Chilton Company (AKA Chilton Printing Co., Chilton Publishing Co., Chilton Book Co. and Chilton Research Services) traces its origins back to July 1896 and the first issue of Cycle Trade Journal published by Cycle Trade Publishing Co.
The earliest date Chilton Company was used as a corporation name is 1904. That date is established by a corporate seal which reads “Chilton Company of Pennsylvania, incorporated March 31, 1904”. In 1907 the three partners purchased a printing company which they name Chilton Printing Company.
In 1923 Chilton was sold to United Publishers Corp of New York for $1,635,000. In 1923 Chilton also opened their new printing plant located at 56th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. This location was to serve as the Chilton Company corporate headquarters starting in the late 1940’s.
After the acquisition by United Publishers in 1923, the corporate office moved to New York City. In 1955 all the former United Publishers magazines and their staffs relocated from New York City to the corporate headquarters at 56th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. In 1968 Chilton moved their corporate offices to Decker Square in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. This served as temporary headquarters until 1972 when Chilton moved into its new corporate headquarters building in Radnor, Pennsylvania. In 1979 Chilton Company was purchased by the American Broadcasting Company. The ABC purchase proved to be the beginning of the end for Chilton.
