In 1937, Clarence O. Ludwig purchased Atlas Pipe Threading Company, a business that was founded in 1928 as Bassler Pipe Threading Company and renamed Atlas in 1931. Atlas Pipe Threading Company has been operated by the Ludwig family ever since. Having no knowledge of the pipe threading business, Clarence educated himself with technical data and hands on experience while at the same time making business contacts within the trade.
Atlas Pipe was originally located in a small building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had two shop employees plus an office staff. By 1945, the company had twelve employees. As the company grew, several additions were made to the original building to create more production space. The growth and prosperity in these early years were driven by the demand from the city's war factories. Atlas supplied threaded pipe nipples, rod and tubing for items that were used in World War II such as diesel engines, compressors, tanks, water purifiers, and gas lines.
As the company continued to grow, Clarence welcomed both his sons into the business. Eugene started in 1946, and Donald came on board in 1948. As the years passed, Gene managed the office, and Don managed the shop. In 1965, the company built a new facility and relocated to West Allis, Wisconsin. Since that time, an additional building was added on to the original one. Members of the third generation of the Ludwig Family joined the company in various years, taking control of the business upon Gene's retirement in 1998.
Over the years, we have continued to service both distributors and industrial accounts. As pipe mills have closed or merged, we now have only one facility left in the United States, and that is Wheatland Tube, to produce the pipe we use to manufacture our carbon steel pipe nipples.
Since the 1930's, our main focus has been to supply our customers' pipe nipple requirements at a fair price in a reasonable amount of time. Our commitment to quality and service remains the same today as it was when our grandfather bought Atlas Pipe Threading Company many years ago.
Atlas Pipe In the News:
- Little War Plant is Busy, 1945
- Industrial News Digest, June 1945
- Growth Told by Atlas Pipe, Oct. 1948
