Sterling Plumbing is the brand-name of a line of plumbing products manufactured by Kohler Co. The company designs and manufactures a diverse selection of product for the bath, including whirlpool tubs, sinks, toilets, shower doors and bathroom accessories.
History
Early years
The earliest roots of the company trace back to 1907 when two brothers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , Clark and John M. Beggs, built a factory in Crafton, Pennsylvania to produce household gas valves. In 1913, The Sterling Specialty Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was established and a brass facility was built at Newcomerstown, Ohio.
In 1931, the company was renamed as The Sterling Faucet Company. The company specialized in the production of faucets. The company also provided services of chrome and nickel plating for auto parts and for doctor's and dentist's instruments.
On October 1, 1936, the company requested a federal court to declare them insolvent and grant permission to reorganize under the U.S. Bankruptcy laws.
On March 16, 1939, a fire destroyed the Sterling Faucet facility of Newcomerstown, Ohio. After the fire was extinguished, it was unclear whether or not the facility would be reconstructed. The company had approximately 80 employees at the moment of the fire.
Mid-20th century
On April 9, 1940, it was announced the Sterling Faucet Company will be moved to Morgantown, West Virginia. On June 12, 1940, it was reported the Sterling Faucet Company completed the transference of its assets to the former Sabraton Works facility of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company.
On October 20, 1944, Sterling Faucet Co. announced plans for a considerable expansion of the plant.
On September 13, 1948, the company Sa-Mor Quality Brass, Inc. was established in Morgantown, West Virginia.
In 1952, Sterling Faucet Company organized three corporations at Reedsville, West Virginia: Pittsburgh Valve Company, Sterling Manufacturing Company and Hardware Brass Manufacturing Company. By 1953 the three corporations in Reedsville had 62 employees.
On July 9, 1953, Sterling Faucet Company incorporated Sa-Mor Quality Brass, Inc. as a new subsidiary with the name of Sterling Tubular Products. In 1953, the plant of Sterling Tubular Products had 87 workers while the plant of Sterling Faucet Company had 571 workers.
On December 24, 1958, Sterling President, J. Wesley Ruby, announced the purchase of a Glauber of Texas, Inc. which was a brass manufacturing plant located in Tyler, Texas with 115 employees. In the same press release, it was informed that two more plants, one in Ohio and one in Massachusetts will be integrated with five the company operates in West Virginia
In August 1961, the Canada Sterling subsidiary, Sterling Faucet Canada Ltd bought from United Carr Fastener Canada Ltd a plant in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with the purpose of establishing a facility for the manufacturing of plumbing brass products. The company planned to employ 50 workers during the first year.
In August 1962, the Reynolds Gas Regulator Company (subsidiary of Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company) announced the construction of a gas regulator and meter facility in Sheridan, Arkansas. One year later (in August 1963) while the plant was under construction, Arkla Industries Inc. sold the plant to Rockwell Manufacturing Co. The plant later will be transformed into a faucet manufacturing facility.
By 1967, Sterling Faucet Co. reached US$28 million in sales. Sterling Faucet Company operated plants in Reedsville, West Virginia, Tyler, Texas, and Oakville, Ontario, Canada employing about 2,000 workers.
On November 18, 1968, Rockwell Manufacturing Co. agreed to purchase Sterling Faucet Co. and the three subsidiaries, Sterling Manufacturing Co., Sterling Tubular Products Inc. and Sterling Faucet Canada Ltd. When the purchase was complete, Sterling Faucet Company became a subsidiary of Rockwell for the following years.
Late 20th century
In 1973, Rockwell International Corp., renamed the Sterling Faucet division as the Building Components Division. Rockwell started manufacturing faucets under the Rockwell brand.
On January 10, 1974, the Building Components division of Rockwell International informed the closing of its plant in Tyler Texas citing duplication of production facilities. The plant had 150 employees at the time of the announcement.
