The History of Joseph Oat Corporation

Joseph Oat Corporation (originally Joseph Oat and Sons) is the oldest continuously operating industrial fabrication business in the United States. Founded in 1788 in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was likely patronized by the U.S. founding fathers on their sojourns through narrow cobblestone streets. Started by Jesse Oat, the company sold copper works such as kettles and utensils, competing with other craftsmen including Paul Revere. Jesse’s son Joseph continued in his father’s footsteps adding brass and sheet-iron work to the product offering. Exquisite copper plates and lamps became the company’s forte. They also built stills, steam engine boilers, and pressure vessels for soda water bottlers.

Ownership of Joseph Oat and Sons remained in the Oat family until the late 1800’s, when the business was sold to their accountant. In 1966, the business was acquired by its current owners, and the name changed to Joseph Oat Corporation. The business rapidly expanded and moved from its quaint 10,000 sq. ft. Philadelphia location to its current sprawling complex along the Delaware River in Camden, New Jersey.

The Joseph Oat name has always been synonymous with quality. From its inception as a producer of hand-made copper parts to today’s sophisticated pressure vessels, reactors, columns, heat exchangers, and other specialty items, the company has retained its reputation for supplying the highest quality equipment available anywhere in the world. We remain a privately owned and family operated business and continue our long tradition of providing a high level of personal service with easy access to management. While many of our competitors need to please their corporate stockholders, Oat needs to please only its customers.