Industrial Supply Corp history

With business once again on an upswing, McJunkin was able to grow sales to $1.2 million by 1938, and by the end of the decade, the company was able to add branches in Hamlin and Grantsville, West Virginia, and Allen, Kentucky.

In 1939 they partnered with E.E. Rempher, who had a background in the bearing and power transmission distribution business to form Industrial Supply Company.

When Sid Jacobson began selling cutting tools from the trunk of his car in 1941, he operated with integrity, respect and a commitment to each customer.

When he too was drafted, the reins were handed over to a sister, who ran the company until Jacobson was released from the service after the war was over in 1945.

Sid Tool Co., Inc., was incorporated on September 6, 1946

The company's first industrial supply branch opened in Marietta, Ohio, in 1947, a move that also marked the first time that McJunkin expanded beyond the Appalachian region of West Virginia and Kentucky.

1951: The company's name is changed to McJunkin Corporation

1955: Business is relocated to Plainview, New York.

In 1964 Jacobson decided to use the experience he had acquired in assembling brochures to launch a catalog business to diversify his sales mix, and to reach out to more customers than he could ever hope to visit to drum up new business.

1969: Computerized inventory control system is installed.

1970: Manhattan Supply Company is acquired.

Joliet Valves was founded in 1971 and had evolved into a leading PVF distributor in the Midwest and Great Plains markets.

At this point, in 1976, Jacobson's son Mitchell Jacobson, a recent graduate of New York University School of Law, joined the company on a fulltime basis, having previously worked summers and holidays while attending Brandeis University and law school.

In 1970 Sid Tool acquired another cutting tool marketer, Manhattan Supply Company, to serve as a vehicle to increase the distribution of its imported cutting tool business. It was the initials of Manhattan Supply that would form the basis of the MSC name, although for many years business would be conducted under both the Sid Tool and MSC names in Plainview, where in 1978 the company opened its first distribution center.

1982: Mitchell Jacobson is named president.

The main office moved from downtown to the current location in Plymouth, MN, in 1984.

The decade also was marked by the death of Russell Wehrle in 1987, an event that led to the installation of a third generation into leadership positions.

Also of note, in 1989 the company merged its oil and gas division with Appalachian Pipe, creating McJunkin Appalachian Supply Co.

The back-end operations had improved so much that by 1991 MSC was able to ship 98 percent of orders on the day they were received, but competitors were also improving their fill rates.

1992: Republic Supply Co. is acquired.

In 1993 the company mailed 2.4 million pieces, a number that increased to 6.6 million two years later.

McJunkin and Rival Firm Joining Forces in 1994

In October 1995 MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. was formed as a holding company, an initial offering of stock was conducted two months later, and shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

In June 1996 the company acquired D.T.C. Tool Corp. and Cut-Rite Tool Corp.

Four more acquisitions were completed in 1997: Dolin Supply, Inc.; Anderson Industrial Supply, Inc.; Enco Manufacturing Co.; and Discount Tool and Supply Company.

The company also continued to expand through acquisitions, adding RMG Corporation and Drake-Atwood Tool & Supply Company, Inc. in June 1998, followed by the $6.2 million purchase of Specialty Company, Inc. in October.

Although a major acquisition may have fallen through, MSC completed a pair of deals in 1999, paying $428,000 for Direct Line, Inc. and $6.2 million for Corbin Corporation.

The company also began turning to the Internet to spur sales, in September 2000 launching MSCdirect.com, which gradually introduced the Big Book to the net.

In June 2001 the company announced it would write off $10.3 million invested in four Internet start-ups: MaterialNet.com, MROLink.COM. Tradaq.com, and Commerx Inc.

Due to the poor economy, sales dipped to $794 million in 2002 from $869.2 million the prior year.

But business rebounded in 2003 as sales totaled $844.7 million and net income reached a record $52 million.

It was also during 2004 that Mitchell Jacobson gave up the presidency to COO David Sandler, relinquishing day-to-day responsibilities to concentrate on strategic planning while retaining the chairmanship and the CEO title.

As the company began shifting auto production out of Michigan to Mexico and other United States states, employment plummeted to just 8,000 by 2006.

Current owners, chief executive officer Jeff Bigelow and chief operating officer Tim Brooks, were longtime employees who bought the company from Robert Fuller in 2007.

In 2008, Industrial Supply Company was re-branded and became ISC Companies to reflect the expanded offerings.

In 2013, GM announced plans to invest $600 million to upgrade its Flint Assembly facility, including construction of a new paint shop.

Hubbard Supply Co. will celebrate its 150th year in business in 2015