Dixon History

The Goodall Rubber Company, was established in 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The founders included Howard W. Goodall, William S. Feeny, and Frederick D. Stovell. Goodall and Feeny had been employed at Latta & Mulconroy Company in Philadelphia from around 1890.

The war fought between July 28, 1914, and November 11, 1918, was known at the time as the Great War, the War to End War, and (in the United States) the European War. Only when the world went to war again in the 1930s and '40s did the earlier conflict become known as the First World War.

Goodall Rubber Company pioneered the Goodall Semi-Metallic (GSM) oxygen hose for the open-hearth process and the GSM furnace door hose used to circulate cooling water to open-hearth doors. 1915 Patent: US1136329A

Howard W. Goodall founded Dixon Valve & Coupling Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drawing on his deep understanding of the growing mining, oil drilling, construction, and railroad industries, he built a company that would remain family-led, including by his grandson, Chairman Richard L. “RL” Goodall, and great-grandson, President Taylor Goodall.

The rotary hose coupling, a high-pressure fitting used in oil drilling, was patented and remained the largest selling item in the Dixon product line for 15 years.

First published in 1918, the Dixon Driller® was introduced as a monthly mailer to Dixon distributors. Still mailed “once a moon” today, it is the longest continuously running corporate advertising publication in the nation. Pictured here is a February 1932 edition.

Howard W. Goodall, urged to slow down due to health reasons, sold Goodall Rubber Company.

After moving several times, Dixon relocated to its headquarters at Hancock and Columbia avenues in Philadelphia. Early items in the product line, which remain Dixon products today, include Boss® couplings, Boss single and double bolt hose clamps, air hammer couplings, suction couplings, Air King® universal couplings, and King combination nipples.

Howard W. Goodall inspecting couplings at Hoover Dam in 1932.

Dixon products used in the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects include Boss fittings, air fittings, FRL's, gauges, valves, shank & water fittings, cam & groove, clamps, garden hose & washdown, pipe & welding fittings, hose protection, maintenance & repair, and fire fittings & accessories.

Dixon opened its first international distribution center in Canada, establishing Dixon Group Canada Ltd., which later expanded to additional locations in Mississauga (Ontario), Pointe‑Claire (Quebec), and Edmonton (Alberta).

World War II transformed the business landscape across the U.S. and threw a wrench in the wheel of the company's expansion plans.

Goodall purchased the Latta & Mulconroy Co., where he began his career more than a half-century earlier. That company incorporated its products into the Dixon product line as Holedall® couplings.

Nearly 100% of Dixon’s production went toward military contracts during World War II. Many Dixon products fell under the federal government priority system and were used by industry and the military in the war effort. Before long, Dixon manufacturing facilities were used almost entirely for military contracts. The largest was to produce 380,000 fuse plugs for anti-aircraft shells, which were run on a brand new six-spindle automatic screw machine, the only one in the Philadelphia area at the time. After the war, Dixon had the manufacturing capacity to resume supplying standard products to its commercial hose distributor base.

HW Goodall passed away at 79, and his son Richard B. “RB” Goodall became president and COO. A Virginia Military Institute and Babson graduate, RB had already taken on increasing leadership and went on to guide Dixon’s growth with his long‑range vision and employee‑focused leadership.

Dixon purchased Buck Iron Co. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Now known as the Buck Company, it became a major source of malleable iron, brass, aluminum, and ductile castings for Dixon. Today, the Buck Company is a leading U.S. jobbing foundry with the capability to produce medium and long-run orders in a wide variety of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Dixon pioneered the use of non-metallic hose fittings. The Tuff-Lite® line of nylon fittings was revolutionary in the industry and has been successful in agricultural, food, and medical applications.

Acquisition of Hydrasearch, a manufacturer of high tech hose couplings primarily for the U.S. Navy, Army, and Marines.

Dixon purchased Yardley Products Corp., a threaded metal inserts manufacturer.

Dixon acquired Adflow in England, which is now part of Dixon Group Europe Ltd.

Dixon added worm gear clamps to the growing product line. These clamps were the first product sold that were not designed and manufactured by the company.

Dixon, which outgrew its Philadelphia facilities, moved its headquarters to an 11-acre tract of land—the former site of Vita Foods, a pickling operation—in historic Chestertown, Maryland. Approximately 15 employees and their families moved with the company.

Dixon entered the cam & groove market by applying for a patent for Boss-Lock, a fitting with a safety-locking handle.

Dixon purchased the assets of the Andrews Division of Parker Hannifin, providing the company with the Andrews line of cam & groove fittings.

