Dixon History

In 1887, with an eighth-grade education, 15-year-old Howard W. Goodall quit school to take a job as a general clerk and errand boy for Philadelphia rubber distributor, Latta & Mulconroy Company.

The Goodall Rubber Company, was established in 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The founders included Howard W. Goodall, William S. Feeny, and Frederick D. Stovell. Goodall and Feeny had been employed at Latta & Mulconroy Company in Philadelphia from around 1890.

The war fought between July 28, 1914, and November 11, 1918, was known at the time as the Great War, the War to End War, and (in the United States) the European War. Only when the world went to war again in the 1930s and '40s did the earlier conflict become known as the First World War.

Howard W. Goodall founds Dixon Valve & Coupling Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The rotary hose coupling, a high-pressure fitting used in oil drilling, became the largest selling item in the Dixon product line for the next 15 years.

Introduced as a monthly mailer to Dixon distributors, the Dixon Driller is still published and mailed 'once a moon'. Pictured here is a February, 1932 edition.

Howard W. Goodall, urged to slow down due to health reasons, sold Goodall Rubber Company.

The Great Depression was an economic recession that began on October 29, 1929, following the crash of the U.S. stock market. The Great Depression originated in the United States, but quickly spread to Europe and the rest of the world. Lasting nearly a decade, the Depression caused massive levels of poverty, hunger, unemployment and political unrest.

Howard W. Goodall inspecting couplings at Hoover Dam in 1932.

Dixon products used in the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects include Boss fittings, air fittings, FRL's, gauges, valves, shank & water fittings, cam & groove, clamps, garden hose & washdown, pipe & welding fittings, hose protection, maintenance & repair, and fire fittings & accessories.

Dixon Group Canada expands to locations in Mississauga, Ontario, Pointe Claire, Quebec, and Edmonton, Alberta.

World War II transformed the business landscape across the U.S. and threw a wrench in the wheel of the company's expansion plans.

Half a century after he had launched his career at Latta & Mulconroy Company, Howard W. Goodall led Dixon's purchase of the company (at that point known as the Mulconroy Company) and incorporated its products into the Dixon line as Holedall couplings.

Many Dixon products fell under the federal government priority system and were used by industry and the military in the war effort. Dixon manufacturing facilities were used almost entirely for military contracts. The largest was to produce 380,000 fuse plugs for anti-aircraft shells, which were run on a brand new six-spindle automatic screw machine, the only one in the Philadelphia area at the time.

Dixon products used in the agricultural market include hydraulic fittings, shank & water fittings, cam & groove, valves, clamps, plastic fittings, garden hose & washdown, and air fittings, FRL's, gauges.

Dixon products used in the Oil and Gas market include Boss low-pressure system fittings, dry disconnect fittings, cam & groove, shank & water fittings, valves, Boss fittings, clamps, tank truck, pipe & welding, Holedall fittings, hydraulic fittings, and garden hose & washdown.

Founder Howard W. Goodall dies and son, Richard B. Goodall, becomes president and chief operating officer.

Dixon purchased Buck Iron Company located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Buck Company became a major source of malleable iron, brass, aluminum and ductile castings for Dixon. They are now a leading U.S. jobbing foundry with the capability to produce medium and long run orders in a wide variety of ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

Dixon products used in the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects include Boss fittings, air fittings, FRL's, gauges, valves, shank & water fittings, cam & groove, clamps, garden hose & washdown, pipe & welding fittings, hose protection, and maintenance & repair.

Dixon pioneered the use of non-metallic hose fittings with the introduction of Tuff-Lite nylon fittings.

Acquisition of Hydrasearch, a manufacturer of high tech hose couplings primarily for the U.S. Navy, Army, and Marines.

Acquisition of Yardley Products Corporation, a threaded metal inserts manufacturer.

Dixon Group Europe is established in Preston, United Kingdom.

Dixon adds worm gear clamps to their growing product line. These clamps were the first product sold that were not designed and manufactured by the company.

Dixon relocates from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to historical Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore. 

Dixon enters the cam and groove market by applying for a patent for Boss-Lock, a cam and groove fitting with a safety locking handle.

