Reed celebrates 125 years in business
Reed Manufacturing in Erie, Pennsylvania, is celebrating 125 years of supplying industry with pipe tools and vises for the professional trades.
The company was founded by Carl Reed and three partners in 1896. He started by manufacturing pipe wrenches and plumbing supplies, which are still being manufactured by the company today, but also made scales, bicycles, and laundry machinery. In 1902 Reuben Wright of Westfield, New York, bought Reed Manufacturing and put his sons in charge of the business. His great-great grandsons Scott Wright, company president and chairman of the board, and Mark Wright, who is retired but remains on the board, are actively involved today.
Reed tools were used in the construction of the Panama Canal. In 1915, Reed bench vises were awarded a gold medal and Reed pipe dies received a bronze medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. A distantly related pair of Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, used a Reed vise in their Dayton bicycle/aviation shop. Reed was a defense contractor during both world wars, turning out stocks, dies, and pipe cutters in the Great War and wrenches, turbine buckets, and airplane engine mounts for World War II. Additionally, the Reed Shaw Machine for pressing collars was installed in all Navy ships and could be found in most commercial laundries across the United States. Reed was exporting from early in its existence with relationships in Europe and beyond. Today Reed sells into over 100 countries. Still housed in the historic building at 1425 West 8th Street, Reed remains an Erie landmark.
From the company’s beginning, Reed associates have invented tools that continually become industry standards, including the Quick Release Tubing Cutter, various tools for plastic pipe, vises, plus Hinged Pipe Cutters and Rotary Pipe Cutters. Each year Reed makes end-user driven improvements and refinements to existing tools. Recent tool additions include Pump Stick water transfer pump, Clean Ream Extreme® fitting reamers, Bevel Boss pipe beveler, Bear Hug squeeze tools, along with continuous improvements to long-standing tools. Reed takes pride in manufacturing high quality tools that provide tool solutions.
"The secret of Reed’s continuing, increasing success can be attributed to its corporate culture of excellence and the quality of its company associates, who are individually committed to exceptional performance and service," according to a company press release. "Over the past century and a quarter, Reed Manufacturing tirelessly has worked for the betterment of Erie County, through the United Way and its predecessor the Community Chest. Reed and its employees have supported dozens of organizations in categories from the arts to scouting to reducing poverty to medical causes. Reed people, products, and service will continue to excel. Reed is forward-thinking and will continue to improve its customer offerings throughout each of its next 125+ years."
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The November/December issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Kimball Midwest. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and Mike Marks, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
