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History

Ramsey Industries, through our subsidiary brands Auto Crane®, Eskridge®, and Ramsey Winch®, designs and manufactures products that lift, move, and drive today’s workforce.

Our applications are hard at work in a variety of industries including towing and recovery, utility, oil and gas, mining, forestry, military, and mobile fleet services. These vital industries count on Ramsey Industries brands to lead the way with safety-focused innovation.

For more than 70 years, we’ve been committed to the same entrepreneurial values that we were founded on, forever changing the way industrial companies move ahead.

1944

Brothers Claude and Rayburn Ramsey established Ramsey Brothers Tool & Die in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1945

Claude Ramsey designs a front-mounted winch, the Model 101. This new winch was specifically designed for passenger cars and pickup trucks, and drew its power from the crankshaft - the first of its kind. Perfect for pulling vehicles out of mud and snow, it became the mainstay of the towing and recovery industry.

1947

The Ramsey brothers rename their company Ramsey Brothers Winch Company to build on the success of the first Ramsey Winch.

1950

Claude Ramsey purchases Rayburn Ramsey’s interest in the company and renames it Ramsey Winch Company, eventually incorporating the business in 1959.

1958

Entrepreneurs Claire Simmons and Carl White design a small crane to fit in the trunk of an automobile, launching the Auto Crane Company and the mobile service crane industry.

1970

Auto Crane develops the first electric cable crane.

1972

Wade Eskridge establishes Eskridge to provide gear drives and hydraulic brake products for industrial and mobile equipment.

1978

William (Bill) Ramsey succeeds his father and company founder, Claude, as the sole owner of Ramsey Winch.

1983

Ramsey Industries (parent of namesake Ramsey Winch) acquires Auto Crane Company.

1988

Auto Crane introduces the first fully hydraulic service crane.

2000

Claude Ramsey sells Ramsey Industries to investment management firm Wiess, Peck & Greer.

2003

The Auto Crane brand designs and patents the Titan Service Crane Body, featuring industry-first single side panels.

2008

Ramsey Industries acquires Eskridge.

2009

Ramsey Industries integrates corporate offices and manufacturing into a state-of-the-art facility on Mingo Road in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

2010

Auto Crane introduces the patented, award-winning NexStar Crane Management System.

2012

Auto Crane launches the EH with NexStar controls line.

2014

Ramsey Industries celebrates 70 years of innovative, customer-driven product development for worldwide industrial, commercial, and consumer end users.

2017

Ramsey Industries enters investment partnership with Norwest Equity Partners to plan for company’s next phase of growth.
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Company Culture

Any company is only as strong as its culture and shared commitments. Ramsey Industries believes in and actively practices deeply-held corporate values that reflect the way we operate our business and the way we treat employees, customers, vendors, and our shareholders.

Caring

We are a team environment with open and honest communication, where every associate is a valued member and treated with respect. We care about our community, actively involved in local events in meaningful ways.

Creative

We strive for the highest level of performance for our customers while acting with integrity and keeping safety first. We seek out best practices and continuous improvement efforts that will lead to competitive advantages and increased value.

Collaborative

We engage in a teamwork environment that is built on mutual trust and confidence, collaboration, transparency and the support of diversity.

Credible

We are committed to the highest level of integrity and a learning environment where leaders emerge and knowledge, skills, and abilities are enhanced.

Committed

We have a clear direction for the company that is understood and driven by committed and empowered employees who take responsibility and accountability for their actions. We are fiscally responsible and committed to consistently deliver value for our investors.

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