Paul H. Davey, Sr. was employed as Equipment Engineer by the Davey Tree Expert Co., a family business. In this capacity, he set about improving the equipment used in tree surgery and line clearing. The most glaring deficiency was the lack of an efficient, lightweight air compressor.

In the back corner of the tree company shop, Mr. Davey set about developing what became the first, portable, air-cooled air compressor and used aluminum for the first time, further reducing the weight. In only a few years, demand for this compressor grew to the point where, in 1929, Davey Compressor Company was incorporated.

Over the next 20 years, Davey continued to innovate in the field of compressors developing such progresses as using a clutch between engine and compressor for quick warm-ups and longer compressor/engine life and the PTO compressor drive system. During the Second World War, Davey contributed greatly to the war effort, producing mobile field machine shops, split shaft power take off’s, flame throwers and numerous compressors. The government ties with Davey are still very strong to this day.

Work was begun on a rotary compressor design. In 1953, the first hydrovane Davey (a 5 hp, 200 psi unit) was released to the United States Air Force. The design was immediately accepted and, until 1957, the entire Davey production of hydrovanes was committed to the Air Force. In 1957, the rotary design was introduced to the portable compressor product line. Because of the efficient, pulsationless performance, Davey quickly became a leader in the compressor industry.
Davey joined the pneumatic tool field, designing and manufacturing their own line of air tools for industrial and construction applications. In 1954, Davey launched the Rotary Drill Division. Both of these companies are still in existence today as Kent Air Tool Company and Davey Drill Company.

Marked the release of the permavane compressor blade. Previous compressor blades were typically a laminated, phenolic material which had a short life and began delaminating after only a few thousand hours. The permavane blade is solid metal with a patented coating which has an exceptional life expectancy. Further, it is reversible, unlike the hydrovane blades and, after wearing out on one side, they can be flipped over for a second life. Even now, there is still no other blade available with the exceptional wear characteristics of the permavane.

Davey introduced a redesigned compressor package, the Permavane Compressor. While utilizing the new blade, it also featured a component type design rather than the previous encapsulated design. The permavane separated the air end, oil sump and controls into individual, versatile and serviceable units. These individual components allowed Davey to develop a stationary and portable compressor line with various pressures and capacities from the same air end. At the time, this was a major innovation and these components, with 30 years of field experience, are still in use today. In the late 1960’s

In the late 1960’s, the Davey family sold the company to Alco Standard, an industrial holding company. Again, in 1974, the company was sold to the Razete Bros. The Razete’s continued to build Davey into a major defense contractor, introducing high pressure (5000 psi) models, the BAQ and the Quiet Portables. In 1986, the company was purchased in a leveraged buy out by Purvin Industries. Because of financial difficulties stemming from environmental problems and government litigation, Davey slowly lost its position in the commercial market.

In December of 1990, Fuller Company in Bethlehem, PA purchased the commercial assets of Davey. Fuller Company, has been a long time manufacturer of mineral processing equipment, and is also a leading manufacturer of Rotary Sliding Vane Compressors. After a 1991 reorganization, Fuller-Davey Compressors was an integral part of Fuller-Kovako Corporation’s non-cement growth plans. Fuller-Kovako is a Division of F. L. Smidth Industries, the largest industrial conglomerate in Denmark and the parent company of Fuller. Fuller-Kovako is a world leader in the fields of pneumatic conveying, air pollution control and bulk handling equipment.

In late 1998, Fuller-Kovako sold Davey Compressor to Jenny Products, Inc. Jenny, well known in the cleaning industry as “Steam Jenny”, is a leading manufacturer of industrial/commercial steam cleaners, pressure washers, cabinet washers, ventilation equipment, wash-water recycling systems, and cleaning chemicals.