Virco Manufacturing Company was officially founded in 1950 by Julian Virtue but its roots run deeper and are tied to the company, U. S. Plating, founded in the 1920s by Julian and his brother, Philip Virtue. Virco is a product of this original company which the brothers founded after experimenting with chrome plating in their backyard. Virco, throughout its long history, has produced outstanding furniture products and has grown to be the current leading supplier of furniture for the classroom.