Today, I was driving and looked at an old brown building to my left and saw the name, L. J. Die Casting. I know that LJ Die Casting Company does not have any die casting machines. They sold all of them about 10 years ago. When I had stopped by about 6 years ago the manager at the time said they sold the machines and now import all their aluminum parts from overseas. I was curious today and wanted to stop to see why the building still has LJ Die Casting outside. I walked into the door and saw two workers grinding sand castings. I looked in the next small building and saw more aluminum lighting parts. I saw a lot of light fixture parts. In the next work area I asked a guy who is the manager? He pointed to a small building out back. I walked up to the building and out walks two men. The first man I did not know, it turns out his name is Jesus. He walked around the building to another warehouse in back. The second man I knew to be the general manager of now closed, Alcasto Die Casting Company, his name is Dale Weitzel.

When he looked up at me, Dale got a shocked look on his face.

He asked me “what are you doing here?”
I told him, “I am looking for the manager”. Dale said “he just went around the corner”.

Then Dale turned to lock the door to the office.
I said, “you are not the manager?” He said “no, I am retired”.
I said, “if you are not the manager, why are you locking the door?” He said, “the guy who left told me to lock it”.

He said, “I stopped by here to see if these guys can make a gun lock part I need”.

Then Dale walked quickly toward his truck to leave. I followed and told him, “I would like to meet the manager, what is his name?” Dale said, “Jesus”. Then Dale told me he has not worked since closing Alcastco, about three years. Then Dale drove away quickly.

I walked around the corner in the direction that Dale said Jesus walked. I walked into another warehouse area with more lighting parts made overseas. I was wondering, how do these guys stay in business?

I found Jesus and asked him if he needed parts made by Kinetic Die Casting Company, a local die casting company. He indicated that he is the shipping guy. I need to talk to his manager, Dale Weitzel. When I asked for a card, he gave the business card that said “LJ Die Casting, Serving the Lighting and Lamp Industry, Dale Weitzel, General Manager”

What a strange conversation I had with Dale. Why did he feel he had to be dishonest with me? I am not sure that I will ever understand?

Kinetic Die Casting Company, Inc.
6918 Beck Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91605
“The Parts We Make Today, We Ship Today”
Die Casting Part Quotes