Chown Hardware

Specialties

Chown Hardware is the oldest family owned architectural hardware distributor in North America offering commercial hardware, residential hardware and residential decorative plumbing.

Door hardware and plumbing fixtures require expertise not found at the local hardware retailer or «big box» chain stores. Chown employees are specialists in these products and participate in continuing education to ensure your complete satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing the finest products at great prices while maintaining the highest level of customer service in the industry.

We are your best source for commercial hardware and residential decorative plumbing

History

Established in 1879.

Chown opened for business in Portland, Oregon on September 15, 1879. With his life savings of $ 5,000 of gold inside his money belt, Francis R Chown left Kingston, Ontario Canada. After wandering the west he decided on the growing city of Portland (17,000 people in 1879). Chown’s original inventory of farm implements, logging supplies, construction materials and tools came by Clipper sailing ships from the hardware and plumbing wholesalers in San Francisco.

Francis’s original location was ideal, 1^st & Main. The combination of a great location and a booming economy caused Francis and his son D.B. Chown to move twice before becoming the largest retail hardware store at Fourth and Alder.

At the time the company manufactured crystal radio sets, featured Portland’s first electric washing machines and motorized circular saws were assembled from parts. Much of their business success involved sporting goods and they were thought of by outdoormen at the time as «that fish and tackle store.» Ch