Paricon LLC

Paricon LLC designs and sources its products from the US, Canada, Mexico and Far East. Its two product lines are sold throughout the US, Canada and the UK under the exclusive Flexible Flyer trademark for winter use and Driveway Gates trademark for use in Spring, Summer and Fall. Sales are to major retailers, wholesales, catalog and internet. Paricon has a long and colorful history in the sled-making business, starting in 1861 with the founding of a family business, Paris Manufacturing, in South Paris Maine, by the great grandfather of current CEO, Hank Morton. From then through today and into the future the story unfolds. It all started, in 1861, when Henry Morton married Lucilla Forbes and the young couple started making sleds in their home. Henry constructed the sleds by hand and his wife decorated them. Their son, Will, an accomplished artist, distinguished himself as a sled painter, specializing in water scenes and scrolls. Hand-decorated sleds today are much sought after by collectors, but the originals were probably meant to ensure that each sled would be a child's prized possession. During the early 1900s, when each sled was made by hand, the company employed close to 300 workers. It continued in operation as a family business, still employing 200 workers, until the family gave up ownership in 1970s and sold to Gladding Corporation. In 1978, Hank Morton, great-grandson of the founder, headed a group of investors that purchased the company back from Gladding.Today, Hank and his sons, Ted and Tom, are continuing the family tradition in the sled business with Paricon.