During his first few years in business, Ralph Mueller and his team invented and manufactured a variety of both "hand made" custom and standard product offerings for numerous test and interconnect applications for a host of blossoming industries.
In 1908 Mueller introduced the world's first battery clips for the automotive industry. During 1920 Mueller introduced of the first piercing clips and live wire clips to the telecom industry, providing a much applauded product that helped revolutionize telecom test applications. During this period Mueller also created the world's first current–carrying clip for the electronics industry.
Although the automotive, electrical and telecom industries were mere infants by today's standards, each was growing by leaps and bounds as a result of the industrial revolution. For Mueller, the fledgling supplier, the journey of a lifetime was about to begin. Today we continue to service this ever–evolving industry with product for the OEM, retail and aftermarket segments.
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1929 – Mueller helps Admiral Byrd's Antarctica expedition
In 1929, Mueller received a telegram from Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition. The telegram inquired about the feasibility of obtaining non–ferrous clips. Evidently, the expedition was in need of special clips that could withstand the extreme elements of Antarctica's climate.
Mueller promptly set to work and developed the #27 non–ferrous clip, thus solving Admiral Byrd's problem and, at the same time, creating yet another product for a host of new markets.
1936 – The first wheel balancing clip is invented
By 1936 Mueller invented the first wheel-balancing clip, designed specifically with graded weights for use on automobile tires. This clip solved the balancing problem and remained in use for many years. Mueller subscribed to the notion that necessity is truly the mother of invention.
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1939 – produces the live–wire clip
In 1939 Mueller received a call from the Bell Telephone Company (now AT&T) inquiring about specialty splice–type clips for use in line testing. Once again, the Mueller team set up for the task and shortly thereafter announced two new products for Bell Telephone Company, the "Live Wire Clips". Both products are still in use today, though provided in a more modern design.
1940
– Mueller produces its 100,000,000 clip
As the year 1940 rolled around, Mueller reached an unprecedented milestone.
In just 32 years of business, Mueller produced its one hundred millionth clip!
Newspaper accounts tell of a grand celebration at the company's facilities, complete with festive music that was played by authentic, kilt–wearing, bagpipe–toting Scotsmen.
Just nine short years later, Mueller manufactured it's two hundred millionth clip.
We didn't locate any accounts proclaiming another grand celebration, so we assume that such quantities had by then become a standard company norm.
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1950's
– smaller clips, skin–tight insulation
As the trend towards miniaturization of connectors became pronounced in the mid 1950's "we anticipated the need, as usual, and by the time users demanded smaller clips with tighter tips and skin–tight insulation, we had introduced them", wrote Ralph Mueller announcing the birth of Mueller's Mini-Gator (1955) and Micro–Gator (1957) clips. With the development of these two products, Mueller soon became well entrenched in the burgeoning electronics industry. Today, Muellers electronic clip offerings, as well as its safety test leads and accessories, are widely used as standards throughout the industry.
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1958
– Mueller and automotive engine analysis
By 1958, automotive engine analysis was becoming a strong growth sector. Already selling a variety of products to the automotive industry, Mueller promptly recognized the new market niche opportunity and introduced the #27 ITO series analyzer clip which rapidly earned its place as the industry standard. Later that year, Mueller studied product use requirements in the welding industry and shortly thereafter introduced the #33C "Big Brute" clip as a permanent solution for grounding on "modern day" welders. The #33C clip is still considered an industry standard along with several other Mueller products.
1960's
– Mueller automates manufacturing
During the 1960's Mueller became much more focused on expanding within its key industry segments. Product offerings for the automotive, electrical, electronic and telecom industries were greatly enhanced and expanded to meet ever–changing requirements.
As quantity requirements mounted, Mueller began automating its manufacturing facilities to stay ahead of the demand, and to provide quality products at minimum cost.
By the close of the decade, Mueller continued to confirm its position as the world's premier manufacturer of quality clips for the professional user.
By 1973 Mueller was producing nearly 50 million clips per year and the growth continued.
Mueller was thankful it began automating in the 1960's.
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1980's
– Mueller introduces "ultra flex" line of "lab grade" test leads and prods
During 1980, Mueller introduced its new "ultra flex" line of "lab grade" test leads and prods for the first time expanding its product offering beyond the realm of clips and insulators.
By 1985, Mueller was devoting resources to expand the breadth of the test accessories product line, and introduced its first line of BNC connectors.
The evolution was noted as "quite natural" as Mueller was already providing millions of clips and insulators to its mainstream test & measurement customers.
The addition of test leads and accessories provided Mueller's customers with "one stop shopping" for high quality test & measurement and temporary interconnect products.
1990's
– Emergence of fully insulated safety probes, clips & accessories
As the decade of the 1990's unfolded, Mueller recognized yet another important trend in the marketplace, the emergence of fully insulated safety probes, clips and accessories. From clips, prods, hooks and grabbers to banana jacks, BNC's, test leads and couplers. With the same time-honored commitment to quality and manufacturing, Mueller has today established itself as the only North American manufacturer of a comprehensive and integrated safety product line.
THE BEGINNING – A time of many industry firsts
