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Universal’s corporate ancestor, Bee Jay Products, Inc., was founded in 1936, in Kansas City by Mr. Joseph Berkowitz as a toy manufacturing company. Paper-based small games of chance were just a part of the company’s product line.As Bee Jay grew, so did the company’s line of small games of chance, and the manufacturing of toys was gradually phased out.
When Mr. Berkowitz died in 1962, the company was producing virtually nothing but small games of chance. The company has long been considered a leading manufacturer of "jar tickets" – small folded and banded slips of paper which contain winning and losing symbols, numbers and other configurations, which are used in numerous games.
At the invitation of Joyce Berkowitz, widow of the founder, Mr. Norm Wilner moved to Kansas City in 1962 to assist her in managing Bee Jay. Mr. Wilner – who owned and operated a competing company, Werts Novelty Co. of Muncie, Indiana – had been a highly regarded competitor by Mr. Berkowitz. Mr. Wilner continued to manage Werts while assisting Mrs. Berkowitz with her company. In 1963, Mr. Wilner and Joyce Berkowitz were married.
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TODAY
Universal employs about 250 people in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1976, the company relocated its home plant to 5450 Deramus, which is an industrial area located south of the Missouri River close to the Chouteau Bridge. It has expanded twice since the original construction, and is housed in a 213,000sq. foot facility.The company manufactures nothing but paper-based small games of chance. In addition to jar tickets, the company also manufactures pull tabs, punch boards and sweepstakes products. Virtually all of the products manufactured by the company are used by organizations across the United States in charitable fund-raising efforts.
Universal is licensed as a manufacturer of charitable gaming products in 22 states. The company also has some international sales.
In 2005 Universal purchased a local, privately owned commercial printing company; Reflections Printing. The companies have now merged and are operating as Universal Printing and Manufacturing Co. Universal is a “one stop” shop for its customer base as we continue to grow and expand in the Charitable Gaming industry.
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