Alfred Willard French founded The French Oil Mill Machinery Co. on May 25, 1900. An M.I.T. graduate and veteran of the linseed oil industry, French believed engineering creativity and research would produce superior vegetable oil mill machinery.

“We have not confined ourselves to prevailing types of machines, but have adopted radical departures for the benefit of the industry,” said French in 1908.

Alfred and his team transitioned their expertise in vegetable oil hydraulic press technology to other processes such as metal forming and rubber curing. French was granted 55 patents.

Alfred’s wife, Grace Albers French, took over as President, ably assisted by General Manager Charles B. Upton, after her husband’s untimely death in 1925. The company remained dedicated to the same principles of creative engineering and research.