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A Company Built on Quality and Service
In 1955, John W. Kiley Jr. purchased the Atlantic Equipment Company's broom-making machine to start Atlantic Broom Service Inc. in Hyde Park, MA. Kiley believed that "quality and service" made the company succeed and "nothing left the shop unless it was perfect." With this mentality, the company flourished, providing replacement brooms to cities and towns in the surrounding area.
The family business was originally made up of John and his wife Barbsy. Later, sons John Jr. and Cubby, and daughters, Barbara and Brenda joined the firm. Other members included George Russell and Art Fitzgerald, who were the sales team covering all of New England. Kiley always talked of them as his "key salesmen and good friends".
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Our Signature Kiley Green Brooms
In 1967, the City of Boston requested green brooms be made so that Boston's brooms were easily distinguished from other brooms. As part of the firm's trademark, the Kelly (or Kiley) green brooms are still made today.
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The Flying Broom is Born
When Kiley began flying his own plane in 1968, sales calls took on a whole different meaning. Wearing a flying broom pin on his lapel, Kiley, at the controls of his Aztec known as The Flying Broom, took the opportunity to call on customers throughout New England.
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Diversifying Our Product Line
Atlantic Broom expanded its offering by selling snowplow blades to its customers in 1967. As the quantity of blades began to grow, the company leveraged its strong relationships with highway departments and public works divisions to start manufacturing blades in 1979. Atlantic Plow Blades has grown to offer snow plow blade replacement as well as for replacement cutting edges for construction equipment such as diggers and loaders.
Then in 1980, Kiley and Art Fitzgerald were in Plympton Center discussing future products for the company, they noticed "all the signs for a little town," and the company's Highway Sign shop was conceived. Today, the firm manufactures signs for more than 70 cities and towns, complete with custom town seals. Atlantic Highway Signs make up approximately 50 town seal decals at a time for town trucks and between 700 and 1000 for street signs.
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A Changing of the Guard
In 1998, Kiley's business advice, "it only costs a little more to go first class," was passed on to his sons Johnny and Cubby. Johnny had started making gutter brooms when he was 14 years old and by this time had 30 years experience with the firm. Cubby ran deliveries for the company and was already functioning as "a great salesman."
When John Kiley passed away in May 2001, John Kiley Jr. took over as president. Today he oversees all three divisions of the company, which includes Plow Blades, Street Brooms and Highway Signs. Clement "Cubby" Kiley, vice president, manages the Highway Sign Division and handles all sales and marketing. A licensed pilot, Cubby takes over where his dad left off by calling on customers in his Piper Aztec.
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Serving the Needs of the US Government Worldwide
Recently, Atlantic Broom was awarded a contract by the GSA (US General Services Administration), which means that the company can sell any of its 2000 approved products at a pre-determined price to any United States government agency worldwide via electronic purchase orders. "This is one of the greatest accomplishments a company can have. It took us 18 months of waiting and hundreds of hours of document preparation," said Kevin Doucette, head of the Highway Sign Division.
Requests have come from all corners of the world. For example, Hawaii Volcano National Park ordered four container loads of fence posts while the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Heavy Surf Advisory Signs ordered 1200 beach signs which need to be posted at 1200 different locations. 33 US Marine Corps' fire engines based in Okinawa, Japan now display Atlantic Broom's lettering and the Corps has also asked for sign blanks to be used as long range targets for their rifle range at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Additional orders have been filled for construction signs for the US Marine Corp in Arizona, interstate signs to the US Air Force in Nebraska, scenic vista signs to the National Park Service in Colorado, speed bumps to the US Air National Guard in Tennessee, and traffic cones to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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Working to Support Various Industry Associations
Business revenues also receive a boost through the company's activities in various industry groups. The company is a member of many associations including Mass Highway, Berkshire, Franklin Hampshire, Plymouth County, Essex County, Worcester County, Hampden County, Norfolk-Bristol, Middlesex County, Barnstable County, APWA, New Hampshire Road Agents, NHRA, Vermont Association of Cities and Towns, New Hampshire Good Roads, CASHO, New Haven Middlesex County of Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut Public Works (ECPWA), Rhode Island Public Works (PWA) and others.
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Atlantic Broom Service, Inc.
A Single Source for Roadway Maintenance Products
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ATLANTIC BROOM SERVICE
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ATLANTIC PLOW BLADES
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ATLANTIC HIGHWAY SIGNS
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