Pfister
Pfister is a North American plumbing-fixtures brand making faucets, shower systems and related residential and hospitality products.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Pfister is an American plumbing-fixtures brand whose product range includes bathroom and kitchen faucets, lavatory fixtures, shower systems, showerheads, valves, hose nozzles and related accessories. The business was founded in Los Angeles in 1910 by Emil Price and William Pfister, initially introducing a garden faucet before expanding into indoor plumbing products for sinks and bathtubs. It was known for much of its history as Price Pfister and adopted the shorter Pfister name in 2010. The company grew from a small faucet maker into a significant residential-fixtures manufacturer during the twentieth century. Its products became especially prominent during the postwar American housing expansion, when the Crown Jewel faucet line helped establish broad consumer recognition. Between 1960 and 1970, the company expanded its manufacturing capacity substantially, including construction of a large foundry in Pacoima, California. The facility was described as the largest foundry west of the Mississippi and became an important local employer. Price Pfister also produced military-related components during the First and Second World Wars, including aircraft fittings and hand-grenade shells. In 1941, the company was acquired by Isadore Familian. It later became part of Norris Industries in 1969 and was acquired by Black & Decker in 1989. During the late twentieth century, the brand competed in the mainstream American faucet market and used the memorable advertising line “Price Pfister, the Pfabulous Pfaucet with the Pfunny name.” By 1987, it was reported to hold approximately 14 percent of the United States faucet market. A major technical development came in 1994, when Price Pfister became the first manufacturer to convert its products to ceramic cartridges. The change supported a lifetime guarantee against leaks and drips and reflected the industry's broader move away from older cartridge and casting technologies. The brand subsequently faced regulatory, manufacturing and labor controversy over lead levels associated with faucet production. In 1996, it agreed to a $2.4 million settlement in a California action concerning lead content and changed production methods. The same period saw the closure of its Pacoima foundry and the transfer of manufacturing work to Mexico, resulting in substantial layoffs and protests. Corporate ownership changed several times in the twenty-first century. Following the 2010 acquisition of Black & Decker by Stanley Works, the brand became part of Stanley Black & Decker's Hardware and Home Improvement group. Stanley Black & Decker agreed in 2012 to sell that group, including Pfister, to Spectrum Brands Holdings; the transaction closed in December of that year for $1.4 billion. Spectrum Brands later agreed to sell its Hardware and Home Improvement division to the Swedish industrial group Assa Abloy. That transaction closed in June 2023, making Pfister part of Assa Abloy's hardware and home-improvement portfolio. Today, Pfister products are sold mainly through major home-improvement retailers, hardware stores and plumbing showrooms in North America. The brand is generally positioned in the accessible-to-mainstream portion of the faucet market: its prices are typically below brands such as Moen and Delta, while remaining above private-label alternatives such as Glacier Bay and lower-priced Peerless products. In addition to retail residential fixtures, Pfister offers custom-designed faucet solutions for hospitality and other project applications.
