Sutton Garten

“Ray” Garten, began his career in the welding department at the Prestolite Company in Speedway, Indiana. Prestolite manufactured acetylene lamps and lighting systems for cars and trucks, and was owned by Indianapolis industrial pioneers Carl Fisher and Jim Allison (also founders of the Indianapolis 500). Garten was responsible for training welders and lead burners. When Prestolite was sold to Union Carbide and Carbon’s Linde Division, Garten transferred to Chicago, where he met Charles R. Sutton in 1918. Together, they formed the Sutton-Garten Co., a business catering to servicing welding machines as well as supply distribution. Union Carbide decided to market product through distributors, and Sutton and Garten returned to Indianapolis to begin operations as the first independently-owned Prestolite distributor in Indiana. As Sutton-Garten Co., the company specialized in the sale of small acetylene cylinders and Prestolite lighting equipment. They also maintained a welding shop and did service and repair work. A large part of the early shop business was the installation of acetylene lamps and wind deflectors on early open-cab trucks. In 1923, Ray Garten bought control of the company from Sutton, yet kept the Sutton- Garten name because, as Matt explains, he simply didn’t want to have to change the stationery. Ray’s wife Rena became Secretary/ Treasurer of the company and was an important AT A GLANCE SUTTON-GARTEN CO. WHAT: A provider of welding and cutting equipment, supplies, and gases WHERE: Indianapolis, Indiana WEBSITE: www.suttongarten.com