Local Charity Gets Boost from Recycling and Kenton Brothers Old Keys

If there is one thing Kenton Brothers has in excess, it’s keys: old keys, cut keys that just don’t work, keys switched out for new keys, keys keys keys…..

What many people do not realize is that most keys are made from brass.  In the recycled metals business, brass sells for approximately $2/pound; while aluminum is selling for about $0.30/pound.  That is almost 7 times as much, and if you are the Ronald McDonald House, that adds up to a significantly higher return on donations.

Since 2002, the Ronald McDonald House has been collecting pop tabs as a source of funding.  They collect the tabs instead of the whole can because the tab contains a higher concentration of metal thereby giving the charity more money at the recycling center, with less space needed to store the donations.  Unfortunately, the recession has drastically affected the price of aluminum.  It has gone from a high of about $0.70/pound to the current low of $0.30/pound.

For those of you who have  been to our shop, you may have noticed buckets filled with keys.  These are either keys that have been cut incorrectly and do not fit a lock, keys that are brought in by customers to recycle, or various parts of hardware made of brass.  In 2010, Kenton Brothers held their first ever event to help the Ronald McDonald House in their “Keys to the House that Love Built” campaign.  By asking customers to bring in old keys, and by donating Kenton Brothers recyclables we were able to donate over 306 pounds of brass to the Ronald McDonald House.  That’s over $600 in brass, compared to only $91 if it were aluminum!

This year, we are continuing to support the “Keys to the House that Love Built” campaign by collecting keys here at the shop.  If  you have old keys, or old hardware made of brass–and Barney or Vern will be able to tell you if it is–please bring these items to us at Kenton Brothers.  We plan on hosting an event later this Summer to celebrate these donations and our support of this critically important local charity.

Please stop by when you are in the neighborhood.  Our address is 1718 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108, in the historic Crossroads District.

The Kenton Brothers Museum: 1897-Present.

Keeping KC locked up for over 114 years?  No, really. We’re not joking.

How many small businesses do you know that are 114 years old?  How many of those companies call Kansas City home? Of that list, how many have been owned by the same family for four generations?

Not many companies can claim that distinction. Kenton Brothers has been in business since 1897, originally providing the services of locksmith, umbrella repair, and yes, even lawnmower sharpening!

As a tribute to our proud and storied history, we have a space in our office that we lovingly refer to as the Kenton Brothers Museum. “The Museum” is a veritable treasure trove of artifacts that have been collected and saved over the years. Perusing through the items and photos, you are taken on a journey through the incredible history of our company. It is both humbling and amazing to see the origins of Kenton Brothers and it’s a testament to the fact that our team has been dedicated for 114 years to the locksmith trade and the security industry.

Of the museum, 4th Generation CEO Gina Stuelke said: “There aren’t very many businesses that are able to showcase a living history of the various products we’ve provided and customers we’ve served in our 114-year history.  Through our mini museum, we are able to pay tribute to previous generations of leaders and the “cool” factor of being a part of Kansas City’s history.”

We are the oldest security and locksmith shop in Kansas City and continue to offer unsurpassed knowledge and experience when it comes to keeping our customers and their buildings secure. Check out some of the Kenton Brothers Museum artifacts below and feel free to stop by anytime to see these items and more in person!

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Kenton Brothers Launches KB University: Hands On Locksmith Training

Recently, Kenton Brothers launched a new program for KB staff and contractors called KB University.  This is an intensive hands-on approach at learning the locksmith trade.  The course will span three months and runs for four hours on Saturdays.

Brandon Heath, Service Manager at Kenton Brothers, says he came up with the idea of offering these classes in an effort to improve the knowledge of the staff and offer the opportunity to focus on the finer points of the locksmith trade.

Previously, if someone were interested in becoming a locksmith, they would have to befriend a locksmith willing to allow the apprentice to tag along with them on service calls.  By contrast, KB University offers classroom and lab work to those within the organization that are interested in becoming a locksmith who just want to learn more about the trade.

Kenton Brothers Inc. has been training locksmiths for nearly 115 years, so who better to pass down that valuable knowledge? So far the classes have focused on Omni Locks, door closers, and safe combination changes. Other classes scheduled throughout the rest of the sessions include high security cylinder servicing, exit devices, electronic and mechanical door locking hardware, as well as more technologically advanced topics like remote release system installation, access control, and video based security systems. Continued learning of the locksmith and security industry is a priority at Kenton Brothers and is part of our ongoing commitment to our legacy in the industry.

Kenton Brothers hosts “The Keys to Securing Your House of Worship”

On November 30th, Kenton Brothers hosted a security learning event for area Houses of Worship. Speakers included Doug Talbott of Ingersoll Rand, Ted Lischer of Kenton Brothers, Officer James Schriever of the KCMO police department, and Karen Aroesty, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.

The event was held in the Empire Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center and began with a welcoming introduction by Kenton Brothers CEO, Gina Stuelke, as attendees enjoyed coffee, juice and pastries.

The presentations were excellent and topics covered included:

-Doug Talbott (Ingersoll Rand) spoke about the importance of door hardware, locks and keys.

-Ted Lischer (Kenton Brothers) discussed new technology now available in the access control and video surveillance fields.

-Officer James Schriever (KCMO Police Department) discussed the steps Houses of Worship should take with their local law enforcement officials to keep their facilities safe and secure.

-Karen Aroesty (Anti-Defamation League) focused on issues of terrorism and hate crimes.

With an open forum discussion, religious leaders and House of Worship staff members took advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback to fellow attendees and presenters.

Based on feedback we received from many of the attendees, the event was a huge success and several people expressed interest in additional presentations on the subjects offered.  With that in mind, the Kenton Brothers team plans to continue to provide events like this one to help raise security awareness within the local religious community.

If you have suggestions for other security-related presentations you’d like to see or have other security questions, let us know. We’re happy to help!

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Sharing The Holiday Spirit: Kenton Brothers Partners With Local Charities

The Kenton Brothers team feels strongly about giving back to our local community. Earlier this year, we were overwhelmed by the tremendous response from friends and customers to our key donation campaign for the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City.

In our continued support of the Ronald McDonald House and the families that benefit from their services, this holiday season we are honored to be one of the locations accepting donations of non-perishable food and other necessities. See below for the list of suggested items.

A collection barrel now resides in the commercial counter area of the Kenton Brothers offices. As the barrel gets filled, the Kenton Brothers team will personally deliver the donated items to the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City. To learn more about how to help, visit the Ronald McDonald House Charities – Kansas City web site or stop by Kenton Brothers at 1718 Baltimore to make your donation. Read more