| So, what do air compressors and corn have in | | | | association was so successful, that Hausfeld moved |
| common? This sounds like a trick question, and | | | | his operation from Cincinnati to Harrison in 1918, and in |
| perhaps it is. I would be accurate is asking, what do | | | | 1920 the two companies merged and become the |
| Campbell Hausfeld air compressors have in common | | | | Campbell Hausfeld Company, by which it is still known |
| with a corn planter? Well, it all comes down to history | | | | today. |
| and how a company evolves over the decades. | | | | The company diversified its metal castings and later |
| When Alexander Campbell started business in 1836, | | | | expanded into sprayers for farmers and businesses. |
| for obvious reasons, he wasn’t thinking about air | | | | But it was in 1940 that a new era for the company |
| compressors. He made wagons, and when his | | | | began when they entered the air compressor business |
| brothers, William and James, joined him a year later in | | | | by purchasing all the patterns, tools, dies and fixtures |
| a black smith shop, they expanded into carriages, | | | | for the manufacture of the Pressure King Air |
| plows, harrows and cultivators. They were in Harrison, | | | | Compressor. |
| Ohio, farm country, so they concentrated on farm | | | | Over 90 years the company evolved from wagons, to |
| equipment. But they were not just content to make | | | | corn planters, to crucible doors to air compressors. |
| what was already around, they were innovative. They | | | | The company has continued to add new products, |
| saw a need for a “corn drill” to make corn | | | | especially a lot of tools and sprayers that can be used |
| planting easier and quicker. They worked on their | | | | with the air compressors. |
| design for 22 years before a patent was awarded for | | | | Today, Campbell Hausfeld air compressors fall into |
| the Campbell Corn Planter in 1859. Despite the patent, | | | | many categories. They make commercial , contractor |
| the machine still had problems, and out of | | | | and residential air compressors, as well as oil-less |
| discouragement, Alexander sold his share of the | | | | compressors. |
| business to William and James. | | | | The largest category is the residential Campbell |
| It was four years later when the remaining two | | | | Hausfeld air compressors. These range greatly in price |
| brothers solved the design problems and began | | | | and size, so anyone can find one that works best for |
| production of their first commercial corn drill. Soon | | | | their needs. The smallest compressor I could find was |
| after, James became the sole owner of the business, | | | | 2 gallons, and the largest had a 60 gallon capacity, and |
| calling it the James Campbell Manufacturing Company. | | | | of course there was everything in between. |
| The original corn drill was adapted for planting small | | | | But, regardless of what size or why you need an air |
| seeds, dropping cotton and for fertilizing. | | | | compressor (and there are many uses for one of |
| Let’s fast forward through time. James’ three | | | | these around your home), you know that with |
| sons now own the company, and the company has | | | | Campbell Hausfeld air compressors you are getting |
| evolved. They expanded their manufacturing to making | | | | history and quality from a company that has been |
| crucible furnaces for the Ohio Pattern Works and | | | | around for over 150 years. |
| Foundry Company owned by Joseph Hausfeld. The | | | | |