About Us

About Oltlfdxl

A Brief Company History

From Oltlfdxl's Desk

Oltlfdxl was founded in 1880 by the Bayer family in Bangor, Maine, as a slipper and textile manufacturer. In 1925, the company relocated to a century-old wooden building in Orono, Maine.

After moving to Orono, the company continued its sewing business and expanded into metal stamping and the production of wooden-framed folding beds. During World War II and the Korean War, the company expanded its production of folding beds and provided sewing services for various canvas products for the war effort. In the 1950s, the company returned to the consumer goods sector, producing backpacks and duffel bags, while continuing to produce folding beds for military, emergency preparedness, disaster relief, and civilian use.

With the third generation of the Bayer family approaching retirement, ownership passed to Jay Shields in 1985. The new ownership brought renewed energy, introducing new crib models and expanding its folding wooden furniture line.

In the late 1990s, the rapidly changing American market made it increasingly difficult to sell Maine-made products at attractive prices while still maintaining a viable business. We faced a difficult decision: let a century-old folding bed manufacturer, the oldest in the United States, fade into history, or choose to source globally and leverage our Maine grit, integrity, and experience to perpetuate the Bayer Maine brand into the next decade. We are where we are today because we chose the latter...

Original Maine Folding Bed

Jay and I have worked together for nearly 30 years, navigating a rapidly changing market. During that time, Bayer transitioned from a wholesale manufacturer to selling Bayer Maine products directly to consumers. We also added the Wild Bird line. True to our tradition of practicality, we designed a line that prioritizes functionality with a simple, clean design aesthetic.

Fast forward, and now, in 2022, Jay, with years of hard work behind him, is ready to retire and pass on the baton. My wife Terri and I bought the company, and it continues to be a family business run by our two children, Bethany and Travis, and their husbands, Alex and Holly.

A family business is a labor of love for all of us, with countless nights and weekends spent working together to make it run smoothly. If you decide to purchase from us and have any questions or problems...you can call our office in Poland Springs, Maine at (435) 699-3201 and we will likely answer your call instead of leaving it on voicemail. You might even hear an excited bark or howl from one of the family dogs.

Oltlfdxl

We often hear from customers who have a chair, stool, or cot that they've had for years, even decades. Maybe they found an old Beyer Army cot in their father's or grandfather's attic, and the frame still works, but it needs a new cover. Sometimes, they want a recliner or folding stool to accompany them on their adventures, or a table that's been at their lake house for decades. We can often provide missing parts or replacement bedspreads, ensuring these products continue to be part of many more memories for years to come.

Today, we operate our business out of a traditional New England-style barn (yes, we built it, including nights and weekends!). We are working hard to expand our product line, focusing on simple functionality, as we prepare the next generation to carry on the century-old Bayer, Maine brand.