McGraw-Edison
McGraw-Edison is an American electrical-equipment heritage brand whose name is used on industrial, commercial, and institutional lighting products.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
McGraw-Edison originated as an American electrical-equipment company created in 1957 through the combination of McGraw Electric and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Its corporate ancestry reached back to two different businesses: McGraw Electric, founded by Max McGraw in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1900 to install electricity in homes, and Thomas A. Edison, Inc., a successor to Edison Manufacturing Co. with roots in the nineteenth-century phonograph and recording business. The Edison business later expanded into radios and dictation equipment, while McGraw Electric developed through acquisitions into a broader manufacturer serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets. The merged company initially pursued a diversified industrial strategy. Charles Edison, who had led Thomas A. Edison, Inc. from 1927, became chairman of the new company's board and remained in that role until retiring in 1961. Max McGraw served as the principal operating executive and later continued as chairman of the executive committee. Al Bersted became president in 1959 and was responsible for day-to-day operations. McGraw-Edison added businesses across cookware, appliances, power tools, food-service equipment, motors, and other industrial categories. These moves reflected the conglomerate model common among large American manufacturers in the mid-twentieth century. Among its notable transactions, McGraw-Edison acquired Griswold Manufacturing in 1957, although the Griswold brand and housewares operation were sold later that year to Wagner Manufacturing. The company acquired General Electric's power-tool businesses in 1969 and the power-tool interests of G.W. Murphy Industries in 1972. In 1979 it purchased Studebaker-Worthington, an industrial group formed from the histories of Studebaker, Worthington, and Wagner Electric. That acquisition more than doubled McGraw-Edison's size. The same period also saw the divestiture of its appliance division, including the Speed Queen brand, to Raytheon. McGraw-Edison subsequently sold or transferred additional divisions. Bastian-Blessing acquired its food-service equipment division in 1980, and Shopsmith acquired its power-tool division later that year. The company's Calhoun County, Michigan, site manufactured air conditioners, cooling fans, space heaters, humidifiers, portable hair dryers, toasters, and other household appliances from 1958 to 1980. Environmental contamination associated with waste-oil disposal at that site led to a 1984 consent decree requiring soil and groundwater remediation. Cooper Industries acquired McGraw-Edison in 1985. At the time of the takeover, the company reportedly employed approximately 21,000 people at 118 facilities in the United States and other countries. Cooper assumed responsibility for the Michigan cleanup. The McGraw-Edison corporate entity was subsequently absorbed into the acquiring company's industrial portfolio, but the name continued as a product brand. Since 1996, the McGraw-Edison brand has been owned by Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies, Inc. It is principally encountered today on lighting products for industrial, commercial, and institutional applications rather than as a standalone diversified consumer-appliance company.
