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The Randall story began in
Chicago in 1906 when the original patent for making Randall
graphite sheet lubricators was acquired. A sheet lubricator
is a device consisting of a series of graphite cones
enmeshed in a fine bronze screen. When cast in a babbit
metal bearing liner, it increased the bearing life and
reduced the oil consumption by as much as 90 percent. This
simple product became the basis for the future growth of the
company.
In 1918 Randall Graphite,
Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware Corporation doing
business in Chicago, Illinois. In the mid 1930s Randall
developed the graphite lubricated Pillow Blocks and began
another growth cycle that continued until the end of World
War II. The use of graphite to supplement oil in the
lubrication of sleeve bearings had become the norm and
Randall needed more room if growth was to continue.
In 1949 Randall purchased
the assets of Shook Bronze in Lima, Ohio and moved all
manufacturing from Chicago to Lima. The name of the company
was changed to Randall Graphite Bearings, Inc. This move
provided Randall with a sand and centrifugal foundry and
another growth period followed. In 1965 the name was changed
to Randall Bearings, Inc. as it is known today.
Randall remained a strong
force in the Bronze Bearing industry throughout the 1970s
and continued to grow and prosper. The early 1980s were
difficult years for American foundries and Randall made the
decision in 1985 to close all foundry operations and to
concentrate on improving the machining end of the business.
Since 1985 Randall has
grown to become one of the premier machine shops in our
industry. The completion of our Quality Control Lab in 2000
has placed us in a superior position to continue our growth
and to expand into new markets in the coming years.
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