This is Amsted

Randal Birkey was asked to create a series of illustrations for a corporate communication piece called “This is Amsted.” The illustrations depicted the main activities of each division of a large manufacturing company located in Chicago, named Amsted Industries. At the time, the divisions were named:

  • American Steel Foundries
  • Baltimore Aircoil Company
  • Burgess-Norton Mfg. Co.
  • Diamond Chain Company
  • Griffin Pipe Products Company
  • Griffin Wheel Company

Randal created a world-globe for use on the cover. He illustrated two men working on an underground pipe for Griffin Pipe. A large factory with air coolers next to it was used for BAC. A close-up of a railroad car “truck” was used for ASF and Griffin Wheel. Later a close -up of a drive chain used in a road grader was added for Diamond Chain. These were pre-digital illustrations in Randal’s career, done in pen and ink, and color pencil.