Helmac

The Helmac Products Corporation was a manufacturer and distributor of clothing care and fabric care products. Founded in 1956¹ in Flint, Michigan, Helmac was founded by Nicholas D. McKay, Sr. who is credited with inventing the modern lint roller. Helmac manufactured the successful "Lint Pic-Up" lint roller in Flint, Michigan, until 1999 when the company relocated to Georgia. Under the leadership of Nicholas McKay, Jr., Helmac pursued aggressive expansion, introducing dozens of new products and changing its name to Evercare in 2002. The company was eventually acquired by Butler Home Products in 2014, which further integrated with their parent company in 2018 under the name Bradshaw Home. McKay's lint roller design is still produced and sold under the Evercare brand.

The Helmac Products Corporation was a manufacturer and distributor of clothing care and fabric care products. Founded in 1956 in Flint, Michigan, Helmac was founded by Nicholas D. McKay, Sr. who is credited with inventing the modern lint roller. Helmac manufactured the successful "Lint Pic-Up" lint roller in Flint, Michigan, until 1999 when the company relocated to Georgia. Under the leadership of Nicholas McKay, Jr., Helmac pursued aggressive expansion, introducing dozens of new products and changing its name to Evercare in 2002. The company was eventually acquired by Butler Home Products in 2014, which further integrated with their parent company in 2018 under the name Bradshaw Home. McKay's lint roller design is still produced and sold under the Evercare brand. ==Early history== Helmac was founded in 1956 in Flint, Michigan by electrical engineer Nicholas D. McKay. In 1955, while on his way to chaperone a school dance with his wife, Helen, McKay wrapped masking tape around a toilet paper tube and affixed it to a wire coat hanger to remove some lint from his tuxedo. Soon after, he came up with the design for the modern lint roller. He founded the Helmac Products Corporation in 1956 to manufacture and market his new product, the Helmac Lint Pic-Up, for which he received a patent in 1963. The company was named after McKay's wife, Helen (Helmac is a portmanteau of Helen McKay). Helen was involved in the company until her death in 1983. After originally operating out of McKay's basement, Helmac opened its first dedicated shop in 1962 in downtown Flint. In 1968, it expanded to a newly-constructed factory at 528 Kelso St. In 1963, McKay partnered with Eric M. Roth to incorporate Helmac-Roth, Ltd. in Toronto, Canada. Helmac-Roth was exporting Lint Pic-Up rollers to more than 16 countries in 1966. Roth eventually left the partnership to form his own company: Roth (Plastics) Corporation. ==References== Patent for Lint Pic-Up

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