©  2008 

                 How The Hammer Down Began:

The first edition of the HAMMER DOWN was published in March of 1993 as a printed monthly departmental newsletter for the Traffic Department and road drivers of Better-Bilt Aluminum Products, located in Smyrna, TN. The printed version of the HAMMER DOWN was written and edited by the drivers for the drivers to help everyone communicate and share information about changes in customer's receiving hours, appointment times, route changes, fuel stops, changes in customer service policies, as well as changes in DOT rules and regulations.

The world-wide conglomerate that owned Better-Bilt in 1995 decided to terminate the company drivers and sell our jobs to a leasing and logistics company on April 1, 1995. At this time, we drivers were informed we could no longer write and publish the HAMMER DOWN newsletter. A copyright and registration for the HAMMER DOWN was immediately applied for and received and as everyone now knows, the Hammer Down is still up and running. At first, we drivers made yearly contributions to pay for the printing and postage to keep the newsletter going out twice a year. A few years ago, the Hammer Down was moved to the Internet and we have never looked back.

On this page, you will meet and see some of the many people who helped the Hammer Down come to life and have supported it all along. This is our history page. Thanks for stopping by.

"Camshaft"

News Update for the former Company drivers of Caradon Better-Bilt Aluminum Products :

Cliff Logsdon, retired Traffic Manager of Better-Bilt Aluminum's Smyrna, TN facility,  had a portion of one lung removed about August of 2007 due to a black spot showing up on the lung. After the surgery, Pappy seemed to have contracted a case of pneumonia from which he has not been able to recover from.  He has since been back to the hospital several times since the lung surgery and has been on Oxygen, even at home, for most of this time.

   The photograph of "Pappy" and Camshaft shown at left, was taken at his home on Sunday December 22, 2007.
Cliff Logsdon passed away on January 2, 2008 after suffering from a collapsed lung during a biopsy procedure.  Funeral services were held at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Smyrna, TN on Saturday January 5, 2008.  The last day I got to visit with him, the day the photo shown above left was taken, I told him, "I would not take all of the gold in the world for the years I have known you and had you as a friend and bossman".
Cliff Logsdon was the last of a breed and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

ALSO --- Better-Bilt driver (Smyrna, TN ) Rex Smeltzer ( Toilet Paper ) has been admitted to the VA hospital in Murfreesboro, TN after suffering a stroke sometime after Christmas Day. At this time, Rex is in the ICU at the VA hospital.  The photo shown at right was taken in the ICU waiting room, shown left to right are:  Former BB driver Bill Witt (Camshaft), retired BB driver Bobby Stevens (Rolaid Kid), Lisa Smeltzer (Rex's daughter), Gayla Smeltzer ( Rex's wife), and former BB driver Ken Young (Silver Whip).  We wish Rex and Cliff a speedy recovery!

While there are many others involved in the original building of Better-Bilt Aluminum Product's Smyrna Facility, the man responsible for hiring the drivers and building this company's trucking fleet into one of the best and most recognizable fleets in the country was Cliff Logsdon (Pappy), shown left with wife Marie. Cliff originally came to work at Better-Bilt as a driver when there were only 2 or 3 drivers. He ended up starting up the Traffic Department, responsible for all of the truck drivers, dispatching, and routing all of the product delivery schedules.  "Pappy" retired in 1992 and now spends his time between home, the lake fishing, and his favorite hiding spot in the woods during deer hunting season.

Deborah O'Toole was our Secretary, Dispatcher, Psychiatrist, Marriage Councilor, Dear Abby, Ann Landers, and Erma Bombeck all rolled into one person.  She retired from Better-Bilt after more than 10 years to become one of Toshiba's most talented warehouse and distribution experts, managing several Distribution Centers in the Middle TN area.

Dale Arnold ( Lightning Bug ) was one of the very first drivers hired at Better-Bilt and for more than 20 years was the senior or number 1 driver on the Smyrna, TN driver's roster.  To date, 2006, Dale has never had a speeding ticket or log book citation and has logged more than 3 million miles ( two million miles logged at Better-Bilt ). Dale has been an OTR driver for Fed Ex Freight in Nashville, TN since 1995.

David Prater ( DJ ) is one of four original drivers still working at Better-Bilt, now called MS Home Products, Division of Metal Industries, Inc.  DJ has driven for Better-Bilt now for more than 25 years and has logged  several million miles.

Rex Smeltzer ( Toilet Paper ) is another one for the original drivers hired back in the Pappy Logsdon era who is still driving for Better-Bilt or MI Home Products as it is called now.  Rex actually has two hired dates as he work for a while, left and came back.  I believe he has more than 20 years on this "second time around" at our "old home place".

Ronnie Todd ( Easy Rider ) is yet another of the original crew still working at Better-Bilt these days.  When he is not in the truck and on the road, you will have to look very hard and be very quiet to find Ronnie as he spends most of his free time in the woods whenever wife Judy isn't looking.  I hear he might be thinking of staying in the woods full time before long and giving up the truck?  Ronnie has been driving for Better-Bilt about 20 years now.

Roy Gilbert ( Mudslinger ), another of the original Logsdon era drivers drove for Better-Bilt for more than 20 years.  He retired in 2003 and now lives in Manchester, TN.

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Murfreesboro, TN   USA