Firm History
For over 140 years, Speakman has pioneered the shower industry, first as a premiere American technological innovator, and continuously as a consumer shower market leader. With the creation of the Anystream® showerhead in the early 1920's, Speakman introduced a product that popularized the modern shower as well as the total shower experience that is still widely imitated. Today, Speakman continues to advance their original mission -- to offer the best showerheads on the market and design shower and bath fixtures that provide a luxurious bathing experience at an affordable price.
Early Speakman History
Founded 1869 in Wilmington, Delaware, The Speakman Company began as a family plumbing and steamfitting shop. For thirty years, Speakmans provided fitting and wholesale services along the Eastern Seaboard, engineering many of their own parts to ensure the best possible quality. Business grew steadily over decades and, in 1898, the company signed an agreement to supply specialized plumbing fixtures to the then-famous Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, The Speakman Company installed new brass lathing machinery and work began to produce custom-made shower units. The company's win would lead to recognition of the firm as one of the world's leading producers of "The Best in Brass."
Popularization of the Shower in 20th Century America
Alert to the trend of the times, Speakman published an illustrated catalog in 1901 inviting hotels and consumers alike to purchase from various styles of Speakman shower and bath equipment. By 1909, the complete Speakman shower line had expanded to include 71 unique shower fixtures and accessories.
Decade by decade, Speakman continued to broaden its market by purchasing manufacturing space and registering innovative patents with the US Government. "The Speakman Non-Scalding Regulating Shower Valve," the first in a series of Speakman inventions, made selection of water temperature in the shower as simple as a twist of the wrist -- a tremendous achievement for engineers and bathers alike.
A Timeless, Exceptional Product
In 1923, Speakman turned brass into gold again with the patenting of the Anystream® self-cleaning showerhead. The showerhead components were manufactured by craftsmen from solid brass material, machined to thousands-of-an-inch tolerances, highly polished by a grinding and buffing specialist, and finished with copper, nickel, and chromium plating. The result was a timelessly attractive consumer product that functioned impeccably, and for years would be virtually indestructible by nature of its construction. With such growth, Speakman adjusted to scale by adding Research & Development and Marketing departments to continuously refine and enhance its products
In the years following the Anystream® showerhead, Speakman expanded production into the safety equipment field with the production of emergency showers as well as military components for Allied forces in WWII. And in recent history, Speakman found popularity with various hotel chains including the Crowne Plaza, Double Tree, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, and more. Today, even after the altering success and growth of 140 years of experience, Speakman continues to offer a product that embraces those qualities which originally made them famous: classic elegance, dependability, and providing absolutely the best overall shower experience.
