Vol. 3, No. 3, May/June 1995	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Homegrown in Delaware: Gentleman Door Company

Tom & Ann Strab
Yorklyn, DE

Tom Strab first introduced himself to DATI in 1992 when he invited Director Beth Mineo to tour a home that he had made accessible for his sister, who has multiple sclerosis. Because of the many innovative, practical, and inexpensive adaptations that Tom had incorporated into this house, he was invited to share some of his ideas in a session during the 1992 annual conference at Clayton Hall. One of the most exciting ideas presented at that session was a remote control door opener. Because of this invention, Tom has since gone on to win the Delaware Architectural Accessibility Award in 1993 and to establish the Gentleman Door Company in 1994.

Tom and Ann are now marketing "The Gentleman" door opener nationally for $350 each. Standard features include:

• 2 function, hand-held remote control
• emergency exit feature in event of power failure
• striker release which unlocks and unlatches the door
• easy installation, no electrical work, no special tools
• all maintenance free and corrosion resistant components
• powered by either a small air compressor or bottled CO2 (sold separately for approximately $100-$200)
• usability on interior or exterior doors
• door remains fully open until you choose for it to close
• doors may be held open for extended periods of time.

Tom currently has a patent pending on The Gentleman and is pursuing the development of a second unit designed to pneumatically open sliding doors. For further information, contact the Strabs at:

Gentleman Door Co.
Tom & Ann Strab
506 Dawson Tract Rd.
P.O. Box 77
Yorklyn, DE 19736
(302)239-4045

Congratulations, Tom and Ann, on a great product that's been "HomeGrown in Delaware"!