The Shelby Gem Factory was the production facility of ICT Incorporated, a company in Shelby, Michigan, United States, that manufactured artificial gemstones through proprietary processes. ICT began operations in 1970 and closed in December 2019.
Larry Paul Kelley and wife Jo Kelley, owners of the Shelby Gem Factory
Larry Paul Kelley established ICT (International Crystal Technology[1]) in 1970 with Craig Hardy and Tom VanBergen.[2][3] Kelley had worked for Dow Chemical in Ludington and at a factory in Ann Arbor that produced laser crystals.[4] The facility was sited in Shelby because the town had a new industrial park.[5] By 2015, Kelley was ICT's sole owner.[6]
The Shelby Gem Factory initially produced only synthetic ruby, with ruby lasers being the principal application, primarily sold to firms in California. However, laser technology was in its infancy,[1] and the far greater profit potential of converting ruby rods into a variety of artificial gemstones of various colors led to a change in the factory's focus.[2] Larry Kelley built on Soviet research into cubic zirconia and became its first commercial producer, having solved issues of temperature control that had impeded its production.[1] For a time, cubic zirconia was a lucrative product line; Shelby opened factories outside the United States to keep up with demand.[7][8] However, the value of cubic zirconia soon declined to the point that it was used as fill when the factory was expanded.[1] In 1983, ICT opened a faceting factory in southern China to create gemstones for jewelry use from the crystals produced in Shelby; this closed in 1991, and separate companies in China and South Korea were contracted to continue faceting. The South Korean market represented up to 40 percent of the factory's sales until a precipitous decline caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.[1] In 1994, the factory entered the business of recrystallizing rubies, buying low-grade gems from Myanmar to be melted down in the process.[1]
A 50-seat theater ran a presentation for visitors,[3] and jewelry was sold on site.[5]
The factory closed in 2019 after Kelley was diagnosed in 2017 with Alzheimer's disease. Other issues that contributed to the closing were worldwide competition and online markets.[8] Larry Kelley died on October 24, 2020.[9]
Some of the furnaces burned at 5,040 °F (2,780 °C).[10] Factory tours were discontinued due to liability concerns attendant to the "very high temperatures and extremely bright light" and the unavailability of affordable insurance to cover the risk.[5]
The gems were synthesized in a furnace.[5] The Shelby Gem Factory's diamonds were simulants.[2] The factory also manufactured simulated citrine and topaz, along with other birthstone substitutes.[5]
^ abcdefShellenbarger, Pat (February 7, 1999). "Sparkling secrets: Out of the 'blue' comes 'diamonds'". The Flint Journal. pp. F1, F2. from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via GenealogyBank.
^ abcRohan, Barry (September 18, 1992). "Success glitters: Firm shines at producing gem substitutes". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 1E, 2E. from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abHallack, Sharon (December 9, 2019). "Getting their sparkle on for 50 years". Oceana's Herald-Journal. Shelby, Michigan. from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
^Weist, Jan (August 20, 1990). "Man-made gems save on budget". The Detroit News. p. 3E. from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via GenealogyBank.
^ abcdeKates, Kristi (December 31, 2012). "A Flaming Success at the Shelby Gem Factory". Northern Express. from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
^Keefer, Melissa (February 7, 2015). "Shelby Gem owners love using science to create beauty". Ludington Daily News.
^"Shelby Gem Factory celebrates 40 years". Oceana's Herald-Journal. December 1, 2010. from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
^ ab"Shelby Gem Factory to close". Oceana County Press. December 13, 2019. from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
^"Larry Paul Kelley". Oceana's Herald-Journal. October 27, 2020. from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
^DeZutter, Hank; DeZutter, Pamela Little (June 3, 1993). "Idlewild, Michigan: These Parts". Chicago Reader. from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
Further readingedit
Tableman, Jan (2011). (PDF). Michigan Country Lines. Okemos, Michigan: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association: 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2015.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shelby Gem Factory.
