1930s

The 1930s marked years of perfecting the engineering of the J.E. Burke product. In 1935, the company introduced a residential line of play equipment called the Swing King, designed for home backyards and even indoor use. The advertising rhyme, “plenty of play the Swing King way,” was introduced and quickly became a household jingle. J.E.’s innovative mind also produced products such as the Swimming Wheel and the Toboggan Slide.

Along with quality and innovation, another hallmark of the company since its inception is exceptional customer service. J.E. strongly believed in treating people with integrity, honesty and fairness. To that end, he created a playground maintenance service. For as little as $5.00 a year, the Burke company maintained and repaired the customer’s playground. A Burke red truck was outfitted with playground tools, supplies, and parts and traveled the countryside inspecting playgrounds and making needed repairs. This incomparable level of customer service set Burke apart from the onset to the present.

BCI Burke History 1940s