: : Vent Vue Window Products




Left to right, Mitchell H. McNally, Marceil Coor-Pender, Donald J. McNally

Shortly after the company's formation to produce sliding pocket frames, the company added other items to its product line, including "Windowmaster" louvered windows designed and manufactured by Ralph Long Co. In 1955, Coor- Pender purchased Long's interest in the firm and changed the name to Coor-Pender Co. Soon after, son-in-law Donald J. (Mac) McNally came on board to oversee shop operations.

As the local demand for louvered windows increased Windowmaster proved too costly to be competitive. In order to continue in this market, Coor-Pender purchased a line of louvered hardware, manufacturing rights and equipment from Vent Vue Co., a Florida based manufacturing company, and renamed and incorporated the company as Vent Vue Window Products Co., Inc. In 1963, the company moved into two small buildings on Glover Place. Since that time, these facilities have been more than tripled as additional buildings and adjoining land was acquired.




Company founder, Howard Coor- Pender

The third generation joined Vent Vue in the late 1970s when Mac's son, Mitchell H. McNally came aboard to help with sales and new product development. The company continued to diversify in response to the financial ebb and flow of the industry and added many different products as demand dictated.

In the mid 1980s, Vent Vue made a major change in response to the East Coast window companies who were infiltrating the local market, and started manufacturing pre-assembled window and door units. The trademark "REDI-FIT" was attached to the product line that duplicated the look of windows and doors of typical California manufacture, but included improvements in weatherstripping and hardware.

Soon added to the product line were custom radius door and window units, bay and bowed units and detailed panel doors. Because of the increased restoration and remodeling markets, Vent Vue began to match existing doors and windows and to make such specialized products as "curved glass" double hung windows and other unique millwork items.

The company's skilled craftsmen start with the finest quality raw materials and carefully assemble each custom product. They take great pride in their workmanship and strive to achieve the exact look desired by the designer, dealer and end user.

As a local manufacturer with precision engineering standards, Vent Vue handles each order as a custom item. This enables them to make odd sizes as well as stock sizes and jamb widths to fit job conditions. There is no limit to the products the company can produce. Normal production includes a variety of specialty items - doors, windows, radius sash and doors as well as sliding and swinging patio doors. Vent Vue has a broad range of certified products, which comply with the current California Title 24 requirements and is moving forward into new product lines with emphasis on highly engineered European hardware.

Today, because of its reputation and expertise in the industry, Vent Vue is often specified in architectual plans and periodically, articles and pictures featuring its products appear in highly respected national magazines. The team of estimators and order takers are thoroughly qualified in the sash and door industry and their years of experience come to a high total. With the help of its employees and and Cheryl Aoyagi, Howard Coor-Pender's granddaughter, the company's goal continues to be quality and service.

The company has not been idle when it comes to community and industry participation. It has for many years supported local youth endeavors and has been a member of the "Friends of the Los Angeles River" organization whose goal is to clean up the river area and plant trees along its banks.It has been a member of the Southern California Lumber Association and BICA (Building Industry Credit Association). Marceil CoorPender is a past president and active board member of the latter. She was recently the recipient of the Donald M. Hollman Distinguished Service Award.

Vent Vue's celebrated our 50th anniversary in the year 2000. The outlook for the future is bright, as the company joins forces with others who are striving to preserve the historical integrity and improve the architectural panorama of Los Angeles.