1. H. D. Hudson Manufacturing Company

3.
1905: H.D. Hudson & Miles Thurber form the Hudson & Thurber Company
1906: Bought Brandt Manufacturing Company which manufactured compression sprayers
1909: Moved Brandt operations to Hastings, Minnesota

4.
1913: Purchased the DeFrees Manufacturing Company which manufactured air compressors
1914: Issued first barn equipment catalog: Right-Way Barn Equipment

5.
1917: Miles Thurber left the manufacturing business and the company was renamed Hudson Manufacturing Company
1918: Acquired American Culvert Company to expand sheet metal products

6.
1919: Purchased the Western Steel and Iron Works to enlarge barn equipment line and provide better manufacturing facilities
: A sales office was opened in New York City, a sales office and warehouse was opened in Philadelphia, and a sales office opened in Kansas City, Missouri

7.
1925: The Hudson Manufacturing Company purchases C.A. Libbey Company, a small manufacturer of barn equipment
1926: Purchased the Davis-Hanson Pump Company a manufacturer of pumps and water systems
1927: Hudson established a new sales office and service warehouse opened in San Francisco, California. The company also opened up a sales office in Chicago in the McCormick Building on Michigan Avenue

8.
1928: The sheet metal division of the Wm. Warnock Company is purchased to better serve the Omaha area
1929: The general office facilities are moved permanently to Chicago, Illinois and the corporate name modified to H.D. Hudson Manufacturing Company to avoid confusion with a flavoring extract manufacturer
1930: Hudson celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary

10.
: H.D. Hudson does not miss a single payroll and survives the Great Depression
1935: Expands poultry equipment line by purchasing Miller Manufacturing Company in Rockford, Illinois
1941: The U.S. enters WWII and the Hastings facility is devoted exclusively to products for the war effort

11.
1942: H.D. Hudson organizes informal organizational meetings consisting of sprayer and duster manufacturers in order to broaden the market
1945: The National Association of Manufacturers of Sprayers and Dusters (later known as the National Sprayer and Duster Association) is formed. R.C. Hudson becomes its first president

12.
1945: The company reallocates capital, space and manpower to better dedicate itself to development of product lines for new consumer demands
1947: The company purchases the building that housed the San Francisco offices and warehouse
1949: Hudson introduces the innovative “Simplex Inner-Seal”

13.
1950: H.D. Hudson becomes involved with the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to eradicate malaria and other vector-borne diseases
1952: Hudson develops the X-Pert® Sprayer that meets standards and specifications of WHO
1955: H.D. Hudson celebrates their 50th anniversary

15.
1956: A new line of all-purpose Peerless power sprayers is introduced and the Philadelphia sales and service branch is consolidated with the New York Division
1960: Hudson introduces a new feeding system for boilers and turkeys
1964: The De Pere, Wisconsin facility is closed and the assets and customer lists of a former competitor, Lofstrand, are purchased

16.
1964: H.D. Hudson International Ltd. is created to provide better access and acceptance to Canada and some Caribbean areas
Productos H.D. Hudson de Mexico, S.A. de V.C. was formed in Mexico to develop the Mexican market
1965: R.C. Hudson, Jr. is elected President

17.
1969: The now familiar Ladybug logo is introduced for the first time
1970: Hudson becomes the sole U.S. and Canadian distributor for the Ginge poly sprayer line
1971: Hudson introduced the Thrifty and Utility Sprayers with galvanized steel pumps in response to dealer needs for “promotional” sprayers

18.
1972: After becoming a member of the Industry Cooperative Program/Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Hudson becomes the only sprayer manufacturer to participate in vector-disease control field programs
1974: R.C. Hudson, Jr. is elected President of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA)
1975: Hardware Industry Week was held for the first time in Chicago at McCormick Place

19.
1976: Hudson participates in Family Circle’s unique “advertorial”. The theme is plant, cultivate, fertilize, protect and can home-grown vegetables
1978: H.D. Hudson Asia Limited, Hudson’s first manufacturing site outside the U.S., is created and located in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
: H.D. Hudson celebrate their 75th anniversary

21.
1980: Hudson acquires Quality Products, a blow molding company in Eldora, Iowa
1982: Epoxy coating is used on the inside of galvanized steel sprayers producing a far superior product
1985: The Suprema® poly Bak-Pak® is introduced. This sprayer incorporates a number of unique features which differentiated it from other competitive models.

22.
1986: Hudson is recognized by the Society for Engineering in Agriculture for contributing to outstanding innovation in product technology during
1987: The Hudson Suprema poly Bak-Pak was selected as one of “The Agricultural Engineering 50” award by Agricultural Engineering magazine
Advanced Genetic Sciences (AGS) makes international history by spraying a strawberry patch with a gene-altered bacteria using a Hudson Bugwiser Sprayer

23. 1980 2005 1988: R.C. Hudson, III joins the company
1988: R.C. Hudson, III joins the company
1992: Hudson began converting its electronic data processing to a new system called M2K
1994: Hudson goes “live” with EDI and Lowe’s becomes the first customer to send in electronic purchase orders and be billed electronically
1996: Hudson forays into cyberspace with the entry of the Hudson website on to the World Wide Web

24.
2001: W.A. Hudson is appointed Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales
2002: R.C. Hudson, III is elected the 4th President of Hudson Manufacturing Company. R.C. Hudson, Jr. is elected Chairman
2003: R.C. Hudson, Jr. is given an award by his peers in recognition for his lifelong support and contributions to the industry
2005: W.A. Hudson is elected second vice chairman of the AHMA

25. 2005: Hudson celebrates it’s 100th Anniversary
2005: Hudson celebrates it’s 100th Anniversary

26. Thank you for your contributions over the years!!

27. THEN

32. NOW