Fisher Scientific
A historic American laboratory-supply and biotechnology company whose business became part of Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2006.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Fisher Scientific was an American laboratory-supply and biotechnology company founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1902 by Chester Garfield Fisher. It began as Scientific Materials Co., a business created after Fisher purchased the stockroom of the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory. The company supplied equipment and reagents to industrial researchers and gradually expanded into education, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and quality-control markets. Its early catalog included microscopes, burets, pipettes, balances, colorimeters, litmus, dissecting instruments, and anatomical models. Fisher published its first catalog in 1904 and established an internal research laboratory in 1915. The company developed and manufactured specialized equipment for industrial and scientific work, including combustion-analysis apparatus, bacteriological incubators, and, through Chester Fisher's brother Edwin, the Meker-Fisher burner. In 1925 it acquired Scientific Supplies Ltd. of Montreal and adopted the Fisher Scientific name. During the middle decades of the twentieth century, Fisher broadened its portfolio through acquisitions and internal development. It acquired Eimer & Amend in 1940, adding a long-established New York laboratory-supply business, and later bought E. Machlett & Sons, Pfeiffer Glass, Jarrell-Ash, and Stansi Scientific. These transactions expanded its presence in medical apparatus, precision glassware, optical and analytical instrumentation, and educational science supplies. Fisher also created chemical manufacturing capacity in New Jersey and an instrument-and-supplies facility in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Its product development included the Differential Thermalyzer, Photometric Titralyzer, Hem-alyzer, and other analytical instruments. The company became publicly traded in 1965 and its shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1968. It was acquired by Allied Corporation in 1981 for a reported $330 million and subsequently operated within corporate structures associated with AlliedSignal and The Henley Group. Fisher established a biotechnology division in 1985. In 1991, The Henley Group sold a majority interest through a public offering, creating Fisher Scientific International Inc., headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire, while Fisher Scientific Company continued as an operating subsidiary in Pittsburgh. In the 1990s, Fisher pursued quality certification, international expansion, pharmaceutical testing, and chemicals. It worked with Intertech Corporation on a pharmaceutical testing and certification laboratory in Moscow and acquired chemical businesses associated with Eastman Kodak and Janssen Chimica, helping form Acros Organics. The company also expanded its service capabilities, including an Instrument Service Division established in 1976. Fisher merged with Apogent Technologies in August 2004, strengthening its laboratory-products manufacturing activities. In May 2006, Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron announced a tax-free, stock-for-stock merger. The transaction closed on November 9, 2006, creating Thermo Fisher Scientific in a combination reported as worth approximately $12.8 billion. Fisher Scientific therefore ceased to operate as an independent public company, but its name continued as a major laboratory-products and distribution brand within Thermo Fisher Scientific. The brand serves research laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals, universities, schools, industrial quality-control operations, and other scientific customers.
History
Chester Garfield Fisher founded Scientific Materials Co. in Pittsburgh in 1902 after acquiring the stockroom of the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory. The business initially supplied apparatus and reagents to industrial laboratories. Its first catalog, issued in 1904, listed a wide range of laboratory goods, including microscopes, pipettes, balances, colorimeters, and anatomical models. Fisher created an internal research laboratory in 1915, reflecting an early strategy of combining distribution with product development and manufacturing. In 1925, the company acquired Scientific Supplies Ltd. in Montreal and changed its name to Fisher Scientific. Edwin Fisher, Chester's brother, developed the Meker-Fisher burner in 1921, while the company also produced combustion-analysis equipment and controlled-temperature incubators. The acquisition of Eimer & Amend in 1940 added a significant New York laboratory-supply business and strengthened Fisher's position in chemicals and apparatus. The Fisher family remained central to management for much of the company's independent history. Aiken Fisher became president in 1949 and later chairman, while Benjamin Fisher succeeded to senior leadership after Aiken's retirement. James Fisher served as a senior vice president. The company added a chemical plant in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, bought E. Machlett & Sons in 1957, and opened an instruments and supplies facility in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1959. Fisher became publicly traded in 1965 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1968. Its postwar expansion included analytical and clinical instruments such as the Differential Thermalyzer, Photometric Titralyzer, and Hem-alyzer. Acquisitions of Stansi Scientific, Pfeiffer Glass, and Jarrell-Ash extended the business into education, high-accuracy volumetric glassware, optical analysis, and spectroscopy. An Instrument Service Division was established in 1976. Allied Corporation acquired Fisher in 1981. Fisher subsequently operated through Allied and related corporate structures, and it established a Biotechnology Division in 1985. The Henley Group later sold a majority interest through a 1991 public offering, creating Fisher Scientific International Inc. as the public parent while Fisher Scientific Company remained an operating subsidiary. During the 1990s the business pursued international operations, ISO-9000 certification, pharmaceutical testing, and chemical manufacturing. Its acquisition of chemical operations associated with Eastman Kodak and Janssen Chimica contributed to Acros Organics. The 2004 Apogent Technologies merger expanded Fisher's laboratory-products platform. In 2006 Fisher and Thermo Electron agreed to combine in a stock-for-stock transaction. Completion on November 9 created Thermo Fisher Scientific. Fisher's independent corporate identity ended, but the Fisher Scientific name and product-distribution activities continued within the enlarged company.
