Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc.

History

Established in 1854, Edward J. Darby and Son, Incorporated remains one of the oldest distributors and manufacturers of wire mesh and wire cloth in the United States. Edward Darby, himself—a possible descendant of the influential steel manufacturing family—left his birthplace of Birmingham, England to pursue new business opportunities in the United States in the mid-1800s.

Edward, and his sons Edward J., Henry F., and George B. Darby settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and years later, in 1902, officially incorporated the company, which had traded under the name, “Pennsylvania Wire Works.” In fact, during this time, Darby also began to market numerous products using the Pennsylvania name – items such as Pennsylvania Wire Cloth, Pennsylvania Poultry Netting and even Pen-Dar (Pennsylvania-Darby) Lockers were commonplace among industrial users

Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. was so instrumental to the city of Philadelphia that it maintained an office at 235 Arch Street and a factory at 115 Bread Street. These locations were a few blocks from the Betsy Ross House, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. was a key contributor to the growth of the industrial sector in the United States by supplying material to some of the country’s largest companies, as well as to various shipyards, road projects, and construction sites up and down the east coast. During this period of the company’s history, Darby specialized in manufacturing wrought iron railings, grill work, elevator enclosures, elevator cars, wire window guards, metal lockers and shelving.

In 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression, the Darby family transferred the company to its current family of owners, and, to this day, it remains.

The current owners firmly believe that their predecessors were successful because of their dedication to their customer. Then and now, success for Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. comes from dedication to you, the customer. Exemplary customer service, coupled with product knowledge unmatched in the industry, is our hallmark.

Today

Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. is a leading distributor and manufacturer of wire mesh and wire cloth in the United States. With a track record of over 160 years of business and a technical sales staff with over 100 years of combined experience, Darby, as it is commonly referred to, is uniquely and strategically positioned as a major player in the global wire mesh landscape.

The history and legacy of Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. continues to guide the company’s decision making and philosophy. Darby’s previous owners – the original Darby family – were devoted to serving their customers with a personal touch. This approach to customers continues this day; Darby still enjoys business relationships with customers that have spanned nearly 100 years.

Darby remains one of the most trusted and knowledgeable suppliers of wire mesh in the United States, and as such, Darby is committed to maintaining one of the largest and deepest inventories of wire mesh in the country. Our customers –from hog farmers to aerospace engineers and every user in between—benefit from immediate availability and cost savings.

Darby is able to supply virtually every type of wire mesh and wire cloth, including Stainless Steel Woven and Welded Wire Mesh, Plain Steel Wire Mesh, Hardware Cloth, Galvanized Wire Mesh, Brass Wire Mesh, Bronze Wire Mesh, Copper Wire Mesh, Monel Wire Mesh, and Aluminum Wire Mesh, just to name a few. Darby excels in standard market grade meshes, but also Darby maintains an expansive and varied inventory of non-standard and unique specifications.

Often recognized as experts in the wire mesh industry, Darby is continually in tune with the needs and requirements of all types of wire mesh users. Serving major corporations, machine shops, specialty manufacturers, industrial supply warehouses and construction companies, Darby proudly offers both custom welded and custom woven manufacturing in addition to its vast inventory. Darby also works closely with special customers who require OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) and JIT (Just in Time) programs. Darby offers a wide array of mesh-specific fabricating services designed to reduce costs and improve turnaround time.

Finally, because Darby continues its tradition as a leader in the wire mesh industry, the company has forged several key strategic alliances with select domestic and international companies that share our business goals and ethics. These alliances are formed – and strengthened – with one over-arching philosophy in mind: to better serve our customer.

When it comes to wire mesh and wire cloth, Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. is your wire mesh source, and for good reason: We have been a leader in wire mesh solutions since 1854!

Location

Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. is head-quartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc., is a working warehouse; we occupy the entire city block between Susquehanna and Dauphin Streets and between 8th and 9th Street. We are located in North Philadelphia, and our facility is a few blocks away from Temple University’s Main Campus.

Mission Statement

Building upon our 160 year reputation as a leading supplier of wire mesh and wire products to our customers, Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. is committed to:

1. Maintaining a deep, well-balanced and carefully curated inventory configured to meet the needs of customers, large and small. Through this comprehensive approach to inventory, are we not only able to pass on cost savings to the customers, but also to ship material out quickly.

2. Providing our customer with a level of service that is both personal and professional, with a depth of service that reflects our extensive knowledge of product and industry. We see value in this personal approach to business. We take pride in our ability to respond to customer inquiries in a timely fashion and to provide assistance in determining what mesh might be the most appropriate mesh for our customers’ needs.

3. Investing in the welfare of our employees through competitive compensation and advancing their growth and development opportunities. We also embrace the City of Philadelphia through the participation in various programs that give back to the community that has supported us for 160 years.

4. Developing a strong and sustainable American wire mesh industry. We are committed to supporting, and working alongside, other members of the industry—including users, competitors and overseas factories—to educate consumers and to grow our collective business. We will never choose a short-term gain, however large, over the long-term success in the industry. As a family business, we believe that the relationships we have built and continue to build are the cornerstone of a successful company.