The second decade of the 21st century has been good to the 170-year-old Palmer Spring Co. in Providence. Ryan Palmer, a member of the founding family and a worker with the company, said Palmer Spring is “stable,” with a positive sales trend in the past five years.
This evaluation feels like a restful moment in a frantic economy, but it is not at all surprising. Ryan Palmer is the sixth generation of his family to work at the solid-as-a-rock business, founded in 1849, and co-managed now by his father, Douglas Palmer, and uncle, Reggie Palmer.
The company makes and installs suspension systems and brakes for trucks of dozens of fleets and transit authorities in New England from Hyannis, Mass., to Hartford, Conn. With repair, retail, and wholesale functions, Palmer Spring Co. can repair springs or brakes for a customer driving in off the street; sell parts to whole truck fleets; and even make custom parts.
About 10 percent of the business, Ryan Palmer said, is custom-made parts for antique cars or for catalogues that supply parts to antique car owners. n
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1849 (in Boston)
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Brake, front-end suspension parts and service for all vehicles
THEN:
OWNERS/MANAGERS: Douglas, Reggie and Chris Palmer (brothers and co-owners)
LOCATION: Providence
EMPLOYEES: 21
ANNUAL SALES: WND
NOW:
OWNERS/MANAGERS: Douglas Palmer (president), Reggie Palmer (vice president)
LOCATION: Providence
EMPLOYEES: 20
ANNUAL SALES: WND