Goodall Semi-Metallic hose, now known as Dixon Specialty Products, was incorporated in Maryland. In addition to GSM hose the company now produces PTFE hose and fittings, swivel joints, hose restraints, spring guard hose protection, and loading arms.

The acquisition of Perfecting Service Company, now Dixon Quick Coupling, further extended Dixon's hydraulic and pneumatic product lines.

Richard B. Goodall dies after 65 years with the company. Sons Richard L. (president) and Douglas (vice president of operations) took over to become the third generation to lead Dixon.

Minsup, now known as Dixon Asia Pacific, has grown to incorporate six locations across Australia (Adelaide pictured).

Bayco Industries is acquired and merged with Dixon's already present operation in Canada. The U.S. operation became Dixon Bayco. The purchase expanded the company's product line to include petroleum and dry bulk fittings, overfill protection, and accessories.

The acquisition of American Couplings, now Dixon Brass, added brass hose fittings to Dixon's product line.

The acquisition of Bradford Fittings, now Dixon Sanitary, extended Dixon's reach into the food and beverage processing and pharmaceutical markets.  A full line of 304 and 316L stainless steel fittings, tubing, valves and pumps are available.

Dixon Fire manufactures and distributes fire protection products including adapters, connections, hose, nozzles, racks, reels, Storz fittings, valves, wyes, wrenches, and accessories.

Dixon's global expansion continued with the creation of Dixva, a distribution and sales operation headquartered in Monterrey Mexico.

Dixon opens a sales and distribution facility in Troisdorf - Spich, Germany.

The company launches Dixon Boss magazine, a custom publication that explores the world and its industries.

Dixon further expands its fire hose fittings and accessories with the acquisition of Powhatan.

Dixon opens a sales and distribution facility in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Dixon opens a sales and distribution facility in Shanghai, China.

Dixon opens a sales and distribution facility in Singapore.

Dixon acquired Northline Couplings Systems, absorbing it into the Dixon Fire product line.

Dixon commits to focusing efforts on face-to-face onsite visits and then sending ideas and challenges back to the Innovation Center for the development of creative solutions.

The acquisition of Eagle America expanded Dixon's product offering to bellows seal gate and globe valves for use in critical applications.

Bearon Manufacturing, Inc. supplies a variety of finished parts to customers throughout the U.S.

Dixon opens a sales and distribution facility in France.

Vent-Lock Safety Release cam and groove couplings permit the release of static pressure when disconnecting hose assemblies.

Dixon supplies LNG bunkering couplings to Harvey Gulf, owners of North America's 1st LNG powered vessels.

Dixon supplies bunkering couplings for use on the Isla Bella and sister ship Perla del Caribe. The two 764' Marlin-class container ships owned by the TOTE group are the world's first built to operate on LNG fuel.

Dixon marks its 100th anniversary as a U.S. manufacturer.

Acquisition of Automated Design Services, Inc. (ADS Controls), a manufacturer of the product brands Outalarm™ (portable level alarms), Spillguard™ (automatic high-level shutdown systems), and Batchguard™ (automatic batch control systems). The acquisition expands Dixon’s sensor technology to include capacitive and ultrasonic-type sensors.

The innovative EZLink design features an armless positive locking system; simply push to connect the EZLink coupler to any standard cam and groove adapter to achieve an ultra-reliable connection.

Dixon officially breaks ground on a highly automated 150,000 square-foot distribution center in Chestertown, Maryland.

Dixon begins construction on a 60,000 square-foot headquarters building in Chestertown, Maryland.

Richard L. Goodall is named Chairman and CEO of The Dixon Group.

Taylor Goodall is named President of The Dixon Group.

Dixon Bayco moves into a new 40,000 sq. ft. building in West Chester, Ohio. In addition to offices, the location contains a training room, a clean room electronic assembly area, an engineering test lab, and a CNC manufacturing area.

Dixon ships its first package from the new 150,000 square-foot distribution center in Chestertown, Maryland.

Dixon begins construction on a 100,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Chestertown, MD.

Dixon moves headquarters to a new 60,000 square-foot building in Chestertown, Maryland.