar site on Oakland's streets astride his Indian motorcycle with a ladder and bucket, wasn't satisfied with the heavy, cumbersome Chicago squeegee most window washers used. So, like many a dreamer in this area, he tinkered away in his garage. He would clean by day and perfect his squeegee by night. His innovations revolutionized the squeegee business. He came up with a streamlined squeegee, with a single rubber blade held in place by a pair of clips rather than a number of screws. Window washers dangling many stories up could easily change the rubber as it needed replacing, sometimes several times a day. Just how Steccone got people to try his new squeegee is the stuff of company legend. In 1938, Steccone paid a visit to the largest supplier of window-cleaning tools in the United States, in New York. The owner refused to buy Steccone's squeegee, so Steccone challenged him. He bet George Racenstein the finest hat in New York that Racenstein would place an order for the squeegees within the month. The camel-colored Borsalino hat resides in a glass case in the Ettore boardroom. The wily Steccone had given away his tool to window washers, telling them to ask for it at the J. Racenstein Co. Ettore Productus Company COMMENTS: Mr. Nelson; Thank you very much for the honor you have bestowed on ETTORE. Ettore Steccone was my father and I know that if he were still with us, he would be proud to be a receipient of your award. Again, thank you very much for your consideration. Regards, Diane For more information, email: Copyright © 2009 The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame All Rights Reserved Cloud Mesa Web Design