Known by its unofficial trademark of a red rose, the unique creations of Bircraft could be found in gift shops across America and around the world. They were even found at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis.

What became Huntington’s Bircraft Plastic Products began as a hobby of Bernard and Clara Bir. Both Huntington natives, the couple was working at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois, when Bernard developed an interest in working with fragments of Plexiglas left over from the manufacture of airplane windows. The crystal-clear properties of Plexiglas and Lucite intrigued him.

In a St. Louis department store, the couple saw what they called a “square paperweight with a pretty flower in it.” Inspired by what they had seen, Bernard began perfecting the art of reverse carving into the clear plastic. The first finished result was a three-inch-high clear cross in a rose-filled stand that he made for Clara.

They continued making different items, but it was still just a hobby. After selling a few pieces, they thought they could start a business, but needed a name. Those who had seen or purchased pieces just referred to them as “Bir’s crafts,” and the name stuck. Clara became the first salesperson, and set off to get their creations into department stores. They were also sold as Christmas gifts.

By June 1946, they had refined their art of internal carving. They originally used dental drills but found flexible-shaft, air-powered drilling machines better suited for the job. Once the Plexiglas item was carved, it was cleaned of debris, filled with a resin dye, and finally sealed to prevent flaking. Sanding and polishing gave each product its sheen.

At the time it was believed to be the only place in the world where internal carving and coloring was done on a production basis. The Birs began training others in the art, noting it took as long as a year to learn the craft.

In 1949 the Birs returned to Huntington and set up their business in the home of Bernard’s parents, Frank and Margaret Bir, on Maple Grove Road. They set up the operation in three rooms on the main level.

Bircraft products made their first appearance at Chicago’s Furniture Market in the Merchandise Mart in August 1949. The Birs’ creations proved so popular they were retained for permanent display, while a Chicago newspaper ranked the line among the top five displays out of thousands of items at the show.

Bircraft was officially incorporated on November 3, 1949. In 1950, they moved out of Bernard’s parents’ house to downtown Huntington on Charles Street. They moved to a new site on Washington Street in 1962, and then to their familiar location on West State Street in 1967.

Bernard made more than small decorative items. He held several patents including one for an adjustable electrical plug which he developed while working at Scott Air Force Base. In 1962, the mayor of Huntington, Robert E. Ambler, asked him to make large cones to go atop the turret roof of the City Building. The cones were made of fiberglass and still exist on the roof of the building.

In 1979, Bernard and Clara retired from Bircraft, selling the company to Jeff Harris. In 1985, Harris sold Bircraft to Dr. John Regan, whose son, Mike, became president. In October of 1986, Bircraft moved to a new building at 250 Commerce Drive, operating there until 2008 when it closed during an economic downturn.

Bernard died in 1980, and Clara passed away in 2004. The company they created is also now gone, but their unique creations endure and continue to attract collectors who appreciate their craftsmanship and beauty. With their distinct red label, Bircraft pieces can still be found in homes in Huntington and beyond, many originally purchased as thoughtful gifts throughout the company’s 60 years of operation.