The Waterous Company is an American manufacturer of pumps (and associated equipment), foam systems, and fire hydrants located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Waterous was established in 1877 as the Waterous Engine Works Company, which built steam fire engines in the late 19th century, and began to build gasoline powered pumpers in 1898. The company no longer builds complete fire apparatus but it remains a major supplier of fire pumps and other fire department equipment.
History[]
Waterous' origins go back to 1844 as a Canadian manufacturer of industrial steam engines. Charles Waterous bought out his partners in 1855. In the 1870s the company began to build steam fire engines and other fire department equipment. The company name was changed to the Waterous Engine Works Company in 1877. In 1887 Waterous expanded into the United States and set up a new factory in South St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 1898 Waterous began to offer horse drawn gasoline powered pumpers. The manufacture of motorized pumpers followed in the early 20th century. In addition to building complete apparatus, they began to sell their pumps and components to other builders. Waterous offered commercial and custom chassis fire apparatus until 1918. The company dropped its custom chassis but continued to offer commercial chassis apparatus until 1929. During the 1920s Waterous began to focus more on providing components to other manufacturers and had completely stopped building fire apparatus by the end of the decade. Waterous was acquired by American Hoist & Derrick in 1965. The American Cast Iron Pipe Company purchased the company in 1989.
Today the company provides foam systems, pumps, valves and pump accessories to fire apparatus builders. Waterous also supplies hydrants and industrial pumping systems.