History, Part II
In the mid- thirties, Japan began importing scrap iron, providing the first real market for this commodity in several years. Our government, finally realizing that Japan was preparing for war, placed an embargo on the exportation of scrap iron.
During WWII, the federal government controlled the price and distribution of scrap. After the war and during the next several years, many management changes would take place within the A. Tenenbaum organization. In 1947, Abraham Tenebaum retired and Julius Tenenbaum became president. In 1962, William Bushman joined the firm as vice president. In 1964, at the death of Julius Tenenbaum, Joe Tenenbaum became president. In 1970, Harold Tenenbaum, son of Joe Tenenbaum, joined the firm.
In 1974, company management decided to build an aluminum smelter in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The new company was named Arkansas Aluminum Alloys, Inc. and was located in the Garland County Industrial Park. It became operational in 1976. It contains sophisticated equipment that can quickly identify exact amounts of zinc, copper, iron, etc, present in a given piece of metal.
Operating twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, Arkansas Aluminum Alloys, Inc. provides its customers with over twenty-five different types of aluminum alloys manufactured to their specific requirements, and is now one of the leading processors of high quality aluminum alloy for the die casting industry in the United States.
In 1976, the A. Tenenbaum Company moved to its present location at 4500 West Bethany Road in North Little Rock.
In 1978 Joe Tenenbaum moved to chairman of the board and William Bushman became president. Mr. Bushman was instrumental in promoting the growth of A. Tenenbaum Company until his untimely death in 1986. At Mr. Bushman’s death, Harold Tenenbaum was elevated to the position of president.
