Wagner-Smith Equipment Company sells, rents, and maintains new, used, and reconditioned conductor-stringing equipment, plus related supplies and accessories including stringing blocks, grips, hoists, hot arms, pumps and presses. Complementing the equipment line is a complete product line of lineman tools and accessories for sale. The company has full service facilities in Texas, Oregon, and Ohio as well as a manufacturing facility in Illinois.

Background

Wagner-Smith's origins go back to 1917 when The Charles M. Kelso Company was incorporated in Ohio. The company got into power line work when, in 1919, Milton H. Wagner left his position as transmission engineer for The Dayton Power and Light Company and joined Kelso. With this move, Wagner established The Charles M. Kelso Company as an electrical contractor specializing in power lines.

In 1920, John E. Smith joined the company and expanded the electrical contracting operations into the commercial, industrial, and institutional market. In 1928 the company name was changed to The Kelso-Wagner Company, and then in 1946, following Kelso's death, it became The Wagner-Smith Company.

In 1965 the business expanded into 345 kV steel tower transmission line projects, constructing more than 500 miles of line over the next several years. Then came the 1970s and the decision to drop out of utility power line construction.

Equipment Company

What is now Wagner-Smith Equipment Co. was started to fulfill the industry needs for rental of specialized line construction equipment. According to Phil Wagner (and yes, he's the grandson of Milton Wagner), "When we phased out of utility line construction work, we made a commitment to our customers - who used to be our competitors - that we wouldn't go back into that business." That part of the business came to prominence in 1982 when Vice President, James Pace, formerly with another major manufacturer of tension stringing equipment, joined Wagner-Smith and opened a facility in Fort Worth, TX. In 1990, the Fort Worth operation was moved to a much larger (30,000 sq ft) facility a few miles south in Burleson, Texas, to accommodate the increased business activity and provide facilities for manufacturing conductor-stringing equipment. Then in 2001, manufacturing was moved to a state-of-the-art 27,000 sq ft facility in Lawrenceville, IL.

Wagner-Smith's manufacturing operation was the direct result of customer needs. Knowing what people want, good straightforward designs and safety is a very big part of the business. The company offers a complete line of pullers, tensioners, reel trailers and stands. This includes 4 drum and single drum distribution pullers with rope capacities up to 20,000ft, and bullwheel tensioner/reel carrier combos up to 52” bullwheel size accommodating both conductor and OPGW fiber optic cable. Also, available are underground pullers, 1-4 reel carrier trailers, and larger bullwheel tensioners ranging from 60” to 72” bullwheels for transmission single and bundle conductor, as well as OPGW fiber. 10,000lb capacity and greater hard-line pullers are also available.

Personalized service

More than 85 years after the company was founded, Wagner-Smith has served customers in all 50 states and in foreign countries including England, France, Venezuela, and Mexico. But even with an international clientele, the company's forte is personal service - a feature that frequently startles (and occasionally irritates) new customers, according to Pace.

"We sometimes make people mad because we ask a lot of questions, but we don't just go by what they initially say they want."

"This is a dangerous business. If you use the wrong equipment, somebody can get hurt. We have to ask about job criteria, such as, say, are they pulling parallel to an energized power line?" Wagner agreed, "We try to find out exactly what the customer is trying to accomplish. This enables us to offer optional equipment which may make for a safer, more efficient operation. We have a wide variety of pullers and tensioners, many of which have different features that make them more effective in specific applications. Our personnel have many years of experience with this type of equipment and are well suited to assist in the selection process ... there are lots of methods for accomplishing projects." Because they were once powerline contractors themselves, Wagner-Smith understands the special needs of contractors, particularly in the rental market. Pace explained, "Like the contractors, we work best under pressure. If a contractor gets an award on Friday, the utility often expects them to start Monday .. that's just the way it is. And since you don't place an equipment order until you get the contract, you need a company that can react and go with those needs ... like Wagner-Smith." What's more, he added, "There are different methods in different parts of the country ... We get a pretty good feel for what works." Wagner-Smith's customers have reacted to the company's personal service and quality products by passing the word along among themselves. As James Pace told us, "A lot of our business comes from utility company and contractor referrals. Our customers are our best advertisers."

Wagner Smith Equipment Today

2000 marked a new era for Wagner Smith when the company was sold to an MDU Resources Group company. The sale of Wagner Smith opened new avenues for the business to continue growth and expansion in the US and international markets. The first step towards expansion was merging HighLine Equipment into Wagner Smith Equipment Co. HighLine, a Portland, Oregon based distributor of lineman tools and equipment fit perfectly with Wagner Smith Equipment’s equipment rentals and sales thus creating a larger customer base for both companies. HighLine Equipment now operates as a division of Wagner Smith Equipment Co.

Lineman Tools & Equipment, Repair & Testing

Just to name a few, Wagner Smith Equipment carries products from companies such as Burndy, Huskie Tools, Buckingham, Bashlin, Anderson, Ridgid, Kellems®, Klein®, Alcoa, Little Mule®, Dillon®, A.B. Chance, Hastings, Coffing®, Samson® Rope, Wellington Rope, Puget Sound Ropes, Condux®, Cooper Tools, Greenlee, Fairmont, Salisbury, GMP, Jameson, and Everly Everground®. Factory authorized tool repair and glove testing is available.