The Foundation
Our story begins in the late 19th century with our founder, William Boss. Born to Scottish emigrant parents living on a Wabasha County farm, Boss showed he had a mechanical mindset from a young age. While his brother, Andrew, enjoyed working in the fields with livestock, William was naturally drawn to problem-solving tasks instead. While tinkering with farm equipment, he often imagined more efficient ways to get a job done.
William Boss stated, “There wasn’t much money on the farm. We hired a man to do the fieldwork for about $15 a month and that didn’t appeal to me. I decided that if I could learn to be a carpenter I could get higher wages” (Stoehr, 2015).
William Boss, left, first standing row, with the members of his class in the School of Traction Engineering in 1906. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society)
Ready to take the next step in his career, William Boss enrolled in the third class of the University of Minnesota’s School of Agriculture in 1890. Though still uninterested in farming, Boss naturally excelled at working with tools and machinery, quickly earning respect from faculty. Over the years, he became a key figure at the University of Minnesota. Holding titles such as Stationary Steam Engineer, Instructor in Engineering, Instructor in Carpentry, Power Machinery and Steam Engineering, Professor of Farm Structures and Engineering, Head of the Division of Farm Structures and Engineering, Professor of Agricultural Engineering, Chief of the Division of Farm Engineering and finally, Chairman of Agricultural Engineering.
Around 1900, William was newly married and living just blocks from the St. Paul campus with his wife, Edna. During this time period, Boss faced a familiar chore: mowing the lawn. Their lawn was small and sparse, so he and Edna manually raked its grass clippings. In the interest of saving labor, Boss made a grass catcher for his lawnmower. With heavy wire and a canvas cloth, he bent the wire to form a frame and asked his wife to sew the canvas to the frame. William then made attachment brackets for each side of the mower and gave the catcher a wooden handle for emptying. What started as a personal time-saver for William and Edna, caught the attention of their neighbors. Businessman A.J. Reeves saw the commercial potential and urged William to patent his design. Reeves then took a silver dollar from his pocket, handed it to Boss, and said he’d take the first one.
For six months, Boss borrowed $300 at 6% interest from a carpenter working for him at the University. William’s other neighbor, Harry Turner, was out of work and had a working shed. So, the production of grass catchers began. William and Harry assembled 300 grass catchers during the winter of 1900-1901. By the time spring came around, every single unit sold. By 1902, Boss had orders for 4,000 grass catchers and his newly granted patent in hand. It was at this time that William knew it was time to launch a formal business.
Left – Boss demonstrating the ease of emptying the grass catcher. Right – The Easy Emptying Grass Catcher that Boss invented attached to a standard reel. Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.
From this humble beginning, Boss built a legacy of practical innovation. His guiding principle was simple: make work easier. This spirit still guides all divisions of our company today, 125 years later.
The Specialty Mfg. Co.
Since its founding in 1900, The Specialty Mfg. Co. Has grown from a one-product startup into a diversified manufacturer serving countless industries across the world. Over the decades, The Specialty Mfg. Co. has continually expanded its capabilities, product lines, facilities and team members – while remaining grounded in William Boss’ commitment to innovation and long-term customer partnerships.
In 1934, The Specialty Mfg. Co. began producing metal-stamped components. One of these components was the well-known 3M Scotch® tape dispenser. This product marked the start of a decades-long relationship within contract manufacturing. By 1950, the company introduced its first line of valves, expanding into the fluid control market. This division is still holding strong today as the largest segment of The Specialty Mfg. Co.
Edna Rider Boss with William Boss in the late 1940s. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota
Historical Society)
In 1951, William Boss established the William Boss Foundation to honor his wife, Edna. The foundation aimed to provide ongoing support to the St. Paul community. This early investment in giving back to others became a hallmark of the company’s values.
A significant period of growth began in 1980, when The Specialty Mfg. Co. added injection molding and precision machining to its service offerings. In conjunction with this event, the company relocated its headquarters to 5858 Centerville Road in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. This move positioned the company for success and future expansion.
In the following years, The Specialty Mfg. Co. welcomed several specialized divisions into its portfolio. Still a successful division of the company today, Rola-Chem Corporation joined in 1995 – a manufacturer of pumps, controllers and supplies for the commercial pool and spa markets. Marr Valve Company, known for its dental components and precision valves, became a division in 1997. In 2001, The Specialty Mfg. Co. acquired Perceptive Engineering, broadening the company’s footprint in advanced manufacturing.
Facility expansion continued into the 2000s with new buildings added at 5800 Centerville Road in 2006 and 5820 Centerville Road in 2021. In 2007, New Ulm Precision Tool, an expert in tool making and workholding fixtures, became part of the company. Five years later, SafeWay Hydraulics, a trusted provider of fluid power products since 1969, also joined.
In 2020, The Specialty Mfg. Co. took the next step in supporting data center infrastructure and cooling technology advancements by becoming a contributing partner in the Open Compute Project. This collaboration marked a new chapter in the company’s history, aligning its capabilities with the needs of modern, high-tech industries.
Now celebrating its 125th year, The Specialty Mfg. Co. continues to grow while staying true to its roots. It remains a privately held, family-owned business, and a trusted partner to clients who rely on precision, innovation and performance.
Our Promise
For 125 years, The Specialty Mfg. Co has remained focused on one priority: our customers. Every product, partnership and idea is driven by our central commitment to understanding client needs.
We don’t just manufacture parts; we solve real-world problems. This statement is a true testament to our promise as a brand.
“Our expert divisions make us a one-stop shop for efficient and reliable solutions tailored by engineering professionals. We are large enough to produce standard products at a competitive price, but nimble enough to maintain a personalized experience that delivers superior quality and value. Our expertise lies in addressing the most complex problems with precision and efficiency. Whether you’re looking for a custom manufacturing solution or struggling to define your needs, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.”
We are unique compared to other manufacturers due to our vertically integrated system. This system allows us to support nearly every step of the manufacturing process in-house. We are proud to be made in the USA, allowing us to move fast without sacrificing quality. From plastic molding to custom valves, we have the people and equipment to bring your complex ideas to life.
At every step in a customer’s journey, our goal is to be more than just a manufacturer. We strive to be a true partner to all of our customers. This means clear communication, expert collaboration and follow-throughs that our customers can count on.
Thank You
Our success is not only defined by the products we make, but by the people who make them possible. For 125 years, it has been the dedication of our employees, past and present, that has driven our growth as a company.
To celebrate our 125th anniversary, The Specialty Mfg. Co. is proud to host a company-wide gathering on August 7th to recognize and thank our amazing employees for all of their contributions. We will gather for lunch, play games, socialize and welcome back retirees who helped lay the foundation for our company culture. This event is more than just a milestone; it is a reflection of the community we have all built together.
We extend our deepest thank you to everyone who has made our journey possible thus far. The Specialty Mfg. Co. looks forward to continuing to serve you with the same commitment to quality, service and innovation for generations to come.
References
Stoehr, H. (2015). William Boss and His Specialty Manufacturing Company. Ramsey County Historical Society. 49(4). https://rchs.com/publishing/catalog/ramsey-county-history-winter-2015-william-boss-and-his-specialty-manufacturing-company/
