Thank you for being a key component to our growth and prosperity throughout the years. And please enjoy your “stroll” through the Bradley history that follows.

An Innovative Beginning

Harry Bradley, the founder of Allen Bradley Corporation, was a font of ideas.

In 1917, in order to help workers wash their hands quicker – and avoid wasting their break time waiting in lines – he tried to find a way to reduce the floor space needed for a bank of sinks. And in 1918, he found his answer: in the first “washfountain” prototypes that allowed multiple users to wash up quickly. The concept was groundbreaking, and Harry secured the patent in 1919.

The product was so revolutionary, however, that Harry decided to sell the patent and instead focus on his own business. The rest, as they say, is history: in 1921, The Bradley Washfountain Company opened for business, and founding partners Gustav Grossenbach, Louis Schlesinger and Howard A. Mullett opened the floodgates of success.

A Family Affair

At Bradley, water-related products run in the blood. Howard A. Mullett – who assumed the role of secretary in 1927 – became president by 1928. His son, Howard G. Mullett, rose through the sales ranks until becoming president in 1953. And in 1980, grandson Donald J. Mullett accepted the position of president and is today the company’s Chairman. Following in his footsteps are Don’s sons Bryan and Christopher – the fifth generation of Mulletts to hold key positions at Bradley.

The Washfountain: A Timeless Classic

Some things never go out of style. Case in point: the Bradley Washfountain. The early circular model was a one-piece, hand-operated wonder that sprayed water upwards from the bottom of the bowl. And already it was multi-faceted: not only was it great for industrial hand washing, it was also used as flower planters, aquariums, rock terrariums and fresh produce displays!

The refinements just kept coming. 1925 saw the introduction of the first foot-operated models and the introduction of the semi-circular washfountain. In the 1930s, a downward-pointing sprayhead was implemented to alleviate water surges. And a two-piece bowl design made the product easier to ship, install and enjoy.

Bradley – and our classic washfountain – has come a long way: from 15 washfountains sold our first year, to 94 units sold in 1922, to over a million global installations. That makes it a classic success story.

Bradley Today

Since the very beginning, Bradley’s focus has been on providing the most complete and advanced commercial washrooms and comprehensive solutions for emergency safety and industrial applications. And with our innovative new products, coupled with truly exceptional customer experience, that remains our purpose and passion today and into the future. We will continue to define the cutting edge with exciting products like the first all-in-one touchless handwashing fixture, the first cast-formed natural quartz material wash basin, tankless water heaters, stainless steel ablution panels for religious cleansing and much, much more. And because we deliver customer service second to none, perhaps that’s why today Bradley sells more washfountains, showers, and accessories annually than in all our first 50 years combined.

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