Hannay Reels

In 1933, Clifford Hannay, shown here with his wife Hazel Barber Hannay, developed a hose reel that let a fuel deliver man unwind a hose and take the nozzle to a customer’s oil tank while the other end of the hose remained securely attached to the delivery truck. Hannay built the first prototype reel for a local deliveryman in a garage in Westerlo, and so started the only major industry currently in the Hilltowns - Courtesy Hannay Reels

Hannay Reels started out and continues to be a family run business with close ties to the Westerlo community. The design concept that made it easier to deliver fuel had other applications. Hannay designed hand-cranked and electric-powered reels that made it safer to deliver liquids from jet fuels to food to chemicals used in manufacturing plants to water in fire fighting equipment. Custom applications of Hannay’s innovative technology are exported around the world. - Courtesy Hannay Reels

Hannay Reels started in this building on State Route 143 (East Main Street) in Westerlo, originally a gas station and luncheonette owned by Clifford Hannay. The original building is now a museum for Hannay Reels that is open by appointment. The company has continually expanded around the original garage and now has more than 20 buildings and covers more than 200,000 square feet in this section of Westerlo - Courtesy Hannay Reels

Early factory workers on the assembly line were also fine craftsmen. - Courtesy Hannay Reels

This photo of the work place shows the working conditions when the company was first starting out. At first the company produced 25 reels a month, but now the number is in the thousands. The company now has 140 employees, is a state-of-the-art manufacturing center, and has a nationally recognized reputation as a safe place to work. - Courtesy Hannay Reels

George Hannay, Don Jordan, Dwight Hannay, and Art Johnston beside the company's Aero Commander - Courtesy Hannay Reels

Today, more than 20 buildings make up the facility, covering 200,000 square feet. - Courtesy Hannay Reels

Photo Gallery

• 

  Front of invitation to 89th annual international association of fire chiefs conference, to Hannay Reels, Westerlo NY
• 

  Back of invitation
• 

  Ruler with Hannay Reels advertisement