History
Pfister began in Los Angeles in 1910, when Emil Price and William Pfister introduced a garden faucet. The founders soon broadened the business into faucets, valves and hose nozzles for indoor sinks and bathtubs. During both world wars, the company supplemented plumbing production with military-related manufacturing, including aircraft fittings and hand-grenade shells. Isadore Familian acquired the company in 1941. After the Second World War, the American housing boom shifted the business toward residential plumbing fixtures. The Crown Jewel faucet line, introduced in 1950, became an important consumer success and helped make Price Pfister a familiar household name. The brand also developed distinctive advertising around its name, including the phrase “the Pfabulous Pfaucet with the Pfunny name.” The company expanded significantly during the 1960s. Its Pacoima, California, manufacturing complex covered approximately 25 acres and included a foundry described as the largest west of the Mississippi. Price Pfister was acquired by Norris Industries in 1969 and by Black & Decker in 1989. By 1987, contemporary reporting cited the company as holding about 14 percent of the United States faucet market. In 1994, Price Pfister converted to ceramic cartridges, a product and manufacturing change that enabled what was described as the industry's first lifetime guarantee against leaks and drips. The company then entered a difficult period involving environmental regulation, production costs and labor. California authorities challenged lead levels associated with the company's faucet-manufacturing process, and Price Pfister agreed to a $2.4 million settlement in 1996. The company changed from older sand-casting methods to more expensive machining and began moving work to Mexico. The Pacoima foundry closed during 1996–1997. About 300 workers were laid off in the initial transfer, with further layoffs associated with the move to Mexicali. Workers held protests, including a hunger strike, and criticized the company's explanation that regulatory requirements were the principal reason for the closure. The former plant site later became associated with industrial pollution concerns and was eventually considered for redevelopment as a home-improvement retail location. Price Pfister joined Kwikset in the Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement group in 1999. After Stanley acquired Black & Decker in 2010, the business became part of Stanley Black & Decker. The brand name was shortened from Price Pfister to Pfister in the same year. Stanley Black & Decker announced the sale of the group to Spectrum Brands in 2012, and the transaction closed in December for $1.4 billion. Spectrum Brands subsequently agreed to sell the division to Assa Abloy. The sale closed in June 2023. Pfister now serves primarily the North American residential market through retailers, hardware stores and plumbing showrooms. Its assortment covers bathroom and kitchen faucets, shower products, lavatory fixtures, accessories and related plumbing hardware. The brand also operates a custom-faucet business for hospitality applications. Its market position is generally below premium faucet brands such as Moen and Delta in price, but above store private labels and selected value brands.
- 2023
Transferred to Assa Abloy
[1]Assa Abloy completed its purchase of Spectrum Brands' Hardware and Home Improvement division.
- 2012
Transferred to Spectrum Brands
[1]Spectrum Brands acquired the Hardware and Home Improvement group, including Pfister, from Stanley Black & Decker.
- 2010
Brand renamed Pfister
[1]Following Stanley's acquisition of Black & Decker, the Price Pfister brand adopted the shorter Pfister name.
- 1997
Pacoima operations end
[1]More manufacturing moved to Mexicali, Mexico, and the Pacoima plant closed completely.
- 1996
Pacoima foundry closure begins
[1]The company closed its United States foundry and began transferring production to Mexico amid a lead-related settlement and labor protests.
- 1994
Ceramic-cartridge conversion
[1]Price Pfister converted its products to ceramic cartridges and introduced a lifetime guarantee against leaks and drips.
- 1989
Acquired by Black & Decker
[1]Black & Decker acquired Price Pfister and later combined it with Kwikset in its Hardware and Home Improvement group.
- 1969
Acquired by Norris Industries
[1]Price Pfister became part of Norris Industries.
- 1950
Crown Jewel line gains prominence
[1]The Crown Jewel faucet line became widely popular during the postwar housing boom.
- 1941
Acquisition by Isadore Familian
[1]Isadore Familian acquired the company as it moved toward its later residential-fixtures focus.
Products and positioning
A mainstream North American plumbing-fixtures brand positioned between premium national faucet brands and low-cost private-label alternatives, with distribution through home-improvement retailers, hardware stores and plumbing showrooms.
Bathroom and kitchen faucets · 1950
Crown Jewel
A historically important faucet line introduced around 1950. Its popularity during the postwar housing boom helped establish Price Pfister as a recognizable consumer plumbing brand.
Bathroom plumbing fixtures
Residential bathroom faucets
Pfister's bathroom assortment includes faucets and lavatory fixtures for residential sinks and related bathroom installations. The brand serves mainstream retail and showroom channels across North America.
Kitchen plumbing fixtures
Kitchen faucets
The kitchen portfolio includes consumer faucets and associated plumbing hardware distributed through home-improvement retailers, hardware stores and plumbing showrooms.
Shower plumbing fixtures
Shower systems and showerheads
Pfister produces shower systems, showerheads and related components intended for residential bathroom installations.
