Hersey Sparling water meters

⭐ HERSEY is one of the oldest and most influential water‑meter manufacturers in the United States, founded in 1859 as Hawes & Hersey Co.. Over 165+ years it evolved through Hersey Meter Co., Hersey‑Sparling, and finally into Mueller Systems, where Hersey remains the dedicated water‑meter brand. 
Origins (1859–1885): Hawes & Hersey Co.Founded 1859 in Boston, Massachusetts as Hawes & Hersey Company.Early products: bolts, rotary pumps, and industrial machinery.This mechanical‑engineering base later enabled precision metering.
Birth of the Hersey Meter Company (1885–1886)1885: Received a patent for the rotary displacement water meter, a major innovation in U.S. metering.1886: Began selling rotary and disc meters in sizes 5/8″ to 6″, including variants for hot water, gasoline, oil, and beer.
These early meters established Hersey as a pioneer of positive‑displacement metering.
Expansion & Innovation Era (1896–1959)Key technological milestones;- 1896: First turbine meter, the Model T.- 1901: Introduction of the Hersey Disc Meter (Model F) — a nutating‑disc PD meter.            A ⅝″ example from 1908 survives in the Smithsonian collection. - 1905: First Fireline Meter (FM).- 1915: First compound meter (CT) for high/low flow ranges.
By the early 20th century, Hersey was one of the dominant U.S. water‑meter manufacturers, competing with Neptune, Trident, and Pittsburgh Meter.
Merger with Sparling (1959–1988): Hersey‑Sparling- 1959: Hersey Meters merged with Sparling Meter Company, forming Hersey‑Sparling Meter Co.
Produced industrial meters, turbine meters, and early electronic registers.This period strengthened Hersey’s presence in municipal and industrial metering.
Acquisition by Mueller (1988–2009): Return to “Hersey Meters”1988: Hersey‑Sparling placed under Mueller Co., part of Mueller Water Products.The company again operated as Hersey Meters.
Major product developments under Mueller- 1964–2003: Mechanical encoder registers, magnetic‑coupled turbines, redesigned PD meters, and early AMR (radio‑read) systems.- 1995: First radio‑read AMR system.- 2001–2003: Absolute encoder registers and remote visual registers.
Formation of Mueller Systems (2009–2010): Modern Era- 2009: Mueller Water Products acquired Arkion Systems (AMI/AMR technology).- 2010: Hersey + Arkion merged to form Mueller Systems.
Hersey remains the water‑meter brand within Mueller Systems.
2026 > Current product families- Positive displacement meters (descendants of the 1886 designs)- Turbine & compound meters- Ultrasonic meters- AMI/AMR systems (Mi.Net®, remote disconnect, solid‑state registers)
The HWM.Museum has a number of Hersey & Hersey/Sparling water meters in its collection -some pictured below. 

⭐ HERSEY Timeline Summary Year	Milestone	                        Notes1859	Hawes & Hersey founded	Boston machinery maker1885	Rotary PD meter patent	Start of metering business1886	First Hersey water meters	Rotary & disc meters1896	First turbine meter	        Model T1901	Model F disc meter	        Nutating‑disc PD meter1915	First compound meter	        CT series1959	Merger with Sparling	        Hersey‑Sparling1988	Acquired by Mueller	        Name returns to Hersey Meters2010	Becomes Mueller Systems	Hersey remains water‑meter brand

⭐ Hersey–Sparling Merger (1959) — Full Historical Explanation
The Hersey–Sparling merger of 1959 was a strategic consolidation of two U.S. meter manufacturers—Hersey (Massachusetts) and Sparling (California)—to combine Hersey’s dominance in municipal water meters with Sparling’s strength in industrial and propeller‑type meters. The merged entity was called Hersey‑Sparling Meter Company.It lasted until 1988, when the Hersey side was absorbed into Mueller Co., while Sparling’s industrial division continued independently.

