For over a century, Adams Rite Aerospace has designed and manufactured high quality products. In the early years, we were known for architectural locks "designed for the purpose." Today we are known for the design and manufacture of specialized interior locks and latches, electro-mechanical controls, fluid controls, and oxygen products especially for the aerospace, marine, and ground transportation industries.

Founded as Pacific Brass Mfg. Co., in 1896, the company originally produced ornate hardware for some of the old European style mansions then being built in Southern California. In 1927, the firm was purchased by a small group of stockholders and operated under the name Rite Hardware Company. One of the stockholders, Mr. George R. Adams, purchased the company, and in 1931, his son, Arthur R. Adams, joined him in operating the business as Rite Hardware Manufacturing Company.

The company foresaw the growth of the aircraft industry and began diversifying to produce locks, latches and handles for aircraft. In 1936, the company turned out the first locks ever developed for this specific purpose, and they are installed on the Douglas DC-3.

Recognizing the need for aerospace hardware, the aircraft product line was greatly expanded. In 1945, Adams Rite Manufacturing Company was incorporated and began developing along two distinct lines--Architectural Hardware and Aircraft Hardware. The two divisions were separated into two distinct companies. The Architectural Hardware Division moved to a separate location in Los Angeles, and the Aircraft Division, now designing and manufacturing an expanded product line, remained at the Glendale, California location renamed Adams Rite Products, Inc.

In 1981, the company was again sold, and in 1984 the company acquired a competitor, Sabre Industries. The two companies manufactured separate but similar product lines at both facilities and were consolidated in 1993. The new entity, Adams Rite Aerospace, Inc., moved to its present headquarters in Fullerton, California in February, 1998. The consolidation has had a synergistic effect, enabling the restructured company to be highly responsive and able to offer ever more cost effective, quality products to its customers.

On April 23, 1999 TransDigm, Inc. purchased Adams Rite Aerospace. TransDigm was founded in 1993 with the simultaneous acquisition of the Adel, Aeroproducts, Controlex, and Wiggins businesses. Marathon Power Technologies was acquired by TransDigm in 1997. In addition to the corporate headquarters in Fullerton, California, Adams Rite Aerospace, Inc. maintains field offices in Washington, and Connecticut and retains representatives and distributors in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America.