About Us

John Tiedemann was born in New York City in 1906. His father passed away when he was three years old, prompting his family to move from New York City to Jersey City, NJ. John left school in the sixth grade to work at a foundry, helping to support his widowed mother. Despite starting work at such a young age, he had greater aspirations. By the age of 13, he had self-educated himself in electricity by reading extensively. At just 13 years old, he owned his own electrical contracting business, employing five people to convert gas-lit houses into electrically-lit homes.

 

John married Julia Melvin in 1921 when he was only 15 years old. The couple went on to have a large family, with 13 children—11 boys and 2 girls. 

 

When John turned 20, he recognized a growing opportunity in the market and started educating himself again, this time in converting coal furnaces to oil-burning furnaces. He identified a demand for oil and wanted to launch an oil delivery service. However, his wife was opposed to the idea of incurring debt to buy trucks. Consequently, he sold his business to a company that is now known as Efficiency Oil in Jersey City, NJ.

 

During the Great Depression, when jobs were scarce, John found work on a merchant marine ship. This experience allowed him to travel the world and learn about different cultures and architectural styles. Upon returning home, he got a job at St. Michael's Church in Jersey City, where Monsignor McWilliams quickly recognized John's talents. He assigned John to build an addition to St. Michael's Parish School and a gymnasium.

 

In 1953, Monsignor McWilliams approached John with a problem he had encountered several times before. The church needed painting but could not afford the scaffolding necessary to reach the high ceiling. After several days of contemplation, John began to research equipment that could be built to access the ceiling. 

 

He conceived of a boom lift similar to the equipment used by sign installers at the time, but he aimed to create a smaller, lightweight version without counterweights. John developed an outrigger system for this boom, despite everyone he consulted insisting it would never work. However, his determination prevailed. He found a company willing to construct the boom based on his specifications.

 

John purchased a 1947 Willys Jeep to mount the boom and install his outrigger system. The machine was completed in late 1954 and underwent testing for several months before being put into use. Despite skepticism from engineers and others, John's confidence was unshaken, and indeed, the boom exceeded his expectations.

 

In 1955, John painted his first church, St. Michael's in Jersey City. Over the years, his company underwent several name changes, eventually settling on John Tiedemann Inc. in 1964. Since its inception in 1955, the company has manufactured three more booms for its own use and has painted and decorated over 1,500 religious buildings.

 

Today, Raymond Tiedemann, one of John Tiedemann’s 54 grandchildren, serves as the president of John Tiedemann Inc. He manages all aspects of the company daily. The equipment developed by his grandfather is still in operation, making it convenient and cost-effective to paint and decorate churches. The staff at John Tiedemann Inc. includes a large team of designers, plasterers, painters, artisans, and fine artists. They offer comprehensive services for complete interior restorations, from design to finishing touches, with unmatched expertise in the field. Please explore this site to see the quality of work we provide.