How We’ve Served Customers for 125 Years
What started with a single machinist and an idea has grown into a successful valve manufacturing company serving tens of thousands worldwide. Though Humphrey Products may not look the same as it did when we started 125 years ago, one thing has never changed: Our commitment to you, our customer.
You have been the constant in our existence and continue to shape how we do business and the products we offer. We’re grateful to have served national and international communities with innovative solutions.
We will strive to do so for another 125 years.
Our Story
Alfred Humphrey founded the General Gas Light Company on April 9, 1901, to market his invention, the inverted arc gas light, which became an immediate commercial success. The company soon opened offices in San Francisco, New York City, Havana, London and Bremen.
With the electric light bulb looming and its potential to replace the inverted arc gas lights, Alfred invented Radiantfire in 1916. An elegant, odorless and clean heating unit designed for home fireplaces, Radiantfire proved to be another immediate success.
The heating business grew and innovation followed with the Overhead heater, another invention that freed up valuable floor space by moving space heating to ceilings and off business, showroom and storeroom floors.
During World War II and the Cold War, the company did its patriotic duty by producing precision parts for the military, including gun sights, gearboxes and bilge pumps and valves. For three years, the company suspended commercial heating and lighting production to support the war effort. Afterward, they resumed their commercial production while providing components for the military build-up over the next twelve years.
In 1958, the company transitioned from heating components to pneumatic fluid power with the invention of the diaphragm-poppet valve. An innovative direct-acting pneumatic solenoid valve series followed shortly after. That transition to pneumatics led to a 1962 alliance with Japanese manufacturer Koganei Corporation, which continues today.
As pneumatic control took center stage, we became “Humphrey Products Company, Division of General Gas Light Company.”
Through acquisitions and expansion, we transitioned to Humphrey Products Company, focusing exclusively on pneumatic solutions for our customers. In 1991, we introduced Da Vinci Engineering (now Engineered Solutions) to our OEM customers to create innovative valve system solutions. In 1994, we divested our gas lighting products.
Pneumatic control offerings expanded to include liquid handling valves and solutions for critical medical and analytical fields in 2015.
Today, our wide variety of valve designs and expertise makes us uniquely qualified to provide the best solutions for our customers.
Moving Forward
Over the past 125 years, we have remained a privately held family company. That independence enables us to streamline our approach by listening to and addressing the unique needs of customers across industries.
We’ve transitioned to serving multiple industries with a range of pneumatic and fluid handling valves and valve systems.
In honor of our 125th anniversary, we are publishing moments of our company’s rich history on social media. Visit our Facebook page to learn more.
Thank you to all our past and current customers and partners. Humphrey Products wouldn’t be what we are today without you.