"Since 1908, Von Duprin has helped protect the public at some of the world's most important buildings," affirms Don Baker, general manager of Von Duprin. "Our exit devices and trim are at government facilities, such as the Pentagon, in schools, including Indiana University, Harvard and Yale, and hospitals throughout the country, such as at the Mayo Clinic. It's been that way since the first panic release bar was introduced over 100 years ago."
According to Baker, Von Duprin began in 1908, when it introduced the first panic release bar. It had become obvious that there was a major need for letting people easily escape locked down buildings in case of catastrophe while likewise providing security during normal times. This purpose, among others, still guides the firm today.
Indianapolis hardware salesman Carl Prinzler had missed a scheduled visit to Chicago's Iroquois Theatre in 1903, escaping a disaster in which 594 people perished when the so-called "fireproof" theatre burned. Obsessed with the needless loss of lives, Prinzler was determined to solve the problem of public buildings turning into death traps when doors were locked to keep gate crashers out.
Prinzler teamed up with his neighbour Henry DuPont, an architectural engineer, who invented the first working device. Marketed by Vonnegut Hardware Company under the name Von Duprin, a contraction of Vonnegut, Dupont and Prinzler, this initial model was introduced in 1908. The popular 88 Series crossbar exit devices, still manufactured by Von Duprin 100 years later, have similar appearance characteristics to the original design, although significant engineering alterations have been made.
Currently, Von Duprin manufactures the widest range of exit devices and outside trim operations, including rim-type and mortice lock, surface and concealed vertical rod, fire-rated and many electrical options. Security products include a full line of electromagnetic locks, electric strikes, card readers, and keypad access control devices.