09/04/2026
Welcome to the first Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we’ll be taking a look at a historical item from Shelby and sharing the story behind it. For our first feature, we’re looking at this vintage advertising measuring tape from the Ohio Seamless Tube Division of Copperweld Steel Company, better known to generations of Shelby residents simply as “Tuby.” The history of the Shelby tube industry goes back more than a century, and Ohio Seamless Tube became part of Copperweld Steel Company in 1952. This small tape measure is believed to have been made by Barlow, a company known for producing promotional measuring tapes, and based on its design and the Copperweld branding, we estimate this particular example dates to around the 1950s or 1960s. While it may seem like a simple little advertising item, pieces like this give us a glimpse into the everyday history of the people and businesses that helped build Shelby. And the story of Tuby is far from over the plant is still operating today and remains an important part of Shelby’s industrial history, now operating under ArcelorMittal. It’s amazing to think that an object small enough to fit in your pocket can connect us to such a large part of Shelby’s past and present.
Do you remember Tuby? Did you, a family member, or someone you know work there? Do you remember what the plant was like years ago? Do you have any Tuby memorabilia or photographs tucked away? And what other pieces of Shelby history would you like to see featured in a future Throwback Thursday?
