Tropitone started back in 1954 when Mr. Bert M. Baker, Sr., a retired engineer from the Grand Rapids Chair Co. and former engineer for Lockheed Aircraft, moved to Sarasota, Florida. Mr. Baker, an energetic and creative individual, soon became bored with retirement and bought a small, local company known as the Sarasota Redwood Furniture Co., a manufacturer of fine redwood outdoor furniture.

Drawing upon his experience in both the furniture and aircraft industries and his knowledge of aluminum, Mr. Baker soon switched from redwood to welded aluminum for his furniture construction. From this small, inauspicious beginning, Tropitone was born.

Mr. Baker's goal since Tropitone's inception was to provide quality casual furniture built with a commitment to comfort, style and value. Throughout his years with Tropitone, Mr. Baker pioneered many design and manufacturing innovations; innovations which the Casual Industry as a whole has adopted and which are now considered "standard features" on all fine casual furniture.