History
McGraw-Edison's history combines the development of McGraw Electric with the later corporate history of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. McGraw Electric began in 1900 when seventeen-year-old Max McGraw established an electrical-installation business in Sioux City, Iowa. The company initially wired homes and then expanded into industrial and commercial buildings. Through acquisitions it evolved from an installation business into a manufacturer of electrical products. In 1952 McGraw Electric merged with Pennsylvania Transformer Company while retaining the McGraw Electric name. Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was organized in 1910 as a reorganization of Edison Manufacturing Co. Its business began with phonographs and records and later included radios and dictation machines. Charles Edison became president in 1927 and directed the company until its sale in 1957. McGraw Electric acquired Thomas A. Edison, Inc. that year, creating McGraw-Edison. Charles Edison became chairman of the merged company's board, while Max McGraw was the leading operating executive. McGraw-Edison also acquired Griswold Manufacturing in March 1957; the Griswold brand and housewares division were sold to Wagner Manufacturing later in the year. Al Bersted became president in 1959, with McGraw continuing as chairman of the executive committee. The company pursued broad diversification during the following decades. It acquired General Electric's power-tool businesses in 1969 and G.W. Murphy Industries' power-tool businesses in 1972. In September 1979, McGraw-Edison bought Studebaker-Worthington, a group whose industrial ancestry included Studebaker, Worthington Corporation, and Wagner Electric. The transaction more than doubled McGraw-Edison's size. In the same year, McGraw-Edison sold its appliance division, including the Speed Queen brand, to Raytheon. The food-service equipment division was acquired by Bastian-Blessing in June 1980, and the power-tool division was sold to Shopsmith in September 1980. A major manufacturing site in Calhoun County, Michigan, produced air conditioners, fans, space heaters, humidifiers, portable hair dryers, toasters, and other appliances from 1958 through 1980. Between 1970 and 1980, oil waste contaminated with trichloroethylene was spread on dirt roads at the site for dust control. Contamination was discovered in nearby residential and municipal wells in 1980. Michigan authorities and McGraw-Edison entered a cleanup consent decree on June 11, 1984, addressing polluted soil and groundwater. Cooper Industries assumed responsibility for the remediation after acquiring McGraw-Edison. Cooper Industries acquired McGraw-Edison in 1985. The acquired company had approximately 21,000 employees across 118 facilities in the United States and other countries. Although the diversified corporate business was absorbed into subsequent owners, the McGraw-Edison name survived as a product mark. Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies, Inc. has owned the brand since 1996, with contemporary use concentrated on industrial, commercial, and institutional lighting.
- 1996
Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies assumes brand ownership
[1]Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies becomes the owner of the McGraw-Edison product brand.
- 1985
Cooper Industries acquires McGraw-Edison
[1]The diversified McGraw-Edison company is acquired by Cooper Industries.
- 1984
Michigan environmental cleanup decree is registered
[1]A consent decree establishes remediation obligations for contaminated soil and groundwater at the Calhoun County site.
- 1980
Food-service and power-tool divisions are divested
[1]Bastian-Blessing acquires the food-service equipment division, while Shopsmith acquires the power-tool division.
- 1979
Studebaker-Worthington is acquired
[1]McGraw-Edison purchases Studebaker-Worthington, more than doubling its scale.
- 1979
Appliance division is sold to Raytheon
[1]McGraw-Edison divests its appliance division, including Speed Queen, to Raytheon.
- 1972
G.W. Murphy Industries power-tool businesses are acquired
[1]The company adds further power-tool operations through a transaction involving G.W. Murphy Industries.
- 1969
General Electric power-tool businesses are acquired
[1]McGraw-Edison expands its power-tool operations through an acquisition from General Electric.
- 1957
McGraw-Edison is created
[1]McGraw Electric acquires Thomas A. Edison, Inc., creating the McGraw-Edison company.
- 1957
Griswold Manufacturing is acquired
[1]McGraw-Edison acquires Griswold Manufacturing but sells its brand and housewares division to Wagner Manufacturing later that year.
Products and positioning
A legacy American electrical-equipment name positioned primarily around durable lighting and electrical products for industrial, commercial, and institutional environments. Historically, the company also operated as a diversified manufacturer of appliances, power tools, cookware, and food-service equipment.
Industrial lighting
McGraw-Edison industrial lighting
The surviving McGraw-Edison brand is associated with lighting equipment for industrial environments. The brand's contemporary identity is narrower than the former corporation's diversified portfolio and is centered on electrical products intended for demanding non-residential applications.
Commercial and institutional lighting
McGraw-Edison commercial and institutional lighting
McGraw-Edison products are also identified with commercial and institutional lighting applications. These markets include non-residential facilities requiring dedicated electrical and illumination equipment rather than the consumer appliances and tools that formed much of the historic company's portfolio.
Consumer appliances
Household appliances
During its corporate operating period, McGraw-Edison manufactured or marketed household products including air conditioners, cooling fans, electric space heaters, humidifiers, portable hair dryers, and toasters. The appliance division was sold to Raytheon in 1979.
