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Paul
H. Davey, Sr. was employed as Equipment Engineer by the Davey Tree
Expert Co., a family business. In this capacity, he set about improving
the equipment used in tree surgery and line clearing. The most glaring
deficiency was the lack of an efficient, lightweight air compressor.
In the back corner of the tree company shop, Mr. Davey set about developing
what became the first, portable, air-cooled air compressor and used
aluminum for the first time, further reducing the weight. In only
a few years, demand for this compressor grew to the point where, in
1929, Davey Compressor Company was incorporated. |
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Over
the next 20 years, Davey continued to innovate in the field of compressors
developing such progresses as using a clutch between engine and compressor
for quick warm-ups and longer compressor/engine life and the PTO compressor
drive system. During the Second World War, Davey contributed greatly
to the war effort, producing mobile field machine shops, split shaft
power take off's, flame throwers and numerous compressors. The government
ties with Davey are still very strong to this day. |
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Work
was begun on a rotary compressor design. In 1953, the first hydrovane
Davey (a 5 hp, 200 psi unit) was released to the United States Air
Force. The design was immediately accepted and, until 1957, the
entire Davey production of hydrovanes was committed to the Air Force.
In 1957, the rotary design was introduced to the portable compressor
product line. Because of the efficient, pulsationless performance,
Davey quickly became a leader in the compressor industry. |
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Davey
joined the pneumatic tool field, designing and manufacturing their
own line of air tools for industrial and construction applications.
In 1954, Davey launched the Rotary Drill Division. Both of these
companies are still in existence today as Kent Air Tool Company
and Davey Drill Company. |
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Marked
the release of the permavane compressor blade. Previous compressor
blades were typically a laminated, phenolic material which had a
shortlife and began delaminating after only a few thousand hours.
The permavane blade is solid metal with a patented coating which
has an exceptional life expectancy. Further, it is reversible, unlike
the hydrovane blades and, afterwearing out on one side, they can
be flipped over for a second life. Even now, there is still no other
blade available with the exceptional wear characteristics of the
permavane. |
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Davey
introduced a redesigned compressor package, the Permavane Compressor.
While utilizing the new blade, it also featured a component type
design rather than the previous encapsulated design. The permavane
separated the air end, oil sump and controls into individual, versatile
and serviceable units. These individual components allowed Davey
to develop a stationary and portable compressor line with various
pressures and capacities from the same air end. At the time, this
was a major innovation and these components, with 30 years of field
experience, are still in use today. In the late 1960's, |
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In
the late 1960's, the Davey family sold the company to Alco Standard,
an industrial holding company. Again, in 1974, the company was sold
to the Razete Bros. The Razete's continued to build Davey into a
major defense contractor, introducing high pressure (5000 psi) models,
the BAQ and the Quiet Portables. In 1986, the company was purchased
in a leveraged buy out by Purvin Industries. Because of financial
difficulties stemming from environmental problems and government
litigation, Davey slowly lost its position in the commercial market. |
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In
December of 1990, Fuller Company in Bethlehem, PA purchased the
commercial assets of Davey. Fuller Company, has been a long time
manufacturer of mineral processing equipment, and is also a leading
manufacturer of Rotary Sliding VaneCompressors. After a 1991 reorganization,
Fuller-Davey Compressors was an integral part of Fuller-Kovako Corporation's
non-cement growth plans. Fuller-Kovako is a Division of F. L. Smidth
Industries, the largest industrial conglomerate in Denmark and the
parent company of Fuller. Fuller-Kovako is a world leader in the
fields of pneumatic conveying, air pollution control and bulk handling
equipment. |
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In
late 1998, Fuller-Kovako sold Davey Compressor to Jenny Products,
Inc. Jenny, well known in the cleaning industry as Steam Jenny,
is a leading manufacturer of industrial/commercial steam cleaners,
pressure washers, cabinet washers, ventilationequipment, wash-water
recycling systems, and cleaning chemicals. |
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