I worked in that building from 2000 until they shut it down in 2002. That conference room you saw on the third floor? We watched the second plane hit the Trade Center tower live from an old projection screen TV on 9/11. It's a shame to see this old building like this.
I used to work for testors but at the aerosol line across the street. I literally watched a shooting happen right there one night. There used to be an old man that was the caretaker of that building. He lived in the building alone to watch it, he passed and it was absorbed by the hood.
I went in there to repair their computers once, and it was in a serious state then-- woulda been mid-late 90's? That building has been falling down for like 50 years now.
That and the original W.F. John Barnes factory. Much of the factory along the river So. of State Street. It was torn down. My father was a tool and die maker/machinist there. I salvaged some large blueprints from the 60s from my mom's house a few years ago. I worked for Barber-Coleman at the Loves Park plant around 1980. Also worked at a couple of other plants in the area in my teens and delivered machine tool parts to so many of the big factories and got to walk around the factory floors. The different machines were amazing. One of the coolest places I work at was Ingersoll Milling on the north side. They built giant milling and boring machines for machining engines for large ships.
@@stringlarson1247 Did you Ron Ruffner? I ran around with 6 or 7 of the guys that worked there.( AT Ingersoll ) I also at Barber-Coleman for a short time in the paint room. I was there when they wouldn't let us go because of to much snow.
@@decayingmidwest yeah it was OK, it was freezing cold in the teens, he was covered in a bunch of blankets sleeping. Seemed puzzled that someone would be filming in there. I've been in here several times that was the first time I seen someone.
I grew up near there and bought many little jars of their paint for making model airplanes, cars, etc. No permanent dain bramage from breathing the fumes from the paint and glue *cough* There is so much potential for that solid old building. Sad. I was last in Rockford a couple of years ago and drove around looking for old factories I either worked in or delivered machine tool parts. So many are either abandoned or have been leveled. What a waste. I was in my teens in the 70s and witnessed the beginning of the gutting/collapse of US industry. Massive failure of Capitalism. Sad.
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I worked in that building from 2000 until they shut it down in 2002. That conference room you saw on the third floor? We watched the second plane hit the Trade Center tower live from an old projection screen TV on 9/11. It's a shame to see this old building like this.
I worked there in 95-96 and again 98-99. I didn't know they permanently closed in 2002. Wow. That soon after I left for college.
I had been inside it when I was a kid. Went there to get a part for my model car. Wow this is sad.
Very sad indeed.
When they shut down, i got a full truck bed of cases of model paints. Probably 100 cans of spray paint too.
its sad to see these buildings like this my home town thx for sharing
me too!
i grew up in rockford. i explored that building in 2020. so cool to see on youtube
I used to work for testors but at the aerosol line across the street. I literally watched a shooting happen right there one night. There used to be an old man that was the caretaker of that building. He lived in the building alone to watch it, he passed and it was absorbed by the hood.
The building would make cool lofts. How beautiful. Aren't you ever afraid of falling threw the floor or someone coming out of no where?
I believe the floors were concrete so pretty safe. As for someone jumping out, it's always a risk.
Be safe out there Matt. Not for ghosts but for people and stuff you could be breathing in or walking on.
If it was chicago or Milwaukee it would've been turned into a loft or sumn. Rockford behind a lil
The old Testor's models and paint factory. Now a part of Rust-o-leium.
I am from Rockford illinois
I went in there to repair their computers once, and it was in a serious state then-- woulda been mid-late 90's? That building has been falling down for like 50 years now.
Great video dude 🤙
Thank you
You should explore the Barber-Colman Company factory in Rockford
is it still there
Ya the Old Read Chat wood building
My dad worked there in the 70's
That and the original W.F. John Barnes factory. Much of the factory along the river So. of State Street. It was torn down. My father was a tool and die maker/machinist there. I salvaged some large blueprints from the 60s from my mom's house a few years ago.
I worked for Barber-Coleman at the Loves Park plant around 1980. Also worked at a couple of other plants in the area in my teens and delivered machine tool parts to so many of the big factories and got to walk around the factory floors. The different machines were amazing. One of the coolest places I work at was Ingersoll Milling on the north side. They built giant milling and boring machines for machining engines for large ships.
@@stringlarson1247 Did you Ron Ruffner? I ran around with 6 or 7 of the guys that worked there.( AT Ingersoll ) I also at Barber-Coleman for a short time in the paint room. I was there when they wouldn't let us go because of to much snow.
Rockford,ill !!! I knew it
Spent the video expecting someone to jump you. Luckily it didn't happened. Stay safe and great work!
I ran into a squatter sleeping on the 3rd floor here about 10 days ago.
Are they friendly?
@@decayingmidwest yeah it was OK, it was freezing cold in the teens, he was covered in a bunch of blankets sleeping. Seemed puzzled that someone would be filming in there. I've been in here several times that was the first time I seen someone.
Wow,I used to work there in 1999.
Hi, you ever work with Ron strawbridge that was in mixing then packaging ?
I wonder if there are any before pictures of these places
I live in Rockford and it looks as bad inside as it does from the outside. Sad but that's life I guess.
Is it true that this building holds an entrance to the tunnels that lead through all of rockford?
I grew up near there and bought many little jars of their paint for making model airplanes, cars, etc.
No permanent dain bramage from breathing the fumes from the paint and glue *cough*
There is so much potential for that solid old building. Sad.
I was last in Rockford a couple of years ago and drove around looking for old factories I either worked in or delivered machine tool parts.
So many are either abandoned or have been leveled. What a waste. I was in my teens in the 70s and witnessed the beginning of the gutting/collapse of US industry.
Massive failure of Capitalism. Sad.
@birdsndog5932 well, you've hit your quota for max understatement for this week. :)
@birdsndog5932 heh.. quite depressing. I live on the south side of Chicago . So much of the same here.
I just think of how much adhesive is in these places. You always need adhesives for crafting.
used to work in that bulidng
What did you do there?
I worked on a assembly line
That's Testors, right?
I WAS IN HERE NOT LONG AGO!!!
It’s funny how only us midwest folks say “Big Wigs”. Lol
Do you know any history on this? Why did they go out of business? (or did they move somewhere else?)
I heard they discontinued certain paints and not entirely sure why or when it shut down
The whole city went out of business 40 years ago.
Can you still go here
Are you ever worried about running into sketchy people while in these buildings
It happens occasionally but we try to avoid running into people
We try?? I thought u was alone
@@spike3822Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson was tagging along.
What is this, Testors? They're still in business. If this is their building they're responsible for its upkeep.
It is owned by a private party. Why the City doesn't go after him and all the others that own derilect buildings, I'll never know.
💰💰@@jeffaulik3980
12:45 thats not cleaver, its genius 💀💀
That's paint factory that just the 4 of July building
The backrooms
Yes first
Testors?
Awesome video bro !
Thank you