Power tools · 1969
Power tools
Power tools became part of McGraw-Edison's diversified industrial portfolio through acquisitions from General Electric in 1969 and G.W. Murphy Industries in 1972. The division was sold to Shopsmith in 1980.
Cookware and housewares · 1957
Cast-iron cookware and housewares
McGraw-Edison briefly owned Griswold Manufacturing, whose business included cast-iron cookware and some electrical items. The Griswold brand and housewares division were sold to Wagner Manufacturing in 1957.
Commercial food-service equipment
Food-service equipment
Food-service equipment was one of the company's commercial product divisions. It was divested in 1980 when Bastian-Blessing acquired the division.
Controversies
1980
Trichloroethylene contamination at the Calhoun County site
McGraw-Edison used oil waste contaminated with trichloroethylene for dust control on roads at a Michigan manufacturing site between 1970 and 1980. Contamination was subsequently detected in nearby residential and municipal wells, leading to a state cleanup agreement and a 1984 consent decree covering soil and groundwater remediation.
Brand decisions
1985
Sell the company to Cooper IndustriesM&ABackground
McGraw-Edison remained a large, diversified manufacturer but was subject to acquisition by another industrial group.
Action taken
Cooper Industries acquired McGraw-Edison.
Aftermath
The McGraw-Edison corporate business was absorbed into Cooper's operations, while the name later survived as a product brand.
1979
Purchase Studebaker-WorthingtonM&ABackground
McGraw-Edison pursued significant industrial diversification and scale.
Action taken
It acquired Studebaker-Worthington, an industrial group formed from Studebaker, Worthington Corporation, and Wagner Electric.
Aftermath
The transaction more than doubled McGraw-Edison's size and broadened its industrial operations.
1979
Divest the appliance divisionStrategyBackground
McGraw-Edison was reshaping its diversified portfolio after years of expansion.
Action taken
The company sold its appliance division, including the Speed Queen brand, to Raytheon.
Aftermath
The former appliance business later became part of Alliance Laundry Systems.
1969
Acquire General Electric power-tool businessesM&ABackground
McGraw-Edison sought to expand its industrial product portfolio and power-tool presence.
Action taken
The company took over General Electric's power-tool businesses.
Aftermath
The power-tool portfolio was expanded further through a 1972 transaction involving G.W. Murphy Industries before being sold in 1980.
1957
Combine McGraw Electric with Thomas A. Edison, Inc.M&ABackground
McGraw Electric and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. brought complementary electrical, consumer, and technical businesses together during a period of industrial consolidation.
Action taken
McGraw Electric acquired Thomas A. Edison, Inc., creating McGraw-Edison.
Aftermath
The new company operated as a diversified manufacturer and expanded through further acquisitions and divestitures.
Recent events
- 1996
Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies becomes owner of the McGraw-Edison brand[1]
M&A
The McGraw-Edison name continued as a product brand after the corporate acquisition era and came under the ownership of Pennsylvania Transformer Technologies.
- 1985
Cooper Industries acquires McGraw-Edison[1]
M&A
Cooper Industries acquired McGraw-Edison, which reportedly had about 21,000 employees and 118 facilities at the time.
- 1979
McGraw-Edison acquires Studebaker-Worthington[1]
M&A
The acquisition of the diversified industrial group substantially increased McGraw-Edison's scale and broadened its industrial portfolio.
- 1969
McGraw-Edison expands into General Electric power tools[1]
M&A
The company took over General Electric's power-tool businesses as part of its expansion across electrical and industrial product categories.
- 1957
McGraw-Edison is formed through the combination of McGraw Electric and Thomas A. Edison, Inc.[1]
M&A · Other
The merger created a diversified American electrical and consumer-products manufacturer combining McGraw Electric's electrical-equipment activities with the Edison company's phonograph, radio, and dictation-machine heritage.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/mcgraw-edison · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled