Even in this day and age it’s great to hear or tell a story about an American idea that turned into a wonderful success. This was the case with Ramsey Winch Company. Just like an old movie; the story begins with a couple of brothers, and it grows from their determination to pursue the American dream.

>> In 1944 Claude Ramsey and his brother, Rayburn, founded Ramsey Winch Company in Oklahoma as Ramsey Brothers Tool and Die. They manufactured aircraft parts as well as tools and dies for Douglas Aircraft Company. This was just at the end of World War II, so as you can imagine, there was still quite a demand for aircraft parts.

>> In 1945, with the end of World War II and a decline in the need for these aircraft parts, Claude Ramsey found a market for a front-mounted winch for passenger cars and pickups. He designed a crankshaft-operated winch to pull vehicles out of mud and snow. It was called the Model 101. The winch was so popular and demand so high that the company name was changed to Ramsey Brothers Winch Manufacturing Company in 1947.

The Model 101 helped put Ramsey Winch on the map.

>> Then, in 1950, the company name was changed again. This time it became the Ramsey Winch Company because Claude Ramsey bought out his brother’s share. And on December 22, 1959, the company was incorporated as Ramsey Winch Company, Inc.

>> William W. Ramsey (Claude’s son) became sole owner in 1978. He made sure the company continued to flourish by supplying winches worldwide to a variety of growing markets and in 1980 the company grew into its new 132,000 square foot plant and office complex. This also commemorated the firm’s 35th anniversary. They dedicated the opening of the new facility to their founder, Claude Ramsey.

>> Ramsey Winch Company, Inc. began to manufacture a wide array of 4WD products including its industry-leading winches for front mount self-recovery, industrial, and ATV applications. Other products such as:

Winch Depot

They’ve now included a host of other related products like wireless remote extension wire, battery isolators, hooks, wiring kits, battery wire extensions, weather resistant contactors, brake kits, handlebar rocker switches, replacement remote control switches, and mounting systems.

>> In April 2007, Gridiron Capitol (a private equity firm headquartered in New Canaan, CT) acquired Ramsey Industries Inc. Bruce Barron was appointed CEO of Ramsey In-dustries and began to oversee the daily operations. Ramsey Winch is now a market leader in supplying towing & recovery and other industrial OEMs with an estimated annual sales of $28,400,00. They employ 250 people in their privately held company.

These days Ramsey Industries offers its products through authorized dealers and through websites like WinchDepot.com. They also market their products internationally. The company is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ramsey Winch Company, Inc. still operates as a subsidiary of Ramsey Industries, Inc.

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