Quality Images started back in 1987 when Joe
Portas retired from the daily grind of '8 to 5' and was looking for a way to
use his talents and his time. He was recruited to make a number of custom
furniture pieces for friends. Thinking that this would be a good way to keep
busy and to make a little money, Joe started a small in home business called
Quality Images. The company prospered, but in a way that left little time
for home activities and travel. Then, after the purchase of a new sports car,
QI took a different turn. Mary and he fell in love with their new 1991 Red
"A" Miata named "KNOBzilla". They became active with the local Miata
Club and enjoyed the life style of a 'Peak to Peak' club member. On one of the
clubs runs, a member saw Joe's custom laser engraved gearshift knob and
requested one of his own! "Knobmeister" division was born! Then another knob was
made for another member. Then another, an on it went! People from other clubs
found out that he could customize their gearshift knobs as well as make new ones
from scratch. Name badges for clubs then followed! Internet service was
introduced with this web site about the same time [This update you are reading
is the first major revision in well over five years!] Well, word spread around
the sports car community and now Joe does a wide variety of products for not
just Miatas, MR2's and JEEPS but many other cars both mundane and exotic!
A few years ago the pair bought a computer driven embroidery machine "Amy"
and the fabric branch was born. VisorGloves and KnobGloves were
the direct result of that purchase!
Word of mouth has lead the company to do many other custom products from
judge's gavels to Glass Christmas ornaments. His Universal Systems Laser
Engraver is busy 17 hours a day seven days a week! He has been much busier
now than he ever was working at a "regular job". Joe never thought that he would
have customers on every continent except Antarctica! His and Mary's
vacations now evolve around attending trade shows, national and international
events! They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary while attending the
International Miata Event in Bruges Belgium!
Be advised .... Quality Images is not a big
operation with lots of employees. It's just Joe and Mary! So if they do not
respond immediately to emails and phone calls, it's probably that they are
enjoying their favorite pastime traveling or doing some home chore! [Sometimes
they need to do domestic duties! Can't work ALL the time!]
We have always thought we should be known as "Knobmeister
Heavy Industries"! [Will attach smoke stacks to our roof in the near
future!]
We really love the new location with spectacular views of
Pike's Peak and the Rocky Mountain Front Range!
KNOBmeister Products
Email the Knobmeister
Our new address is:
KNOBmeister
3595 Gray Circle
Elbert, CO USA
80106-9652
