FAMILY BUILT
FUTURE DRIVEN
Arnette Pattern Company, Inc., located in Granite City, Illinois, first opened its doors. At this time, Bill Zimmer was 18 years old and just beginning his first year of apprenticeship as a pattern maker.
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PRESIDENTS OF ARNETTE PATTERN
DALE ARNETTE (1910-2002)
Owner (1948-1978)
Dale was the founder of Arnette Pattern Company, establishing it as a small pattern and mold making shop. With a passion for precision and craftsmanship, he built a foundation for excellence in the industry. Dale was an active leader in the American Foundry Society (AFS), contributing significantly to the advancement of foundry practices. In 1978, he sold the business to Bill and Gary Zimmer, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.
WILLIAM (BILL) ZIMMER (1930-2020)
Owner (1978-1994)
Bill began his career at Arnette Pattern Company in 1948 at the age of 18, starting as a shop hand sweeping floors. His dedication to the small company led him to a pattern making apprenticeship in his 20’s and by 1960, he had risen to head foreman of the 8-10 employee pattern shop. In 1978, Bill, alongside his son Gary, purchased Arnette Pattern Company, and he served as president until 1994. After transferring ownership to his sons (Gary, David, and Paul) in 1994, Bill remained an active pattern maker well into his early 80s, contributing to the company for over two decades. He also shared his expertise by teaching a pattern making apprenticeship program in the Metro East-St. Louis area, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
GARY ZIMMER (1954)
Owner (1994-2015)
Dale was the founder of Arnette Pattern Company, establishing it as a small pattern and mold making shop. With a passion for precision and craftsmanship, he built a foundation for excellence in the industry. Dale was an active leader in the American Foundry Society (AFS), contributing significantly to the advancement of foundry practices. In 1978, he sold the business to Bill and Gary Zimmer, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.
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ARNETTE PATTERN
Decades of experience meet tomorrow’s tech. At Arnette-Midwest, we blend hands-on craftsmanship with advanced quality control systems to produce components you can rely on. Need design support? We’ll work with your concept — or build it from the ground up.
