GAF Materials Corporation

GAF is a company based in Parsippany, New Jersey, that has roots dating back to the late 19th century. The GAF acronym stands for General Aniline & Film. The company has historically been primarily focused on manufacturing of roofing materials for residential and commercial applications. At one time GAF was also active in manufacturing photographic film as well as cameras and projectors (both still and motion picture), and was the manufacturer of the View-Master, the famous line of 3D transparencies, viewers and projectors. Briefly in the 1970s, it was the official film of Disneyland and at this time, actor Henry Fonda served as the company's spokesman in several television commercials including one that featured Jodie Foster in her first acting role.

Founded in 1886, GAF has become the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, with sales approaching $3 billion. With more than two dozen manufacturing plants located throughout the United States, the company has over 3,000 employees and sells its roofing products worldwide. Originally American IG, began as the American holdings of the German IG Farben

1886 – Company founded as The Standard Paint Company

1892 – First ready-to-lay asphalt roofing is created, known as "Ruberoid"

1904 – Method perfected to embed colored granules in asphalt coating

1912 – Individually-cut asphalt shingles are introduced

1921 – Based on the success of its roofing line, Standard Paint changes its name to the Ruberoid Company

1928 - The American holdings of the German company I.G.Farben were organized into American I.G.; later renamed General Aniline & Film or GAF for short.

1933 – Interlocking shingles introduced

1966 – General Aniline & Film acquires Sawyer's, manufacturer of photographic equipment

1967 – Ruberoid merges with General Aniline & Film and adopts the GAF name

1967 – "Timberline" architectural shingle introduced

1968 – General Aniline & Film Corp. formally changes its name to GAF Corporation

1982 – Samuel J. Heyman took control of the company

1987 – Samuel J. Heyman took the company private; it continues to be owned by the Heyman family

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