Morris Tick Co., Inc. has been doing business for 112 years.   Founded in 1898, by brothers Morris & Paul Tick, Immigrants from an area of Russia called the Pale of Settlement. First generation, Morris Tick, started his business with a horse and buggy collecting & selling items such as hides, tallow, wool, raw furs, & junk.  In the beginning Morris Tick also sold produce in addition to dealing in junk at the Center St., location in Bloomington, IL.

Morris Tick c. 1920’s

Morris Tick

Second generation William B. Tick came into the business in the early 1920’s and relocated to the present location at 501 E. Stewart St., Bloomington, IL in the 1940‘s. Handling similar commodities also adding paper, glass, and secondary raw materials, otherwise known in those days as junk. The majority of the scrap iron then was transported by rail.

William B. Tick c. 1940’s

William B. Tick c. 1940’s

Morris Tick Company’s Workers 1940’s

Third generation Irving S. Tick got into the family business after a stint at the Chicago Board of Trade in the 1950‘s. He worked in all aspects of the Morris Tick Co., Inc. The company now deals only in scrap iron & scrap metals, no longer called junk! Recycling is the new word for junk, as people relate better to recycling. Aluminum cans are now the latest commodity, a class of its own. Aluminum cans have brought forth a new group of recyclers.

Young Irv Tick 1930’s?

Irv Tick 1991
Irv with Can Car

The handling process has changed over the years, brute strength and muscles is only a part of the handling process.  Investments were made on how material is now handled at this time, magnet and grapple cranes, sorting tables, shears, forklifts, can crushers & a densifier making things more productive & safer.

Old Magnet Crane

Crane Truck

Press Brake

In the early 1970’s the company expanded into steel fabrication, fabricating items such as stair supports and railings. Supplying beams for residential builders & others products.  This area known now as Tick Steel has grown to large fabrication projects from the YMCA early on to many of the additions to Wesleyan and ISU.

Heartland Community College railings, stairways and joists

Steel Frame and Joists

Gate at Moses Montefiore Temple

In the 1980’s, the railroad abandoned the rail line going through the Stewart St. property, causing the company to build high-sided trailers & purchase semi-tractors so that the company could transport the scrap iron. Today Morris Tick Company has a full fleet of trucks, trailers & roll-off containers, making it possible to not only ship scrap out of the business but also to pick up scrap from our customers and meet the recycling demands of Bloomington/Normal, IL and the surrounding communities.

Roll-off Trucks

Cans crushed and formed for recycling

Irv Tick and David Tick 2007

Fourth generation David Tick, State Farm Agent, from Tucson AZ stays in the background. His interest is keeping the family business for his sons, Jake & Sam, the up and coming fifth generation.  He has put his trust in his management team, this team has longevity, experience, and a love of the business.  They are the same as family. 

Our staff’s attention to detail, emphasis on quality and customer focus and the fact that our goal is to take care of McLean County and surrounding areas for its recycling needs, empowers us.

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All information on this Web site is Copyright 2008 by Morris Tick.