Prospering under the third generation of Smith management, the Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® has been developing innovative engineered plumbing and drainage products for more than 80 years. This prosperity is the direct result of the company’s commitment to its customers, representatives, vendors, and employees.
In the 1920s, Jay L. Smith, a New York salesman for the National Lead Company, saw a growing need for brass and bronze specialties. Arranging to have his products manufactured by other foundries, Mr. Smith began his fledging corporation in his basement on Manhattan’s 94th Street in 1926. It was established on a solid foundation of fair dealing and customer service. Mr. Smith called his new business Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® after his son Jay R. Smith.
By the 1930’s the brass business was growing rapidly enough to justify the services of a full-time employee. That first employee was Mr. Smith’s 19-year-old son, Jay R. Smith, who gave up his twin careers at the time – semi-pro baseball and professional musician – to join his father in the brass fittings business.
In the 1930’s, an expansion into marine products precipitated a move to Newark, New Jersey. During a time of national economic distress, the value and commitment to customer satisfaction resulted in further expansion and continued success. In 1942, with the war effort only months old, management shifted to Jay R. Smith following the death of his father at the age of 77. Growth after World War II resulted in a much needed move and expansion to a new facility in Union, New Jersey and later to Piscataway, New Jersey.
Sixteen years later, in 1978, Jay R. Smith retired and the company moved to its present location in Montgomery, Alabama. The plant is located on a 33-acre site in Gunter Industrial Park. The facility contains over 225,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse capacity.
Today, Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® is headed and owned by the president Jay L. Smith, grandson and namesake of the founder. Three generations of family ownership, coupled with a nationwide network of committed sales representatives and service centers, have enabled Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® to meet the demanding requirements of wholesalers, engineers, and contractors by adhering to its mission: “To be The Company of Choice in the Specification Plumbing and Drainage Industry.”
Products in the Smith line include water closet supports and lavatory and sink supports, floor and roof drains, sanitary floor sinks, cleanouts and access covers, interceptors, hydrants, trench drains, water hammer arresters, specialty (stainless steel and carbon steel drains), and backwater valves.
Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. is also able to create plumbing and drainage products to meet specific customer requirements. There are referred to as Special Quote products. Along with Smith’s “special quote” products, some of the specialty product lines available from Smith are:
• The Smith/ACO Trench Drain Series (polymer concrete and fiberglass surface drainage systems)
• The Enviro-Flo Trench Drain Series (a polypropylene surface drainage system)
• The Ultracept Oil/Water Separator (separates oil, grease, and other hydrocarbons from wastewater)
• The Labor Saver Fixture Support (a one-piece rigid frame fixture support)
• The Guardian Dual Check Hydrant (provides positive non-freeze protection with an integral vacuum breaker and dual check valve)
• The Flood-Gate Automatic Backwater Valve (closes automatically when backup is detected in sanitary sewer line)
• The Remediator Grease Treatment System (designed to eradicate suspended fats, oils, and grease at the source)
Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. continues to expand its product offerings to meet the needs of today’s changing construction demands.
