"THE MIETHER STORY"

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With the "wildcat" gusher of the Santa Rita, May 28, 1923, came a whole new era to West Texas.  Oil, and soon to follow, gas wells would begin appearing throughout the Permian Basin.  The nearest supply store being 200 miles away in Ranger, Texas, made it necessary to establish new supply and repair centers in the midst of this new oil find.

So it was, in 1934, Miether Machine Works was founded by Mr. George Miether for the purpose of repairing the oilfield equipment necessary to continue the drilling of thousands of wells in West Texas and New Mexico.

Employing competent, capable people with his same beliefs and interest in the oil industry soon made it possible for Miether to move from the small overcrowded downtown shop into a large modern plant in northwest Odessa.

Incorporated that same year, 1960, Miether's reputation soon grew throughout the Southwest, not only as an oilfield repair shop, but that of repairing industrial, petrochemical and mining equipment as well as custom machining upon request.

Bearings housings and all the component parts necessary to make all rotating equipment function were in great demand.  Original manufacturers were swamped with orders for new parts and new designs.  In the late 1950's Miether responded with a one piece, cast steel bearing housing capable of performing well under the extreme demands of drilling and related heavy equipment.  The success of this "MMW Bearing Unit" spread throughout the nation and abroad. 

The steel industry, in the early 60's needed a source for very large, specialized bearing housings for their basic oxygen furnaces.  Again Miether responded; delivering over 50 units, world wide, some to carry bearings over 60" in diameter.

New additions, expansions and large special equipment was needed to venture into these new fields of business.  West Texas and it's people were changing.  New industry poured into the Permian Basin from all parts of the nation.

In 1970 Miether Machine Works was merged with Alco Standard Corporation and became a partnership with one of the newest and fastest growing companies in America.

Meanwhile, a proprietary line of standard and custom "Pillow Blocks" was being established, with sales representatives throughout the nation.  A full line of bearing adapters, flange cartridge units and other component parts are now available.  Thus Miether Bearing Products was established in 1976;  a new partner with Miether Machine Repair Division.

The 1970's brought another challenge;  electric power generating plants.  An abundance of water, oil, gas, and later, lignite coal made it economical for companies to locate their plants in the Southwest.  The repairing of large pumps, turbines and generators was soon to become common place in Miether's repair shop as well as "on sight" at the customer plant.  Innovative techniques, capable people and proper equipment allowed bearing journal resurfacing, turbine rotor machining, bore preps, honing and custom machining to be performed as needed to prevent long outages.

A major change in Miether took place in 1984 when we sold the oil field repair business.  The bearing division of Miether became part of ALCO Industries which is now an employee owned company.

Today Miether Bearing Products, Inc. continues to serve the U.S. and around the world with quality American made products.  This evolution from 1934 to the present has taken place with a quality workforce with the ability to visualize and act on market conditions.  Miether's philosophy has always been and still is "WE HAVE THE CAPACITY "...

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