Background: Two Complementary CompaniesHersey Meter Co., Founded 1859, Boston, one of the oldest U.S. water‑meter makers.Strengths: positive‑displacement meters, turbine meters, compound meters, municipal waterworks
Sparling Instruments, Founded 1912, Los Angeles.Strengths: propeller meters, industrial flow meters, irrigation, wastewater, large‑diameter meters
Why they fit together:  Hersey dominated municipal metering, Sparling dominated industrial/agricultural metering.Together they could offer a complete meter portfolio.
The Merger (1959)Official outcome:Creation of the Hersey‑Sparling Meter Company.
Nature of the merger:- A product‑line consolidation, not a full corporate absorption. 
- Combined sales, branding, and product distribution - Maintained dual manufacturing specializations- Operated in both the U.S. East Coast (Hersey) and West Coast (Sparling)
Strategic goals: 
- Expand national reach
- Combine engineering strengths
- Compete with Neptune, Pittsburgh Meter, and Trident- Offer both municipal and industrial meters under one brand
What the merged company produced;- Hersey‑Sparling product families- Hersey PD meters (disc meters, rotary meters)
- Hersey turbine meters- Hersey compound meters- Sparling propeller meters- Recording instruments- Large‑diameter industrial meters
Branding during this era Meters were often marked:“Hersey‑Sparling”, “H‑S”, or “Hersey‑Sparling Meter Co.”
The Split (1988): 
the merger ended in 1988 when the Hersey portion of Hersey‑Sparling was acquired by Mueller Co. (now Mueller Water Products).
What happened next:- Hersey became Hersey Meters, a Mueller brand- Sparling’s industrial division was not included in the acquisition
- Sparling continued independently as Sparling Instruments, LLC in California.

⭐ SPARLING Instruments — Independent Company History (1912–2026)
Founding & Early Identity (1912–1919)Founded: 1912 by Ray W. Sparling, a California mechanical engineer in Los Angeles, California.
Original focus: Precision mechanical instruments and early flow‑measurement devices for agriculture and industry
Sparling emerged from California’s irrigation boom (Imperial Valley, Central Valley, Los Angeles aqueduct expansion) created demand for large‑diameter, rugged, low‑headloss flow meters.No East‑Coast meter maker (Hersey, Neptune, Pittsburgh Meter) specialised in this niche. Sparling filled that gap.
Introduction of the Propeller Meter (1919)1919 marks the true birth of Sparling as a meter manufacturer.They introduced the propeller meter (axial‑flow turbine) dDesigned for high‑volume irrigation flows and operated reliably in dirty water, unlike disc or turbine meters.This design became the standard meter for irrigation districts across the western United States for the next century.
Growth Through Irrigation & Municipal Contracts (1920s–1930s)Sparling expanded rapidly by supplying:Irrigation districts in California, Arizona, NevadaMunicipal water departments needing large‑line metersIndustrial plants requiring chemical‑resistant and slurry‑capable meters
Product characteristics;Cast‑iron or bronze bodies with Replaceable propeller assemblies and Mechanical totalizers and chart recorders.Sparling became the dominant U.S. propeller‑meter manufacturer by the 1930s.
WWII Era (1940–1945)- During wartime metal restrictions:- Sparling produced cast‑iron meters instead of bronze- Simplified castings and wartime serial ranges appear on 1940s meters- Demand increased for industrial and military water‑supply measurement- These wartime meters are now collectible artifacts.
Post‑War Expansion & Industrial Diversification (1950s–1970s)After WWII, Sparling broadened its product line with new capabilities;Chemical‑resistant meters for refineries and chemical plantsSlurry‑capable meters for mining and wastewaterLarge‑diameter meters up to 54″Recording instruments and chart recorders
Calibration leadershipSparling built one of the largest flow‑meter calibration laboratories in the U.S., capable of testing:0.04 gpm to 35,000 gpm1/10″ to 54″ metersThis made Sparling a national reference point for industrial flow measurement.
The Hersey–Sparling Joint Venture (1959–1988)In 1959, Sparling entered a joint venture with Hersey to form Hersey‑Sparling Meter Co.This applied only to the water‑meter division.Sparling’s industrial division remained separate and continued operating independently.
After 1988Hersey was absorbed into Mueller Co.Sparling’s industrial division was not includedSparling continued as Sparling Instruments, still privately ownedThis is why Sparling survives today as an independent company.
Modernisation & New Technologies (1990s–2000s)Sparling introduced several major product families:WaterhawkModern propeller meterRugged for irrigation and municipal useTigermag Electromagnetic flow meterUltrasonic meters for clean water and industrial liquids
Sparling successfully transitioned from purely mechanical meters to electronic and solid‑state technologies.
Sparling Today (2026) Current product linesPropeller meters (their 100‑year specialty)Magnetic flow metersUltrasonic flow metersLarge‑diameter industrial metersNIST‑traceable calibration services
Sparling remains one of the few surviving independent U.S. meter manufacturers.

Hersey - Sparling Co.

Founded 1859 in Boston, Massachusetts as Hawes & Hersey Company.

Early products: bolts, rotary pumps, and industrial machinery.

This mechanical‑engineering base later enabled precision metering.

Birth of the Hersey Meter Company (1885–1886)

1885: Received a patent for the rotary displacement water meter, a major innovation in U.S. metering.

