The VandalStop Story


With steadfast determination, a curious Curtis Bailey sought to understand what made the mechanical world work, and he constantly sought ways to improve it.As a youngster he watched in fascination as astronauts boarded the Mercury space capsules for their launch into space in the late 50’s early 1960s.  Entranced by the live coverage of John Glen’s three orbits of earth on his family’s black and white television, he witnessed the new world unfold bringing new and exciting challenges facing the world.  

Bailey mixed these visions of the new world with the more mundane reality of survival.  Barrels, buckets and pans caught rainwater that dripped from the leaky roof of his Chico family home and in winter he placed rocks by the fireplace to heat his bed at night.  Hard work was valued taking care of and feeding the collection of horses and cows on the home property. By the age of ten he was climbing the trees, knocking almonds to the ground, occasionally hastily retreating from the almond trees leaving the job temporarily unfinished when angry wasps disputed his trespassing into their space.  He grew up with farm labor, clearing brush, lighting smudge pots to protect springtime blossoms, getting drenched while spraying trees with Copper Sulfate or Malathion to control mites.  Safety gear? What’s that? By the age of twelve, he woke up before the sun and peddled his bicycle into downtown to deliver the Chico Enterprise Record as people started a new day. Today he recalls old downtown Chico with great accuracy and reverence.
           
Bailey knew how to work hard and his natural curiosity never rested.
In the days before diodes, he would meticulously dismantle and fix broken toasters, heaters, irons, electrical tools, small engines or anything mechanical.  He studied entomology, electricity, and animal husbandry in 4-H.  Mechanical drawing, photography, metal and wood shop classes drew his interest in high school.  Unless his hands and mind were engaged in something practical, he had little interest in school.

His Father was a prominent local accountant, yet math confounded Bailey! In his very early years Bailey watched in fascination as weather balloons were launched at the Chico airport.  Then, at 17, he landed a job dismantling the Titan II Missile Base in Chico.  This appealed to his love for the mechanical world, and it introduced him to the world of Stainless Steel.  This was followed by farm labor jobs working side by side with then “legal migrant workers” where he learned the brutally hard labors of siphon pipe irrigation, operate and maintain equipment, tractors, backhoes, trucks, road graders, hay hauling and large scale cattle feedlot responsibility and associated field work. Another early and interesting job in 1969 occurred when McDonalds arrived in Chico. Among the first to be hired during McDonalds early years, Bailey was sent to McDonalds Hamburger University in Oakbrook, IL. He graduated earning diploma #106. It was all about a simple menu, quality and profits.
  
Following in footsteps of two older brothers who previously served in Vietnam, Bailey enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1973, completing basic training at Ft. Ord, California. Based on high test scores, apparently the military recognized Bailey’s mechanical aptitude and sent him to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for advanced training in Pershing missiles.  He was then sent to Korea during the Vietnam era where he worked in the Second Infantry Division, with tactical nuclear warheads for a short time. Wanting nothing to do with nuclear weapons, Bailey found a job working as a photography technician at the division newspaper.  During off-duty hours very often Bailey hitched rides on helicopters seeing the countryside from the air and ground, including several visits to the demilitarized zone. Bailey even survived a helicopter crash. His love and fascination with helicopters has never stopped and continues even today without fear.

While in Korea he met and worked with close Army buddies now mentors to this day. Cleo stressed the importance, obligation and duty of a photographer never turn away from a difficult shot and “Forever capture moments in time”. Another military buddy now longtime friend Paul helped teach him in and outs of photo-journalism and writing. When Bailey found his re-enlistment would mean going back to tactical nuclear weapons, he accepted his honorable discharge and returned to civilian life.

Back in the civilian world, Bailey worked at a variety of jobs before joining the City of Chico in 1981.  Performing “Park Maintenance and Urban Forestry,” Bailey’s tasks included planting trees and operating a 70-foot tower truck performing tree care to Arborist standards. Working in one of the largest natural Parks in the Nation, Bidwell Park, he was innovative in many assigned projects. It was while working for the city that the seeds of Vandal Stop Products began and took root. “I had to make what did not work well, work better”. Then Urban Forester-Supervisor and now longtime friend Jerry counseled, “If you build it, build it well”.  Bailey recalls with a chuckle when close friends Jan & Larry who are well traveled folks return from a trip in Europe and brought back photos of a similar item he was working on. It provided insight from a different perspective.

Quite often he hears from customers who know his product line suggesting he send product information here and there to folks who are in need of a durable fixture. At times, he receives “too much information” about very “personal” moments which usually ends with humor. “From the mine to installation”, Bailey believes strongly in American labor, we would not be here today without support from outstanding VandalStop believers. Bailey does not rule out in the future developing a working relationship with out of country manufacturing on future products. Right now these products are for and made buy American hands to benefit Americans.

Restroom vandalism plagues most Park systems and Bailey saw a need for a dispenser that was indestructible and that would prevent the theft of or misuse of toilet paper rolls in weaker commercial fixtures.  He put his mind to work and developed a Stainless Steel dispenser that can withstand the weight of a Semi-Tractor trailer truck or even a D-7 Caterpillar! Often he quips, “I am serious about stopping wanton senseless vandalism providing a first line of defense”. Since that time he has added many innovations such as unbreakable steel mirrors, soap dispensers, and several versions of his original fixture. Friends of VandalStop include Parks, BLM, ACOE, Schools, Stadiums, State DOT, Military ships, and many tougher sites of East LA, Los Angeles, or rough areas in New York. Whether a McDonalds in, California or a McDonalds in New Jersey all indicate his sincerity to offer first line solutions is appreciated.

All customers have found the unique niche market product to provide and deliver what is promised. The rigors of vandalism, high customer traffic usage, Vandal Stop Products sustain far better than competitors similar products. Vandal Stop Product’s delivers on our guarantee of a final solution. The “other guys” promise repeat help. VandalStop has attracted international interest including placements in Turkey, UK, Korea, and Canada. The “first” fixture was placed as trial in Hamilton City, CA. a rough Park; the unit was a soft metal prototype. The first Stainless Steel unit was placed along the Pacific Coast town of Crescent City where heavy saltwater air attacks everything metal. Both units remain in service today 28 years later at last check in 2007.

Bailey is adept at spotting a practical need, designing a product to meet that need, and then manufacturing a product that fills a void in the world of public restrooms or public service areas in general by keeping it strong and simple. Not a fan of moving parts, he continues in his daily activity focusing on other innovations. He indicates he has many more concepts he wants to develop over time and comments that “if there isn’t a fixture in place there is no controlled way to dispense product” then owners, vendors and customers lose.
 
“I am often asked where or how I come up with the ideas,” Bailey said “I do not know”, my best guess most of my innovative ideas are spawned in my subconscious sleep. “I have been told it is a gift. If true, I humbly accept the gift”.
 
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