Hospitality and project fixtures
PFISTER Custom Faucet Solutions
A custom-designed faucet offering for hospitality and other project applications, extending Pfister beyond standard retail residential products.
Controversies
1996
Lead-content litigation and manufacturing controversy
California authorities challenged lead levels associated with Price Pfister faucet production. The company agreed to a $2.4 million settlement and changed manufacturing methods. The episode was followed by closure of the Pacoima foundry, production transfers to Mexico and protests by affected workers.
Marketing campaigns
- The Pfabulous Pfaucet with the Pfunny name
United States
A long-running advertising platform built around the distinctive Price Pfister name and deliberate alliteration. The slogan helped give the brand a memorable, approachable personality in the consumer faucet market.
Outcome. The line became strongly associated with Price Pfister's brand identity.
Brand decisions
2023
Transfer Hardware and Home Improvement division to Assa AbloyM&ABackground
Spectrum Brands agreed to divest its Hardware and Home Improvement division as part of a portfolio transaction.
Action taken
Assa Abloy completed the acquisition in June 2023.
Aftermath
Pfister became part of Assa Abloy's Hardware and Home Improvement group.
2012
Sell Hardware and Home Improvement group to Spectrum BrandsM&ABackground
Stanley Black & Decker decided to divest its Hardware and Home Improvement group, which included Pfister.
Action taken
The group was sold to Spectrum Brands Holdings; the transaction closed in December 2012.
Aftermath
Pfister became part of Spectrum Brands' hardware portfolio until the division was sold to Assa Abloy.
Acquisition price. $1.4 billion (2012 transaction)
2010
Shorten the brand name to PfisterStrategyBackground
After Stanley acquired Black & Decker, the former Price Pfister business became part of the Stanley Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement group.
Action taken
The consumer brand changed its name from Price Pfister to Pfister.
Aftermath
Pfister continued as a standalone plumbing-fixtures brand within successive hardware-and-home-improvement owners.
1996
Move production from Pacoima to MexicoStrategyBackground
The company faced regulatory pressure over lead content and higher costs associated with replacing sand-casting processes. Labor representatives also argued that lower Mexican wages contributed to the relocation decision.
Action taken
Price Pfister closed its United States foundry and transferred manufacturing work to Mexico, initially affecting approximately 300 workers.
Aftermath
The Pacoima facility closed completely in 1997 after further transfers to Mexicali. Workers protested layoffs and severance terms.
1994
Adopt ceramic cartridgesGeneration changeBackground
Older faucet mechanisms were being displaced by more durable cartridge technologies, and the company sought to improve reliability and support a stronger product guarantee.
Action taken
Price Pfister converted its products to ceramic cartridges.
Aftermath
The conversion enabled a lifetime guarantee against leaks and drips and was described as an industry first.
Recent events
- 2023
Pfister becomes part of Assa Abloy[1]
M&A
Assa Abloy completed its acquisition of Spectrum Brands' Hardware and Home Improvement division, which included Pfister.
- 2012
Stanley Black & Decker agrees to sell Hardware and Home Improvement group[2]
M&A
Stanley Black & Decker agreed to sell its Hardware and Home Improvement group, which included Pfister, to Spectrum Brands Holdings.
- 2012
Spectrum Brands completes acquisition of Hardware and Home Improvement group[1]
M&A
Spectrum Brands completed its purchase of Stanley Black & Decker's Hardware and Home Improvement group, bringing Pfister into the Spectrum Brands portfolio.
- 1997
Additional manufacturing transferred to Mexicali[1]
Other
Price Pfister moved more production from the Pacoima facility to Mexicali, Mexico. Further layoffs followed, and former workers organized public protests and called for a consumer boycott.
- 1996
Pacoima foundry closure triggers layoffs and protests[1]
Other · Regulation
The company shut its United States foundry in Pacoima, California, and began moving manufacturing work to Mexico. Approximately 300 workers were laid off, and employees protested over severance terms, job transfers and the stated role of environmental regulation in the decision.
Sources3 sources
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