For 70 years, Myers Tin Shop has kept Carrollton’s metalwork tradition alive

For more than 70 years, Myers Tin Shop & Fabrication has been a fixture of downtown Carrollton, a place where a broken lamp, a worn-out tractor part or even a sentimental glider can find new life. It’s also a place where works of art and everyday items are crafted from scratch out of metal and steel. Today, the business continues to thrive under the ownership of Jeff Hochadel and the management of Kris Ledford, who are committed to preserving both its heritage and its hands-on service.

Hochadel has known the Myers family for most of his life. “I’ve been working with Myers one way or another since I was 15,” he said. “I’m 62 now, so that’s more than 40 years.”

When longtime owner Jim Myers decided to sell the shop in 2021, Hochadel saw an opportunity to keep a vital supplier, and a local institution, alive. “He was an integral supplier to my other company in Salem,” he said. “I didn’t want to lose him.”

The shop, believed to be Carrollton’s oldest continuously operating business, traces its roots to Henry Myers, Jim’s father, who started it about seven decades ago as an HVAC operation. The current building once served as a car dealership showroom, complete with vehicles on display and service work. Remnants of that era still echo through the brick structure, such as the large glass windows.

“When I bought it, I never thought about changing the name,” Hochadel said. “That’s what people know. It’s part of the community’s history.”

Myers Tin Shop blends traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Alongside decades-old presses and welders sits a CNC plasma table, which allows precise, efficient metal cutting. The shop partners with a facility in Salem that provides laser cutting for intricate designs, such as custom signage and fine-detail artwork.

Future plans include adding a powder-coating line and upgrading to a smaller press brake, better suited for the shop’s typical 8-foot projects. A section of the building will soon host a Salem Welding Supply outlet, bringing more tools and materials to local tradespeople.

“We’re always trying to improve,” Hochadel said. “Technology makes us faster and more accurate, but we still do a lot of things the old-fashioned way.” As an example, he picked up a hand-drawn design. “This sketch started on a napkin. We’re a general job shop. We might make hundreds of pieces for a commercial account one week, then have someone walk in with a broken lamp or farm part the next.”

The variety keeps things interesting. One customer brought in an old metal glider, rusted and fragile but full of memories.

Farmers rely on the shop for equipment repairs, everything from combine rebuilds and grain bin components to tractor parts and bearing hubs. The team also fabricates boat components, serving local lake communities and Amish customers. When emergencies arise, the crew rallies. “We had a guy wrap his combine around a tree,” Hochadel said. “He needed it by Monday, so our guys came in on Saturday and worked 10 hours. He was running again Sunday afternoon.”

The shop employs five people, including two veteran fabricators with more than 40 years each in the trade. Hochadel credits his staff with keeping the operation running smoothly. “They bring skill, pride and a lot of history,” he said. “Kris pretty much runs the day-to-day operations.”

Ledford, who switched careers from medical billing and trucking management, has embraced fabrication with enthusiasm. “There’s always more to learn,” she said. “But I love it, especially when customers come in and say, ‘I’m so glad you’re here.’”

In an era of disposable, cheaply made products and impersonal service, Myers Tin Shop stands as a testament that craftsmanship still matters. Its front windows serve as what Hochadel jokingly calls his “hillbilly Facebook page,” displaying finished pieces that often draw curious passersby inside. Window items include fire rings, metal cutouts of Bigfoot, holiday decorations and more.

“It’s satisfying,” Hochadel said. “People come in with a problem or something sentimental, and we make it whole again.”

After seven decades, Myers Tin Shop remains more than a business. It’s a living piece of Carrollton’s industrial heritage, still crafting, still fixing and still helping neighbors one project at a time.

“Not many places offer walk-in services anymore. We’re one of the few left where you can just come in the door and get something repaired. If we can find something cheaper for a customer somewhere else, we tell them. We’re not going to overcharge somebody just because we can make it.”

Every weld, bend and repair tells part of a 70-year story, one built not just on metal but on trust, skill and the people who keep coming back through the door.

Myers Tin Shop is located at 44 E. Main St., Carrollton. They are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays; and closed Sundays. The shop can take appointments for customers who cannot make it during regular hours. Call 330-627-2435 for more information or to inquire about a project.