31 OCTOBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® A Tale of Perseverance, Ingenuity, and Hard Work Adapted from Information by A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Andrew Young McDonald, founder of A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co., was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1834. A.Y., as he was known, was orphaned as a young child. At age 14, he began his plumber apprenticeship under the guidance of James Steele and received his journeyman plumber certification. In 1854, A.Y. eventually moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he decided to settle and open a plumbing shop. This shop was so small he had to cut a hole in the wall to allow the pipe to protrude while the other end was threaded in his shop. He soon realized the pump business was more lucrative than plumbing. He conceived the idea of inserting a brass lining in the iron cylinders of his pumps, so rust from the cylinder would not attack the plunger leather, causing it to prematurely wear; this ingenuity fueled tremendous growth. The company was formally incorporated in 1888, and A.Y.’s two sons, A.Y. II and John, left school to enter the business to prepare for the uncertain times ahead. A.Y. McDonald resigned as president and passed away in 1891. In 1909, A.Y. II was elected president and J. M. McDonald was secretary and treasurer. In 1912, Standard Oil of Indiana called upon them to design some special fittings for better control and distribution of petroleum products. This was the beginning of the oil equipment specialty line of valves and fittings. As other plumbers came into the area, they sold items to them, which started the company’s wholesale distribution system. The company persevered through the Great Depression without laying off a single employee. Its active role to support the war efforts of World War II included manufacturing various items for many military branches. The company continued to grow and in 1976, the manufacturing operation started a $2 million modernization program which led to the introduction of three new major product lines - an enhanced submersible pump line, improved jet pump line, and a completely new line of meter setters for the water works brass products line. The 1980s ushered in the fourth generation of the McDonald family to lead the company, along with building a new office, factory, and foundry, the first new manufacturing operation built by the company in 87 years. By 1989, another new factory was opened in Iowa to accommodate the natural gas product line and the growing meter setter business. The company flourished over the next few decades; 1999 witnessed a new distribution center and factory in Elizabethton, Tennessee, while a new western distribution center opened the following year in Sparks, Nevada. In 2006, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary. This remarkable achievement was made more special by the fact the company has operated under the ownership of one family throughout its entire existence. An expansion to the Tennessee distribution center was completed in 2019 to accommodate new product programs. Today, after more than 168 years in business, A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. is one of the 100 oldest family businesses in America, continuing a proud tradition of providing exceptional customer service and top-quality products. The company credits its success over the years to the contributions of many families, vendors, customers, and employees. The A.Y. McDonald story is one of sacrifice, persistence, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and hard work - a true symbol of the American Dream. Andrew Young McDonald once said to his children, “I’ve started it, and you can take it as far as you want to go.” WTR Multi Machine, Inc. is proud to be the first dealer to offer the new Prinoth Panther T9R crawler carrier. With a similar design to the T7R, this machine can carry an additional two tons and go anywhere. Plus, with a traverse speed of over eight miles per hour and a payload of 18,000 pounds, this machine has both the fastest speed and highest capacity of all other crawler carriers in its class. Like the T7R and T14R, the T9R can rotate its cab and body 360 degrees. Its dump box has been raised to enable more haulage and it is equipped with Prinoth’s patented undercarriage system, which utilizes bigger bogey wheels and hydraulic track tensioning to minimize maintenance and downtime.
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