About Us

Our Story

The motive force of what has now become a major industrial organization can be found in the vision, energy, and leadership of three pioneers of commerce, Mr. H. Temple Tucker, Mr. Bruce Stapleton, and Mr. Robert E. Lensing.

Mr. H. Temple Tucker

The first of these three, Mr. Tucker, looked to the Western Frontier at the turn of the century and saw the opportunity at the eastern marshaling point for the wild west, the fabled Border Town, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Home of Hangin’ Judge Isaac C. Parker and Sheriff “Rooster” Cogburn, and later immortalized by the actor John Wayne, Fort Smith lay across the Arkansas River from Indian and Outlaw Country. Temple Tucker saw a demand for Conestoga wagon covers, tents, tarpaulins, wooden folding cots, and other canvas products. Mr. Tucker’s startup in the Fort in 1907 marked our beginning.

Mr. Bruce Stapleton

The second of these entrepreneurs, Mr. Stapleton, conceived the need for a foldable low cube ladder that would fit in the trunk of his automobile. Bruce was an insurance adjuster who needed a portable ladder to facilitate his inspections and estimates. In 1956, Mr. Stapleton finalized his design and began manufacturing and distributing his product from the incubator of the US industry – his garage. The Stapleton adjuster’s Ladder is still a Hallmark of Quality and an ambassador of Arkansas Industry distributed around the World.

Mr. Robert E. Lensing

As the Tucker and Stapleton companies matured, a business person with equal energy and mental toughness, Robert “Bob” Lensing, began to formulate his vision. Following the development of several small enterprises, Mr. Lensing acquired Stapleton Corporation in 1972. In the years that followed, Bob grew Stapleton into a major manufacturer of ladders, attic stairways, and household climbing products. In the early 1980’s, during a period of reorganization in Tucker’s businesses, Bob Lensing saw and executed an opportunity to strengthen his related enterprises with the acquisition of the automotive and canvas operations of H. T. Tucker Industries.

Continuing the Tucker business under his umbrella, Bob folded the automotive business into a new company, REL Products, to serve the automotive aftermarket. In 1989, following an extensive period of development, Mr. Lensing reset his core direction toward metal and plastic rather than wood. Bob divested Stapleton of wooden stepladders and associated products by selling those operations to a major competitor. He then re-directed the company to succeed as a leading supplier of metal climbing products, a well-formulated manufacturing, and marketing strategy that has proven very successful.

Clarksville Plant
 Clarksville Plant
LensCo Production
 LensCo Production

As the businesses grew Bob instilled love, good business sense, and a strong work ethic in his six children. Three of Bob’s children took an active role in business. Each brought their own talents to the management team and have helped diversify the group into new high growth areas.

Glen Lensing, using his outstanding product development skills, established Lensco, Inc. as an innovative product development and manufacturing business. Glen developed and manufactures a diverse product line including folding ladders and fitness and rehabilitation products.

Jerry Lensing, using his years of experience in the furniture industry, launched the REL Products logo seating division. Jerry’s product line offers a new and unique approach to promoting a brand image for restaraunts, hotels and other image conscious institutions.

Following Glen and Jerry’s success and in an attempt to improve their marketing opportunities, Patrick Lensing launced MarkSYS Enterprises. MarkSYS is dedicated to the application of new Internet based technologies to small and medium sized businesses. MarkSYS offers targeted promotional programs with extensive web and ecommerce support to effectively reach potential markets.

Wooden Creeper
 Wooden Creeper
Adjusters Ladder
 Adjusters Ladder

Stapleton, REL Products, H.T. Tucker, Lensco and MarkSYS serve their markets side by side under Mr. Lensing’s leadership. They operate according to the same traditional values, concern for product quality and dependable service that was first established by Mr. Tucker at the turn of the century.

The Lensing Group is a far cry from Conestoga Wagons, but the next century is sure to bring changes that are much more significant than we saw during the last one hundred years. Lensco will be a leader in utilizing new and emerging technologies to leverage our position in the marketplace. The values that brought us to 1999, though, will still be apparent a hundred years from now.

Clinton Supports LensCo
 Clinton Supports LensCo

Now

However, due to the age, Stapleton/REL Folding Wood Ladders for Insurance Adjusters are no longer in production, the younger generation took over the site.

We now provide the best lists and guides for users who visit the website and want to buy various types of ladders. We use the expertise of us and our elders to help users make the most informed judgments.