Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressors: A History of Excellence

According to Campbell Hausfeld's website, Campbell Hausfeld got its start in 1836, when Alexander Campbell arrived in the Ohio City of Harrison and started making wagons. His brothers joined him two years later, and a year after that, the three of them became partners in a blacksmith shop. They fabricated wagons, carriages, plows, and cultivators for area farmers.

Shortly thereafter, the Campbells began working on a corn drill to facilitate the planting of corn seeds. They received a patent for their design in 1859, but the machine still had problems that prevented it from being widely used. Discouraged, Alexander sold out his interest to his brothers, who continued working on the corn drill.

Finally, in 1863, while the Civil War was raging, the Campbell brothers worked out the problems with their corn drill and began offering the drill for sale commercially. Shortly thereafter, James take over the company and names it the James Campbell Manufacturing Company. It is renamed later the Pioneer Corn Drill Works.

 Campbell Hausfeld continued to innovate through the end of the 19th century, and by the turn of the century, the company had sole more than 75,000 corn drills, as well as many other machines that assisted in planting cotton, other small seeds, and in spreading fertilizers. 

By 1911, the company had moved onto State Street in West Harrison, Ohio, had been sold to James Campbell's sons, and had been renamed the Campbell Bros. Manufacturing Company.

Beginning in 1915, the company began manufacturing crucible furnaces for the Ohio Pattern Works and Foundry owned by Joseph Hausfeld.  Thus began a long and fruitful association, and in 1918, the relationship had been so beneficial that Hausfeld moved his operation from Cincinnati to Harrison. 

Finally, the companies merged in 1920 and were given the name with which we associate such quality and (frankly) style:  Campbell Hausfeld. 

Between the World Wars, Campbell Hausfeld diversified its manufacturing line-up to include such wide-ranging products as sewer lids, Christmas tree stands, and decorative eagles. It also became an industry leader in crucible manufacturing and all kinds of metal castings.

In 1926, the company purchased the Paragon line of sprayers, and began manufacturing sprayers for fertilizers and other purposes.

Then in 1940, Campbell Hausfeld launched what has since become its signature line of products: Campbell Hausfeld air compressors and air tools. It purchased the Pressure King air compressor system and renamed it the Pressure Queen.

It completed its move into the air compressor world with the purchase of spray gun production equipment in 1945.

 With air compressors as a base, the company continued to expand in the 1960's and 1970's.  It purchased the Melben Products Company in 1961 and began manufacturing sheet metal products, including air receivers and paint tanks.

Growing steadily, the company was acquired in 1971 by the Scott Fetzer Company of Cleveland Ohio.  It began manufacturing chain saws, airless paint sprayers, and two-stage air compressors later in the decade.

The 80's saw continued growth, with the launch of the world's first consumer high pressure washer by Campbell Hausfeld in 1981, the PowerPal in 1983 (the world's first oilless hand-held consumer air compressor), and the PaintPal (powered paint roller) that same year.

In 1983, Campbell Hausfeld also entered into a joint venture with Iwata Compressor to market Iwata's line of PowerEx air compressors.

In recent years, Campbell Hausfeld has continued to expand its product offering, focusing on products for both professionals and do-it-yourself handymen.  It now offers dozens of products that successfully serve both markets.

Home improvement and auto experts recognize Campbell Hausfeld as a leader in the air compressor and air tool industries.  And with its extensive line of air compressors, air tools, and accessories, Campbell Hausfeld intends to protect and expand that competitive advantage.

Although Campbell Hausfeld has its roots in the 1800s down on the farm, it has its head and heart in the modern world. Not only do its products match current home improvement and automotive needs, but its marketing methods seize modern opportunities.

To that end, Campbell Hausfeld leads much of the portable air compressors industry in online marketing and sales. It sells its own products and also offers those products for sale on other niche marketing sites.

As a huge fan of Campbell Hausfeld, I recommend both the company and the products to professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike.