History

The long history of Mueller Co., with its divisions and subsidiaries companies, is highlighted by numerous significant events and "industry firsts". Many product developments have become industry standards, attesting to Mueller's leadership and innovative approach to product design.

  • 1857 - H. MUELLER arrives in Decatur, IL and opens business
  • 1859 - HAWES AND HERSEY COMPANY established in Boston, MA
  • 1872 - Mueller patents WATER/GAS MAIN TAPPING MACHINE
  • 1872 - Mueller introduces THREADED CORPORATION VALVES
  • 1872 - Mueller develops "CC" THREAD FOR CORPORATION VALVES
  • 1878 - Mueller patents WATER/GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR
  • 1880 - Hersey patents SUGAR CUBE MAKING MACHINE
  • 1882 - Mueller patents WATER/GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR
  • 1885 - HERSEY® METER COMPANY established
  • 1885 - Hersey ships first ROTARY TYPE WATER METER
  • 1885 - Mueller patents ROLLER BEARING CONCEPT FOR ROLLER SKATES
  • 1892 - Mueller patents STOP WITH DRAIN for water lines application
  • 1895 - Mueller/Benz car WINS FIRST SANCTIONED AUTO RACE in America
  • 1897 - Mueller patents MODERN AUTOMOTIVE SPARK PLUG
  • 1897 - Mueller patents MAKE-AND-BREAK AUTOMOTIVE DISTRIBUTOR
  • 1897 - Mueller patents AUTOMOTIVE USE OF WATER COOLED RADIATOR
  • 1898 - Mueller patents VARIABLE SPEED AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION
  • 1900 - Mueller patents SERVICE CLAMP for use on water and gas mains
  • 1904 - Mueller awarded GOLD MEDAL GRAND PRIZE at St. Louis World Fair
  • 1905 - Hersey patents 3-STAGE FIRE LINE/MASTER WATER METER
  • 1907 - Mueller introduces first GAS SHUTOFF VALVE as part of service tee connection
  • 1923 - Mueller introduces COPPER PLUMBING AND FLARE CONNECTIONS for domestic use
  • 1926 - Pratt introduces first RUBBER SEATED BUTTERFLY VALVES
  • 1933 - Mueller patents INSERTING VALVE for adding gate valves to water lines under pressure
  • 1933 - Mueller patents NO-BLO® SYSTEM for working on natural gas lines without gas escaping
  • 1933 - Mueller introduces RELUBRICATABLE GAS VALVES
  • 1936 - Mueller introduces MECHANICAL GAS LINE STOPPER
  • 1939 - Mueller patents HIGH PRESSURE LINE STOPPING FITTINGS for natural gas lines
  • 1941 - Mueller develops ARMOR PIERCING SHELL used to defeat Rommel's tanks in North Africa
  • 1949 - Mueller patents TAMPER-PROOF GAS VALVE
  • 1949 - Mueller introduces O-RING SEALED WATER/GAS MACHINES
  • 1951 - Mueller introduces O-RING SEALED LUBOSEAL® GAS VALVES
  • 1951 - Pratt introduces first OBROUND SHAPED RUBBER-SEATED BUTTERFLY VALVES
  • 1953 - Pratt introduces first RECTANGULAR SHAPED RUBBER-SEATED BUTTERFLY VALVES
  • 1959 - Mueller introduces O-RING SEALED ORISEAL® WATER VALVES
  • 1959 - Mueller develops INSULATED UNIONS
  • 1960 - Pratt introduces first RUBBER-SEATED BALL VALVES
  • 1962 - Mueller introduces AUTO-PERF® SELF PERFORATING GAS TEES
  • 1969 - Mueller patents 110® COMPRESSION CONNECTION with superior pipe pullout resistance
  • 1974 - Mueller patents INSTA-TITE® STAB CONNECTION for plastic water lines
  • 1989 - Mueller Albertville Plant PRODUCES ONE-MILLIONTH CENTURION® FIRE HYDRANT (hidrante)
  • 1989 - Albertville, Alabama DECLARED "HYDRANT (hidrante) CAPITAL OF THE WORLD"
  • 1989 - Hersey Meters becomes part of Mueller Co.
  • 1993 - Mueller headquarters and Engineering CERTIFIED ISO 9001
  • 1993 - Mueller Chattanooga and Albertville plants CERTIFIED ISO 9001
  • 1994 - Hersey plant CERTIFIED ISO 9002
  • 1996 - Henry Pratt Company and James Jones Company become Mueller Co. subsidiaries
  • 1997 - Mueller Decatur plant CERTIFIED ISO 9001
  • 1998 - Hydro-Guard® AUTOMATIC FLUSHING SYSTEMS developed
  • 1999 - Mueller Albertville plant PRODUCES TWO-MILLIONTH CENTURION® FIRE HYDRANT (hidrante)
  • 2000 - Mueller introduces AQUAGRIPTM PIPE CONNECTION AND RESTRAINT SYSTEM
  • 2001 - Pratt acquired Lindsey Fabricators
  • 2001 - Pratt acquired Virginia Valve
  • 2001 - Pratt acquires Hydro Gate Corp
  • 2002 - Mueller introduces Hydrant (hidrante) Defender® Security Device
  • 2003 - Pratt acquires Milliken Valve Company
  • 2003 - Pratt acquired Jingmen Pratt Valve Co., Ltd. located in China
  • 2004 - Mueller introduces MAGIC BOX® IN-SERVICE POLYETHYLENE INSERTING MACHINE
  • 2006 - Milliken acquires CCNE Check Valves
  • 2006 - Hersey introduces first UL Listed residential fire meter
  • 2006- Mueller Co. as part of Mueller Water Products, Inc. becomes a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange as MWA
  • 2006 - U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant (hidrante) Division fire hydrants (hidrante) and valves become Mueller products
  • 2007 - Mueller introduces CENTURION 250/HS "HIGH SECURITY" Fire Hydrant (hidrante) with passive 24/7 protection
  • 2007 - Mueller Albertville Plant PRODUCES THREE-MILLIONTH CENTURION® Fire Hydrant (hidrante)
  • 2009 - Innovative Mueller METER X-CHANGER Gas Meter Change-out Devise shown at AGA Exhibition for first time
  • 2009 - Hersey introduces Mi.Net™ Multi-Path AMI network for water, gas and electric meters
  • 2010 - Hersey Meters changes name to Mueller Systems in keeping with broader product solutions for combination utilities
  • 2010 - Mueller Systems introduces Mi.Hydrant™ (hidrante) AMR/AMI repeater for use on fire hydrants (hidrante) to enhance network coverage
  • 2010 - Corporate Headquarters relocated from Decatur to Chattanooga, TN – Decatur plant and foundry operations remain
  • 2011 - Echologics Advance Leak Detection becomes Mueller Co. division.
  • 2011 - Hydro-Guard® AUTOMATIC FLUSHING SYSTEMS becomes a Mueller® brand.
  • 2012 - MUELLER TECHNICAL CENTER opens in Chattanooga, TN
  • 2012 - Mueller Technology Center opens in Chattanooga; U.S. Pipe sold by Mueller Water Products.
  • 2013 - Albertville Plant earns OSHA "Star" Certification; QR tags added to fire hydrants to allow instant access to important data and documentation.
  • 2014 - Product options available for fire hydrants and gate valves to comply with American Iron & Steel Act.
  • 2014 - 350psi gate valve and remote pressure monitoring system introduced
  • 2016 - Albertville Plant produces 4 millionth fire hydrant.