6 | The Fisher Story
1905 Vertical actuators, steam traps and
back pressure valves are introduced.
Annual sales reach $44,000.
1906 George Beebe becomes president
when founder, William Fisher, passes away.
Type No. 33
steam trap
A 24-page catalog lists the Types 1
through 9 pump
governors and Types 10
and 11 reducing valves.
One line reads, “The Fisher
governor in the hands of a
purchaser is as good as a
gold dollar.”
1909 Ralph B. Reasoner
succeeds George Beebe as
president; George returns
in 1913.
1907 Employees number 28, and
there are at least 27 competitors.
Products are installed in German battleships as well as
underground electric railways in London.
1908 The entire factory, power plant and office are
housed in one building.
Assemblers in the factory, 1910
Original factory building is now brick veneered
He, Too, Shall Serve
T
wo other Marshalltown men,
not members of the Fisher
family, served as president of
the Fisher Governor Company in
its early years.
Ralph Reasoner graduated
from Purdue University in
Indiana with the class of 1898
and began his career as an
inspecting engineer for the
Ft. Wayne Gas Company. Moving
to Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1909,
he became a stockholder in the
Fisher Governor Company, took
an active role in its management, and was elected president
in September 1909. In 1912, he
reported the company was
prospering with employees
receiving wages of $16,000.
The father of three daughters,
Ralph also served the local
YMCA and Presbyterian church.
Lyle W. Browne was vice
president and general manager
of the Fisher Governor Company
before he became president in
1930. Little is known about his
background except that he was a
a local carpenter. He ultimately
left Marshall County.
George Estabrook, a
manufacturer and investor, had
principal holdings in the Jasper
County Coal Company. In 1896,
he also purchased Erastus A.
Harris’ interest in the Fisher
Governor Company. At the time
of his death in August 1908, he
was secretary of the Fisher
Governor Company.