Dixon expanded its mix of products into the hydraulic and pneumatic quick disconnect coupling market by purchasing the Perfecting Coupling Co. (now Dixon Quick Coupling). Dixon Quick Coupling is a 170,000-square-foot-facility with manufacturing and distribution operations.

RB Goodall passed away after 65 years with the company. His sons RL (president, pictured right) and Douglas (vice president of operations, pictured left) became the third generation to lead Dixon.

Dixon purchased the Australian manufacturer Minsup. Now known as Dixon Asia Pacific, the company expanded its product offering to include fire protection products and has grown to incorporate six locations across Australia (Adelaide pictured).

Bayco Industries was acquired and merged with Dixon's already present operation in Canada. The U.S. operation became Dixon Bayco. This purchase expanded the company’s product line to include petroleum and dry bulk products and overfill protection and accessories.

Dixon purchased the American Coupling Co. (now Dixon Brass), adding manufacturing of brass hose fittings to the company’s capabilities.

Dixon extended its reach into the food and beverage market with the purchase of Bradford Fittings (now Dixon Sanitary). A full line of 304 and 316L stainless steel fittings used in the food, dairy, beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets became available to Dixon distributors.

RL Goodall became CEO of Dixon, while Louis F. Farina Jr. was named president. Farina, who started at Dixon at age 17 in 1959, was the company’s first non-family member to hold the position.

Dixon continued its global expansion with the creation of Dixva, a sales and distribution operation in Monterrey, Mexico.

Dixon expanded into Germany and opened a sales and distribution operation in Troisdorf-Spich.

Dixon Fire was created to serve the fire protection industry, with products such as adapters, connections, hoses, nozzles, racks and reels, Storz fittings, valves and wyes, wrenches, and tools.

Dixon added more brass fire hose fittings to its line with the acquisition of Powhatan.

Dixon opened sales and warehouse facilities in the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Dixon opened a sales and distribution operation in Singapore.

Bob Grace became Dixon’s president, with a reinforcement of the company’s commitment to developing new products and focusing on North American manufacturing. This includes continuing to make the “core” products that served the company well over the years, while adding innovative new products for the industrial hose market.

Dixon acquired Northline Coupling Systems, absorbing it into the Dixon Fire product line.

Dixon commits to focusing efforts on face-to-face onsite visits and then sending ideas and challenges back to their 12,000-square-foot Innovation Center for the development of creative solutions.

The acquisition of Eagle America expanded Dixon's product offering to bellows seal gate and globe valves for use in critical applications.

Bearon Manufacturing, Inc. supplies a variety of finished parts to customers throughout the U.S.

Dixon introduced the Vent-Lock® safety release cam & groove coupling. In addition, the Solutions on Site (SOS) van was created to help customers.

Dixon celebrated the centennial of the company’s founding on March 21. The company continues to promote the ideal blend of core hose accessories and solutions-based engineered products, a strategy that effectively positions Dixon to be a world leader in fluid transfer solutions.

Dixon acquired Automated Design Services Inc. (ADS Controls), a manufacturer of the product brands Outalarm (portable level alarms), Spillguard (automatic high level shutdown systems), and Batchgard (automatic batch control systems). The acquisition expanded Dixon’s sensor technology to include capacitive and ultrasonic-type sensors.

The innovative EZLink design features an armless positive locking system; simply push to connect the EZLink coupler to any standard cam and groove adapter to achieve an ultra-reliable connection.

Taylor Goodall was named president of The Dixon Group, marking the company’s fourth generation of family leadership. He is the great-grandson of the company’s founder. His father, RL Goodall, was named chairman of The Dixon Group.

In 2019, Dixon opened a highly-automated 150,000-square-foot distribution center. In 2020, the new headquarters building was complete, and the 2021 opening of a 100,000 square-foot manufacturing facility finalized the current stage of campus construction.

Dixon Bayco moved into a new 40,000 sq. ft. building in West Chester, Ohio. In addition to offices, the location contains a training room, a clean room electronic assembly area, an engineering test lab, and a CNC manufacturing area.

Dixon Specialty Products expanded their swivel joint and loading arm offerings by opening a 30,000-square-foot building with a terminal hands-on demonstration lab for interactive training.

Dixva operations expanded in Mexico with the opening of a new warehouse in Mexico City.

Dixon expanded its footprint with a new 55,000-square-foot distribution and training center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility consolidated the branches in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Portland, Oregon, into one western hub.

Dixon celebrates 110 years of Uncommon Excellence®. In addition, 2026 marks 50 years since Dixon established operations in Chestertown. Together, these anniversaries represent a meaningful moment in our company’s history—highlighting longevity, stability, and deep roots in the community.