The history of Dresser-Rand is really the combined heritage and experience of the most recognized and respected names in the energy industry – Clark, Ingersoll-Rand, McGraw-Edison, Moore, Terry, Turbodyne, and Worthington. Because over the years, these are the companies that merged and joined together to form Dresser-Rand.

While Dresser-Rand is relatively new, the company’s roots can be traced back to 1840 to Worthington, when Henry R. Worthington designed and built the first direct-acting steam pump. Later, in 1880, Solomon R. Dresser, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, received a patent for a coupling that made it possible to join sections of pipe. Also in 1880, Clark Brothers Company was founded in Belmont, New York. Clark Bros. Manufactured agricultural and timber machinery. In 1899 the Rand Drill Company, later merged with Ingersoll-Sargeant Company to form Ingersoll-Rand, began manufacturing compressors in Painted Post, New York. Also in 1899, Henry R. Worthington Company merged with Laidlaw-Dunn-Gordon Co., manufacturers of gas compressors.

In 1902 Worthington developed the first gas-engine -driven gas compressor. 

In May 1906, the Terry Steam Turbine Company incorporated. In the following year, the company installed the first direct connected small steam turbines for driving centrifugal boiler feed pumps for the New York Edison station.

In November 1908, Terry received orders from the U.S. Navy for vertical turbines to drive forced draft fans on destroyers and the new torpedo boats. For a considerable period, at least 90% of all fan driving turbines used in the ship construction work of the United States Navy were Terry-made. 

One of the first Clark engines to be built for use in the oil fields was a slow-speed, horizontal steam engine.  This old workhorse was the mainstay of the business until 1905 when it was superceded by Clark’s “Bogoart” gas engine, the Clark Corliss and the slide valve steam engine.

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