HandyTube history

In 1886 John F. Harman, who had been with the firm as clerk and cashier since its founding, was made a partner and the company name was changed to its current form, Handy & Harman.

1892 – Handy & Harman sets domestic traded silver price

In 1900 Handy & Harman began to expand the scope of its operations with the acquisition of the Standard Metal Company of Chicago.

Standard Metal's operations, renamed Handy & Harman, were moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1902 in order to be nearer the East Coast centers of silversmithing and jewelry making.

1905 – Started diversifying metals business to include brazing alloys

In 1936 the company opened a Canadian subsidiary in Toronto, Ontario, that provided the entire range of the company's precious metals products and refining services to the Canadian market.

1948 – Handy & Harman Tube Division is founded in Norristown, Pennsylvania

New branch offices were opened in Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland to serve the growing industries of the Midwest, and by 1950 sales had reached about $80 million.

The benefit of the company's reserves was severely curtailed in the 1980s, however, when the Windfall Profits Tax Act of 1980 wiped out much of the advantage of LIFO accounting.

A rider to the act, which provided that companies adopting a plan of complete liquidation by December 31, 1981, could avoid the newly imposed tax, led Handy & Harman to announce at its annual meeting in 1981 that it would consider total liquidation by year-end.

By 1987 only 42 percent of the company's revenues were provided by precious metals, with non-precious metals bringing in 23 percent and automotive equipment the remainder.

By 1990 it became clear that Handy & Harman management would have to make a decisive move in order to lift the company out of the doldrums.

By 1997 Handy & Harman's net income had risen to almost $21 million on sales of $451 million.

2006 – HandyTube Corporation develops Chroma Clean I.D.®, Chromat I.D.® and LI-Chroma Clean I.D.® for chromatography.

2011 – Camdel Metals Corporation is renamed HandyTube Corporation

2012 – HandyTube Corporation manufactures long length coils.