The story of ford meter box
Serving the Waterworks Industry Since 1898
As a water system superintendent in the 1890s, founder Edwin Ford faced shortages caused by excessive and unmetered water usage by customers. Meters were available, but an accessible outside location was thought to be impractical in Indiana’s cold winters. Mr. Ford solved the problem by designing a meter box for in-ground settings.
Word of Ford’s unique approach quickly spread to neighboring towns. The first meter boxes were made in his basement, but as other utilities learned of his solution, sales increased and a new business was born. The small company grew steadily through the years, and in 1911 The Ford Meter Box Company was incorporated in Wabash, Indiana.
After moving to Wabash, Ford Meter Box expanded its product offerings, and in 1916, Ford Meter Box received its first patent for the water meter test bench. This first bench was a simple design, but it revolutionized how water meters were tested. Today, Ford offers a comprehensive line of water meter testing equipment, from basic manual benches to fully computerized models.
From the early 1930s through the 1950s, Ford Meter Box continued to develop new ideas for the waterworks industry. In the mid-1950s, Ford introduced the Pack Joint compression fitting, which was a revolutionary way to connect service line tubing without flaring or threading the pipe. Today, Ford offers a large variety of couplings with compression fitting options including the Pack Joint, Grip Joint, Quick Joint, and Ultra-tite.
An important Ford contribution to the waterworks industry came in the early 1960s with the introduction of the ball valve for waterworks applications. Easy to turn, and able to withstand high water pressures, the ball valve represented an improvement over key or plug style valves. Ford’s ½” through 2” ball valves are available in an angle or straight design, with a wide variety of inlet and outlet options.
In the 1980s, Ford Meter Box introduced check valves as an integral part of meter settings. As backflow prevention has become more important to water utilities, Ford has developed a wide variety of options to prevent water contamination.
In addition to waterworks brass and meter setting equipment, Ford also offers a full line of pipe products and restraints. In 1972, Ford began marketing stainless steel repair clamps. Today, the Ford line covers many sizes of repair clamps, couplings, tapping sleeves, fabricated steel items, and Uni-Flange® pipe restraints, all manufactured in Pell City, Alabama.
