For most of us, 40 years on the job is a long and distinguished career. But for TODCO door #M-67-4389, it's just a start, with no “retirement” in sight.
In fact, #M-67-4389 is the oldest TODCO door still in active service, and locating it marks the culmination of a six-month search by TODCO.
The search for the oldest working TODCO door is part of the firm's celebration of its 50th year in business. A nationwide contest was launched, offering a $500 reward for the person who could identify the oldest active TODCO door.
Through trade advertising and its web site (www.todco.com), TODCO asked individuals to send in the serial numbers for any older TODCO overhead door still in operation.
Door #M-67-4389 was identified by Antone Sepenoski of Southold NY. Sepenoski is a welder for North Fork Welding on Long Island. Door #M-67-4389, produced by TODCO in 1967 and now at North Fork Welding, is definitely still working — but it's not going anywhere.
The truck body, including the TODCO door intact, was removed from its truck many years ago and now serves as a storage facility. According to Sepenoski, “The truck that carried the door may have been wrecked 20 or 30 years ago. Since then, the truck body, with the original door, has been used as a storage shed. It's used to store electrical panels and wires.”
Sepenoski added, “The door works fine. In fact, it works better than the doors on some of the other sheds we have that aren't nearly as old.”
