Harry J Kirby worked for Marsh Instrument Company of Skokie, IL before and after WWII.  Returning to Marsh after a stint in the Army Air Corps., Harry moved  rapidly through the ranks. Having started as a young man doing odd jobs, he progressed through manufacturing and into the sales department where he excelled.   He was appointed to manage the Cleveland Sales Office for Marsh and moved the family here from Chicago in the 50's.

    In Cleveland, on Lorain Rd. at 150th St., he maintained an office and warehouse with a traveling salesforce of 7 by the early 60's.  During a time of great industrial consolidation, Marsh was sold to Colorado Oil & Gas and then to General Signal.  During that time the company sales philosophy changed from supporting a large direct sales force to selling through a widely dispersed network of "Master Distributors".  Rather than return to Skokie in a management capacity, Harry chose to start his own company as a Marsh Master Distributor.

    Incorporating with the help of his wife, Phyllis, Harry opened H J Kirby Corp. on April 1, 1969 on Triskett Avenue not far from the Marsh office, and then moved back into the Marsh office in the Neal Storage building when General Signal closed it. 

    In 1974, his son-in-law, Terry Brady, joined the firm from B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. in Avon Lake, OH as a Chemical Engineer turned salesman.  Terry left in 1978 and returned to buy the company from Harry in 1979 along with Harry's son Bob.  In 1986, Bob excercised his option to pursue other interests and Mr. Brady purchased his interest to become the sole shareholder.

    Watts FluidAir became the second major product line for the company in 1975, followed by WIKA Instrument Corporation in 1981.  Trend Instruments followed in 1982.

    The company contiues to operate out of a single 5000 square foot office-warehouse facility in Westlake, OH catering to the resale community in pressure gauges, air pressure regulation, temperature measurement and related products.   Special in-house services such as single piece custom dial pressure gauges,   diaphragm seal/pressure gauge assemblies, certification and repair services, custom assemblies and OEM artwork services set H J Kirby Corp apart from the field.

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Last modified: May 25, 2004