• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Is This the Oldest Trim Shop in America?

March 29, 2018 By Nadeem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - Oldest Trim Shop in America

At 101 years old, C. H. Schultz & Sons, Inc. may be the oldest auto upholstery business in the U.S.

Deborah Schultz-Pawloski, the shop’s third-generation owner, says her grandfather Clyde H. Schultz founded the business in 1917 in Flint, Michigan. At the time, he was working for Buick and running the shop as a side hustle out of his backyard.

Given the period, Clyde upholstered both horse-drawn carriages and motor cars.

By 1923, Clyde left Buick to run the upholstery shop full-time. Two of his sons, Melvin D. and Clyde D. Jr., took over the shop in 1957. And in 1982, Clyde Jr. became the sole proprietor.

In 1987, the auto upholstery shop incorporated, ushering in a third generation.

Clyde Jr. retired as president in 1997, selling to his oldest daughter Deborah, who continues to run the shop to this day in Flint.

Deborah, who was recently profiled by Michigan Radio, told the station that she’s been involved in the craft all her life, and still very much enjoys it.

“You know, I’ve done this for a really long time so it’s like you see some of the most fabulous cars that are original,” she says. “The GTO was gorgeous inside, the last one was. And, you just … pull things from everything that you’ve seen and put it all together and you just throw ideas at people and they end up making a decision of what they want … That’s the best part.”

During busy periods, Deborah spends more of her time running the business than actually trimming cars, though that’s her first love.

“I do like my hands on,” she says. “I really do. I thoroughly enjoy sewing.”

Of course, today C. H. Schultz & Sons, Inc. doesn’t get many horse-drawn carriages. But they do get boats, ATVs and motorcycles. “We do everything except for household furniture,” said Deborah. “That’s the only thing we don’t do.”

“The most entertaining part is: you never do the same thing every day. Ever. Even if it’s the same seat cover you might be putting on, there’s always something different on the other side. So, it’s never boring,” she told the station.

As for C. H. Schultz & Sons, Inc. being the oldest auto upholstery shop in the U.S., Deborah doesn’t make that claim. However, we’re assuming it is because we’ve never heard of another shop older in age.

If you have, please let us know — as we’d love to profile them on The Hog Ring.

Filed Under: Archive, Shop Profiles Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, C. H. Schultz & Sons, Car Interior

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Todd Carmichael says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:48 pm

    They have us beat by one year! Bakker Auto & Marine Trim in Muskegon Michigan has been in business since 1918.

  2. Edgard Roos says

    October 17, 2021 at 8:27 am

    Congratulation Deborah. I love your ipholstery shop. Keep it up.. Wish your shop hundred more years of existence and lots of succes. Best regards.

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Big Z Fabric
  • Leather Craft
  • Albright's Supply
  • Keyston Bros
  • Hyde Leather
  • Douglass Interior Products

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds A

How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds

Traditional diamond pleats too easy? Try … [more] about How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Volkswagen Multivan Alltrack Concept

VW’s Multivan Alltrack Concept Hinge Seam

If you thought Faurecia’s flat-seam stitch … [more] about VW’s Multivan Alltrack Concept Hinge Seam

The Hog Ring - Trim Shop Closes after 111 Years in Business

Trim Shop Closes After 111 Years in Business

After 111 years in business, one of the … [more] about Trim Shop Closes After 111 Years in Business

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Dan Miller Upholstery

Dan Miller on Upholstering the VLF Force 1

The VLF Force 1 — an all-American supercar … [more] about Dan Miller on Upholstering the VLF Force 1

The Hog Ring - The Shop Features Interview with Bux Customs

Bux Customs: ‘We’ve grown from each build’

Chris McClintock of Bux Customs is a rising … [more] about Bux Customs: ‘We’ve grown from each build’

The Hog Ring - Daniel Williams of DJ Designs Talks Shop

Daniel Williams of DJ Designs Talks Shop

In roughly 10 years, Daniel Williams has gone … [more] about Daniel Williams of DJ Designs Talks Shop

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Heated Headliners and Carpets are Coming
  • 10 Crazy Steering Wheels We Want to Wrap
  • Thread Month Is Underway at Keyston Bros — And It’s Sew Much Fun!
  • Trimmer Jesse Collier Dies at 57
  • The Genius Philosophy Behind Maserati’s Interior Design Choices

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in