- 2006
Merger with Thermo Electron completed
[1]The merger closed on November 9, creating Thermo Fisher Scientific and ending Fisher's status as an independent public company.
- 2004
Apogent Technologies merger
[1]Fisher merged with Apogent Technologies, adding laboratory-products manufacturing capabilities.
- 1992
Facilities receive ISO-9000 certification
[1]Fisher facilities achieved ISO-9000 certification as part of its quality-management development.
- 1991
Majority interest returned to public ownership
[1]The Henley Group sold a majority interest through a public offering, forming Fisher Scientific International Inc.
- 1985
Biotechnology Division created
[1]Fisher established a biotechnology division as the company broadened beyond traditional laboratory distribution.
- 1981
Acquired by Allied Corporation
[1]Allied Corporation acquired Fisher for a reported $330 million.
- 1976
Instrument Service Division established
[1]Fisher added a dedicated division for servicing scientific instruments.
- 1968
NYSE listing and analytical expansion
[1]Fisher shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the company acquired Jarrell-Ash for optical and spectroscopy instrumentation.
- 1965
Fisher becomes publicly traded
[1]Fisher issued its first public stock and introduced the Differential Thermalyzer.
- 1940
Eimer & Amend acquired
[1]Fisher acquired the New York laboratory-supply company Eimer & Amend.
Products and positioning
A broad laboratory-supply, scientific-instrumentation, chemicals, and services provider serving research, clinical, industrial, educational, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology customers.
Laboratory supplies · 1902
Laboratory apparatus and consumables
Fisher's foundational range included microscopes, burets, pipettes, balances, colorimeters, litmus, dissecting kits, anatomical models, glassware, and related laboratory consumables. These products supported industrial laboratories, universities, schools, hospitals, and research organizations.
Laboratory heating equipment · 1921
Meker-Fisher burner
Developed by Edwin Fisher in 1921, the Meker-Fisher burner was an improved laboratory gas burner intended to produce a broad, intense, and comparatively uniform flame for laboratory heating applications.
Scientific instrumentation · 1965
Analytical instruments
Fisher developed and distributed analytical instruments including the Differential Thermalyzer, Photometric Titralyzer, Hem-alyzer, and products associated with Jarrell-Ash. These instruments served thermal analysis, photometric testing, clinical work, optical analysis, and spectroscopy.
Laboratory chemicals
Chemicals and reagents
Chemicals and reagents were a core part of Fisher's laboratory-supply business. Later acquisitions connected to Eastman Kodak and Janssen Chimica expanded its organic-chemicals activities and contributed to the Acros Organics business.
Scientific services · 1976
Instrument service
The Instrument Service Division, established in 1976, provided maintenance and related support for scientific instruments, complementing Fisher's equipment distribution and laboratory-products activities.
Brand decisions
2006
Combination with Thermo ElectronM&ABackground
Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron sought to combine complementary laboratory-supply, scientific-instrumentation, and research-technology businesses.
Action taken
The companies agreed to a tax-free stock-for-stock merger, which closed on November 9, 2006.
Aftermath
The merged company was named Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Fisher Scientific continued as a brand and operating business within the new group.
Reported transaction value. $12.8 billion (2006)
2004
Merger with Apogent TechnologiesM&ABackground
Fisher sought to expand its laboratory-products manufacturing and distribution platform.
Action taken
Fisher Scientific merged with Apogent Technologies in August 2004.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Fisher's laboratory-products business before its later combination with Thermo Electron.
Recent events
- 2006
Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron announce merger[1]
M&A
The companies announced a tax-free stock-for-stock transaction intended to create a larger scientific-instrumentation and laboratory-supply company.
- 2006
Thermo Fisher Scientific merger closes[1]
M&A · Other
The merger was completed on November 9, 2006, and Fisher Scientific became part of the newly named Thermo Fisher Scientific.
- 2004
Fisher Scientific merges with Apogent Technologies[1]
M&A
Fisher Scientific combined with Apogent Technologies, a laboratory-products manufacturer, expanding its manufacturing and laboratory-products portfolio.
Sources2 sources
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