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Thomas F. Lilly had a vision to service his customers with the most innovative and useful products in the marketplace. Starting out in the painting industry, his vision shifted to the ice industry in the late 1920’s. He became somewhat of a pioneer by creating and patenting multiple devices that would simplify the process of sizing and bagging ice.
As refrigeration became more common by the end of WWII, it was once again time to adapt. By the late 40’s and early 50’s, the Lilly Company had evolved into a player in the material handling industry. The year 1952 marked the entry as a dealer for a major line of forklifts, as well as providing the parts and service for those products. Now, after nearly one hundred years of servicing the Mid-South and its neighbors, The Lilly Company is poised to continue its growth into an ever-changing market place.
1882
November 20, 1882
Owen Lilly, older brother of T.F. Lilly, incorporates the Lilly Carriage Company in Memphis TN, November 20, 1882. The Carriage Company specialized in horse drawn carriages, harnesses and also manufactured some early automobiles.
1919
Thomas F. Lilly founds The Lilly Brokerage Firm, which later becomes The Lilly Company in Memphis TN. The primary focus was taking large bulk quantities (55 gal. drum and larger) of products, such as petroleum jelly and linseed oil, and breaking them down and repackaging them into smaller, more consumer sized packages. As a result, the painting industry was a major focus.
1919
1929
Thomas Lilly built a machine that crushed 300 lb. blocks of ice & carried the chips along a conveyor for diverting and sorting into bags by size. This became a very profitable venture: In 1925, ice was the only method for keeping food cold. The business thrived in this form until World War II and the invention of refrigeration.
1945
The end of World War II signifies a shift in the marketplace as on-site refrigeration becomes more common.
1945
1945
Lilly salvaged from his ice crusher the one aspect that had a future in 1945: the conveyor system. He recognized that material handling offered great opportunity for industrial growth and he wanted to be a part of it.
1948
Thomas Lilly passes away, Thomas J. Clark Jr. leads the company towards continued growth.
1948
1948
Thomas J. Clark, Jr. Named as President of The Lilly Company.
1952
Became a dealer for Yale & Towne lift trucks. First forklift delivered to Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Company in Memphis.
1952
1969
The Lilly Company outgrew the Union Ave. location and moved facilities to Fleetbrook.
1982
By 1982, Tom was ready to turn over the business to the next generation, and his son Thomas J. Clark, III (Ret. U.S. Army, Major) became president after serving 20 years in the military as a commander and pilot of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
1982
1995
Moved Memphis operations center to current location on Knight Arnold Road.
2003
Became the exclusive dealer for Toyota Industrial Equipment for the Memphis and Mid-South Region.
2003
2004
First awarded The Presidents Award from Toyota Material Handling. This is the highest award a dealer can achieve.
2005
Expanded with a new brand line by adding Clark into the East Tennessee region.
2005
2006
Increased Clark footprint by acquiring and adding Birmingham and Madison Alabama locations.
2015
Acquired Alabama territory for Toyota Industrial Equipment. Four Toyota locations added in Alabama: Irondale, Dothan, Mobile and Montgomery.
2015
2016
As The Lilly Company approaches its 100 year anniversary, the leadership team is poised to continue growing our footprint, our presence in the market, and our people.
2019
The Lilly Company turns 100 in 2019. We celebrate 100 years and continue to treat our customers the way we would want to be treated.
2019
Today
You have a trusted partner in the material handling business.
Working at a government run site it is important to obtain high-quality equipment to be a good steward of taxpayer money. The Lilly Company is my go-to solution for forklift, material handling equipment, and services. There is a personalized touch, working with them. I highly recommend buying from The Lilly Company!
Our warehouse was in desperate need of help! We did not have a huge space to work with, and what little space we did have was cluttered and disorganized. The Lilly Company was able to offer a solution that fit within our budget and helped us to create a significantly more functional workspace.
We treat you the way we want to be treated. We show up when you need us, treat you and your team with respect, get the job done, and follow up.
Talk to an ExpertSince 1919, we’ve been helping businesses grow and maintain their operation without making costly mistakes along the way.
We wouldn’t have made it over 100 years without genuine expertise and integrity. At The Lilly Company, we’re real people who treat you like a real person.
At The Lilly Company, we believe setting you up for a successful operation means more than selling you equipment. You need the right equipment and the right service so your staff can do their job best, and your customers can get their goods fast.
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