Photo Gallery: Andersen Windows hosts own 'Antiques Roadshow'

Tim Langness, a current Andersen Windows employee, won two tickets to the Antiques Roadshow for  his 1940s metal sign advertising the white pine frames.

His employer hosted a version of its own Antiques Roadshow on  Thursday, June 30 encouraging employees to bring in company memorabilia from the 108 years of operation. The entries included: a  1922 product catalog, a 1923 payroll ledger, a pulley from 1925, an employee handbook from 1941, a master casement from the 1940s, a rain bonnet from the 1960s, a tape measure from the 1970s and employee identification books from throughout the company’s existence.

“The spirit of doing this today is to acknowlwdege the pride people have in the history of this company,” said Susan Roeder, corporate affairs manager. “History here really comes out of the woodwork and it’s fun.”

Langness’ sign was dubbed the most unique entry and he may bring it to the Antiques RoadShow for appraisal if he so chooses.

Many of the employees are third- or fourth-generation Andersen staffers with a tenure average of 19-20 years, Roeder said.

When the pieces were being brought into the show, employees said they looked through garages, desks and other places in their homes as well as the homes of their family members.

One man found a personalized leather wallet and check for $75 from 1978 when Andersen celebrated their 75th anniversary. Each  employee got a wallet with their name on it with a check.

Some of the memorabilia on display on Thursday was from the company’s personal archives—something that was downsized in 2003 when the centennial anniversary was celebrated and much of the collection was donated to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul,  including advertising materials, product catalogs, employee newsletters, trademark and patent documents, photographs, videocassettes and motion pictures.