Official website
Shelby Gem Factory visit
ICT YouTube video on explanation of semiconductor invention for making solar cells
January 01, 1970
shelby, factory, production, facility, incorporated, company, shelby, michigan, united, states, that, manufactured, artificial, gemstones, through, proprietary, processes, began, operations, 1970, closed, december, 2019, incorporatedtrade, namecompany, typepri. The Shelby Gem Factory was the production facility of ICT Incorporated a company in Shelby Michigan United States that manufactured artificial gemstones through proprietary processes ICT began operations in 1970 and closed in December 2019 ICT IncorporatedShelby Gem FactoryTrade nameShelby Gem FactoryCompany typePrivateFounded1970 54 years ago 1970 FoundersLarry Paul KelleyCraig HardyDefunct2019 2019 HeadquartersShelby Michigan United StatesOwnersLarry Paul KelleyJo KelleyWebsiteshelbygemfactory com Contents 1 History 2 Manufacturing 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Larry Paul Kelley and wife Jo Kelley owners of the Shelby Gem Factory Larry Paul Kelley established ICT International Crystal Technology 1 in 1970 with Craig Hardy and Tom VanBergen 2 3 Kelley had worked for Dow Chemical in Ludington and at a factory in Ann Arbor that produced laser crystals 4 The facility was sited in Shelby because the town had a new industrial park 5 By 2015 Kelley was ICT s sole owner 6 The Shelby Gem Factory initially produced only synthetic ruby with ruby lasers being the principal application primarily sold to firms in California However laser technology was in its infancy 1 and the far greater profit potential of converting ruby rods into a variety of artificial gemstones of various colors led to a change in the factory s focus 2 Larry Kelley built on Soviet research into cubic zirconia and became its first commercial producer having solved issues of temperature control that had impeded its production 1 For a time cubic zirconia was a lucrative product line Shelby opened factories outside the United States to keep up with demand 7 8 However the value of cubic zirconia soon declined to the point that it was used as fill when the factory was expanded 1 In 1983 ICT opened a faceting factory in southern China to create gemstones for jewelry use from the crystals produced in Shelby this closed in 1991 and separate companies in China and South Korea were contracted to continue faceting The South Korean market represented up to 40 percent of the factory s sales until a precipitous decline caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis 1 In 1994 the factory entered the business of recrystallizing rubies buying low grade gems from Myanmar to be melted down in the process 1 A 50 seat theater ran a presentation for visitors 3 and jewelry was sold on site 5 The factory closed in 2019 after Kelley was diagnosed in 2017 with Alzheimer s disease Other issues that contributed to the closing were worldwide competition and online markets 8 Larry Kelley died on October 24 2020 9 Manufacturing edit nbsp Shelby Gem Factory jewelry of man made synthetic rubies nbsp A cubic zirconia gem making furnace Some of the furnaces burned at 5 040 F 2 780 C 10 Factory tours were discontinued due to liability concerns attendant to the very high temperatures and extremely bright light and the unavailability of affordable insurance to cover the risk 5 The gems were synthesized in a furnace 5 The Shelby Gem Factory s diamonds were simulants 2 The factory also manufactured simulated citrine and topaz along with other birthstone substitutes 5 See also edit nbsp Companies portal nbsp Michigan portal Czochralski method Skull crucibleReferences edit a b c d e f Shellenbarger Pat February 7 1999 Sparkling secrets Out of the blue comes diamonds The Flint Journal pp F1 F2 Archived from the original on November 4 2022 Retrieved November 4 2022 via GenealogyBank a b c Rohan Barry September 18 1992 Success glitters Firm shines at producing gem substitutes Detroit Free Press Detroit Michigan p 1E 2E Archived from the original on January 8 2022 Retrieved January 8 2022 via Newspapers com a b Hallack Sharon December 9 2019 Getting their sparkle on for 50 years Oceana s Herald Journal Shelby Michigan Archived from the original on January 9 2022 Retrieved January 9 2022 Weist Jan August 20 1990 Man made gems save on budget The Detroit News p 3E Archived from the original on November 4 2022 Retrieved November 4 2022 via GenealogyBank a b c d e Kates Kristi December 31 2012 A Flaming Success at the Shelby Gem Factory Northern Express Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved September 8 2015 Keefer Melissa February 7 2015 Shelby Gem owners love using science to create beauty Ludington Daily News Shelby Gem Factory celebrates 40 years Oceana s Herald Journal December 1 2010 Archived from the original on October 17 2021 Retrieved September 3 2015 a b Shelby Gem Factory to close Oceana County Press December 13 2019 Archived from the original on October 17 2021 Retrieved March 8 2020 Larry Paul Kelley Oceana s Herald Journal October 27 2020 Archived from the original on November 4 2022 Retrieved November 4 2022 DeZutter Hank DeZutter Pamela Little June 3 1993 Idlewild Michigan These Parts Chicago Reader Archived from the original on August 9 2015 Retrieved November 8 2015 Further reading editTableman Jan 2011 Jewel of West Michigan Shelby Gem Factory PDF Michigan Country Lines Okemos Michigan Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 10 11 Archived from the original PDF on October 5 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shelby Gem Factory Official website Shelby Gem Factory visit ICT YouTube video on explanation of semiconductor invention for making solar cells Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shelby Gem Factory amp oldid 1213634583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
