Gold Medal Products Co. App

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In 1919, Augustus Ellis founded the Kings Ink Company. In 1931, it went on the block. Jobless by Christmas, David C. Evans borrowed $2,000 on his home, bought Kings Ink, and broadened its ink only line to include paste, glue, and other small items. Soft drink concentrates, cake flavors and coloring, eyeglass cleaner, window washing compound and other products were soon added. The food line was sold under a new label "Gold Medal Products."

In 1933, Dave Evans hired his first employee, and volume increased. Soon after, drink concentrates were sold in larger bottles to the carnival and amusement park industry for beverages and Sno-Kones®.

Following the concentrates, the company began distributing Sno-Kone® cups, ice shaving machines, and crockery syrup dispensers. Popcorn supplies followed, and by the late 30s the Kings Ink Company was all but history. By 1941, Gold Medal was making Caramel Corn patties for local groceries, confectionaries, and other retailers.

WWII gave rise to an active trade in used popcorn and ice ball equipment. Candy-coated patties were discontinued and the rationed sugar allotment was diverted into a new product line up, cola syrups.

By the late 1940s, Gold Medal was a major ice shaver machine and popcorn machine producer. Gold Medal introduced its first small popcorn popper the next year. The first factory-made Cotton Candy cone & Cotton Candy machine was made that same year.

In 1951, Gold Medal perfected a machine that could automatically roll a 4"x12" piece of paper into a tapered cotton candy cone, eliminating the slow hand rolling process. Anyone who wanted to be in the cotton candy business had to come to Cincinnati.

In 1949, the 6-ounce Pop-A-Lot® kettle put Gold Medal on the popcorn makers' map. In the 50s, Gold Medal saw an opening and introduced the 12-ounce Whiz Bang Popper, followed by the Continental Mark 8 and 14-ounce Citation. More manufacturing space was needed. Two years later, Gold Medal moved into a 92,000 sq.ft. building in the West End.