1886: Began selling rotary and disc meters in sizes 5/8″ to 6″, including variants for hot water, gasoline, oil, and beer.

These early meters established Hersey as a pioneer of positive‑displacement metering.

Expansion & Innovation Era (1896–1959)

Key technological milestones;

- 1896: First turbine meter, the Model T.

- 1901: Introduction of the Hersey Disc Meter (Model F) — a nutating‑disc PD meter.

A ⅝″ example from 1908 survives in the Smithsonian collection.

- 1905: First Fireline Meter (FM).

- 1915: First compound meter (CT) for high/low flow ranges.

By the early 20th century, Hersey was one of the dominant U.S. water‑meter manufacturers, competing with Neptune, Trident, and Pittsburgh Meter.

Merger with Sparling (1959–1988): Hersey‑Sparling

- 1959: Hersey Meters merged with Sparling Meter Company, forming Hersey‑Sparling Meter Co.

Produced industrial meters, turbine meters, and early electronic registers.

This period strengthened Hersey’s presence in municipal and industrial metering.

Acquisition by Mueller (1988–2009): Return to “Hersey Meters”

1988: Hersey‑Sparling placed under Mueller Co., part of Mueller Water Products.

The company again operated as Hersey Meters.

Major product developments under Mueller

- 1964–2003: Mechanical encoder registers, magnetic‑coupled turbines, redesigned PD meters, and early AMR (radio‑read) systems.

- 1995: First radio‑read AMR system.

- 2001–2003: Absolute encoder registers and remote visual registers.

Formation of Mueller Systems (2009–2010): Modern Era

- 2009: Mueller Water Products acquired Arkion Systems (AMI/AMR technology).

- 2010: Hersey + Arkion merged to form Mueller Systems.

Hersey remains the water‑meter brand within Mueller Systems.

2026 > Current product families

- Positive displacement meters (descendants of the 1886 designs)

- Turbine & compound meters

- Ultrasonic meters

- AMI/AMR systems (Mi.Net®, remote disconnect, solid‑state registers)

The HWM.Museum has a number of Hersey & Hersey/Sparling water meters in its collection -some pictured below.

⭐ HERSEY Timeline Summary

Year Milestone Notes

1859 Hawes & Hersey founded Boston machinery maker

1885 Rotary PD meter patent Start of metering business

1886 First Hersey water meters Rotary & disc meters

1896 First turbine meter Model T

1901 Model F disc meter Nutating‑disc PD meter

1915 First compound meter CT series

1959 Merger with Sparling Hersey‑Sparling

1988 Acquired by Mueller Name returns to Hersey Meters

2010 Becomes Mueller Systems Hersey remains water‑meter brand

It lasted until 1988, when the Hersey side was absorbed into Mueller Co., while Sparling’s industrial division continued independently.

Background: Two Complementary Companies

Hersey Meter Co., Founded 1859, Boston, one of the oldest U.S. water‑meter makers.

Strengths: positive‑displacement meters, turbine meters, compound meters, municipal waterworks

Sparling Instruments, Founded 1912, Los Angeles.

Strengths: propeller meters, industrial flow meters, irrigation, wastewater, large‑diameter meters

Why they fit together:

Hersey dominated municipal metering, Sparling dominated industrial/agricultural metering.

Together they could offer a complete meter portfolio.

The Merger (1959)

Official outcome:

Creation of the Hersey‑Sparling Meter Company.

Nature of the merger:

- A product‑line consolidation, not a full corporate absorption. - Combined sales, branding, and product distribution

- Maintained dual manufacturing specializations

- Operated in both the U.S. East Coast (Hersey) and West Coast (Sparling)

Strategic goals: - Expand national reach - Combine engineering strengths - Compete with Neptune, Pittsburgh Meter, and Trident

- Offer both municipal and industrial meters under one brand

What the merged company produced;

- Hersey‑Sparling product families

- Hersey PD meters (disc meters, rotary meters) - Hersey turbine meters

- Hersey compound meters

- Sparling propeller meters

- Recording instruments

- Large‑diameter industrial meters

Branding during this era Meters were often marked:

“Hersey‑Sparling”, “H‑S”, or “Hersey‑Sparling Meter Co.”

The Split (1988): the merger ended in 1988 when the Hersey portion of Hersey‑Sparling was acquired by Mueller Co. (now Mueller Water Products).

What happened next:

- Hersey became Hersey Meters, a Mueller brand

- Sparling’s industrial division was not included in the acquisition - Sparling continued independently as Sparling Instruments, LLC in California.

⭐ SPARLING Instruments — Independent Company History (1912–2026)