Company History

Central States Manufacturing & Sales Corporation dba:

5539 S. Archer Rd.  Summit, IL  60501

708-458-5850  708-458-5884 fax  877-305-4267 toll free

In the early 1900's, Philip Gollner, a plumbing contractor was married to Lillie Gollner. Together, in the early 1920's, they started a plumbing supply business at 1838 W. 33rd St. in Chicago Illinois. The company was named Philip Golner Company. The business flourished and operated 13 large model T trucks daily. In 1927 a great fire caused the building to burn down and the business to suffer. After a dispute with the insurance companies, Lillie and Philip began to rebuild their business. The rebuilding effort was hampered because the depression hit, and construction in the area came to a complete stop. 

Unfortunately, another small fire occurred in 1931 which made things more difficult, but Philip and Lillie prevailed. Five years later, in 1936 Philip and Lillie divided the contracting section and the plumbing supply section of the business. The plumbing supply business then became known as Central States Manufacturing and Sales Company and was entirely owned by Lillie Gollner. In 1937 Lillie was the sole share holder and president, a very impressive position for a women at that time in history. There after, a lead press was purchased to make lead pipe. The company also made cement laundry tubs from molds in the 1930's.

At the age of 18, Ralph Sattem, a nephew of Lillie's, came to work for the company in 1938. The war years then followed and, with the laundry tub part of the business, the company was able to stay afloat. Cement that was used to make the laundry tubs was not considered critical material for the war effort. Interestingly in January of 1946, the company received a major Navy contract for the making of 4000 laundry tubs which the company shipped to Guam. In February of 1946 another severe fire occurred, caused by a tenant who lived in the upstairs of the building. Difficult times were at hand because there were time constraints to complete the laundry tub contract. The pressure was on, but Lillie and Philip prevailed again.

Philip Gollner, Lillie's husband, died in August of 1946. In 1950 Lillie transferred shares of stock to Ralph Sattem and his wife Ruth. Eventually Ralph and Ruth Sattem became the controlling share holders of the company. In 1956 the company purchased Argo Summit Supply Company and rented the building at 7420 Archer Ave. in Summit, Illinois. Central States Manufacturing & Sales Corporation then started doing business under the name of Argo Summit Supply Company.

In 1962 the company purchased a building, the current location, at 5539 S. Archer Rd. Summit, Illinois. The Business moved from 7420 Archer Ave. in Summit to its new location. Larry and Nadine Schweitzer, son-in-law and daughter, came to work for the corporation in 1968 and 1972 respectively. Ruth and Ralph retired in 1984. The Schweitzers took over and bought the business. Larry retired in July of 2006.  Central States Manufacturing and Sales Corporation DBA: Argo Summit Supply Company has been certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) in the City of Chicago, Cook County, the State of Illinois, the State of Tennessee and the State of North Carolina to sell plumbing and heating supplies as a minority warehouse. Laura Tobolaski, Nadine's daughter, joined the company in 1999 to assist her family.  Lillian Gollner couldn’t have foreseen that her plumbing company would be passed down though the women in her family to its current fourth generation.  As of  January 1, 2008, Laura Tobolaski, her great, great, great grandniece  became the  President of Argo Summit Supply Company, succeeded her mother, Nadine Schweitzer, who had been president for many years. Nadine will transition to the role of Vice President until May of 2010. In this position she will continue to mentor and assist her daughter and continue to help grow the business.   Laura and Nadine are one of the few mother daughter teams in the plumbing industry. 

Quality Products sold by dedicated and knowledgeable people, committed to serving the professional trade.