The legendary story of the Norton Abrasives company begins in 1885 in Worcester, Massachusetts, its origin a tale of entrepreneurial spirit and industrial innovation born from serendipity.

Central to the story is Frank Norton, the owner of a pottery shop. In his workshop on Water Street, a Swedish immigrant miller and employee named Sven Pulson was struggling to create a new type of grinding wheel that was stronger and more reliable than the common sandstone wheels of the era. Pulson experimented with mixing clay and abrasives, firing the concoctions in Norton’s pottery kiln. After countless failures, he finally invented a revolutionary ceramic bonding formula.

However, Norton himself was uninterested in the “abrasives” business, preferring to focus on his primary pottery trade. Fortunately, seven visionary Worcester entrepreneurs—including young engineer Milton Higgins and machinist John Jeppson—recognized the immense potential of the invention. They raised the necessary funds and purchased the industry-changing patent and company name from Frank Norton. In 1885, the Norton Company was officially born.

The founding team acted swiftly, acquiring a large plot of land in the Greendale section of Worcester and building their first dedicated grinding wheel factory. They were more than just investors; they were hands-on operators. Jeppson managed production while Higgins handled engineering and sales. They introduced rigorous quality control processes and optimized the firing techniques, ensuring every single grinding wheel delivered consistent performance.

Thanks to superior product quality, the Norton Company grew rapidly, evolving from a small startup into a giant of American industry. Management by the founders and their descendants continued until the 1970s, ensuring a continuity of culture and business stability. By 1920, Norton had become one of the top 400 largest industrial companies in the United States. As the business expanded, the company diversified its operations, developing from a sole abrasive manufacturer into a large multinational corporation offering various industrial solutions.

More than 130 years later, the global headquarters for the Norton Abrasives business remains rooted in its birthplace of Worcester, continuing the spirit of innovation that began in that humble pottery shop, consistently providing critical abrasive solutions to customers worldwide.