TK Fireside

Since 1942

Three generations of American fireplace doors.

  1. 1942

    Black-and-white studio portrait of John E. Lydle, founder of Thermo-Rite Manufacturing.
    John E. Lydle, founder — first U.S. patent holder for the tempered glass fireplace enclosure.

    The original patent.

    John E. Lydle founds Thermo-Rite Manufacturing in Akron, Ohio, originating the tempered glass fireplace enclosure and holding the first U.S. patent until 1968.

  2. 1950s–1970s

    Illustrated rendering of the Thermo-Rite manufacturing building in Akron, Ohio, with trees and blue sky.
    The Thermo-Rite building, Akron, Ohio.

    Setting the industry standard.

    Thermo-Rite becomes the reference for American fireplace enclosures. Archive photos capture the 1956 building rendering, the 1968 offices, and decades of promotional imagery.

  3. 2025

    Brett Lyren, founder of TK Fireside.
    Brett Lyren — founder, TK Fireside.

    The legacy relaunches.

    Brett Lyren, John Lydle's grandson, relaunches the company as TK Fireside — modernizing manufacturing while keeping every door handcrafted in Akron.

  4. Today

    Contemporary TK Fireside workshop detail.
    Inside the TK Fireside workshop, Akron, Ohio.

    12 models, plus full custom.

    Seven masonry models, five Zero Clearance models, and full custom capability. New materials, modular designs, and new finishes in active development.

One family. One craft. Three generations.

Three generations of the Thermo-Rite family: a vintage black-and-white portrait of founder John E. Lydle blended alongside two modern color portraits of the current generation.
Three generations of the family behind TK Fireside

Why Akron?

A proud industrial hometown.

Akron built the tire that put America on the road and the enclosure that made the hearth safer. Every TK Fireside door is still made here and we have no plans to leave.