About Jefferson Union

Jefferson Union Company was founded in 1901 in Lexington, Massachusetts. The company quickly became known for the quality of it pipe unions and developed several patented products that set the pace within the industry. In 2004, the company moved its operation to Deland, Florida, a town just to the northeast of Orlando. When the company moved, we moved not only our headquarters, but also our manufacturing. Even today, in a world filled with companies sending their work overseas, Jefferson Union is proud to be one of the few remaining domestic manufacturers.

Principally, our products fall into two major categories: Brass-to-Iron unions and Iron-to-Iron Unions (or All-Iron Unions as they are sometimes called). We offer these in a variety of sizes and to support 150, 250 or 300 PSI applications.

Unlike other manufacturers who make only a few items in All Iron, Jefferson can furnish any and all Unions and Convenience Unions in their complete line with either Brass Seat or Iron Seat. In the manufacturing process, there must be a know-how, and we this in our many years' experience with this type of union. You will appreciate that in manufacturing them you cannot rely on softness of brass to overcome inequalities in the machining, as is done by many makers of brass seat unions. With our Iron Seat Unions, after being carefully machined by skilled workmen, the two end parts are ground together in pairs and assembled that way to assure a perfectly tight, leak-proof joint.

Designing Engineers occasionally face a piping problem which recommends itself to the utility and convenience of a Union, but for a variety of reasons a conventional Union may not be readily adaptable. Jefferson has extensive experience in the design and manufacturing of Specialty Unions. We are always available to analyze your Union design problems, and we will be pleased to submit quotations on any Union Specialties.

Jefferson Union has satisfied the exacting demands of many of the largest chemical, oil, gas, paper making and other process companies over the years, and we hope to satisfy yours.

Company History

In the 1880's a gear company ran at 31 Fletcher Avenue. The Jefferson Union Company purchased this site in 1901 and built their pipe fitting company. Mr. Hall was the first owner of the company. He also owned a plant in Rochester, N.Y. However, his home was located on Miriam Street in Lexington and thus built a plant closer to home. From there, it went into a corporate ownership. Around 1914, Mr. James Freeman's father became president of the Jefferson that was at the time owned by stock holders all over the country. In 1958 Mr. Jim Freeman became owner of the property. He retired in 1978 and still resides today in Lexington.

During the height of production, there were two to three shifts that were running in this plant with over 115 people employed. You can find many of the products the Jefferson Union manufactured in places such as the Union Station, the old Boston Garden, Ford Motor Company Plants, Dow Chemical, numerous municipalities and government agencies, the railroads, and the Shipyard at Sparrows Point, Maryland (owned by Bethlehem Steel).

George Meadows grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. His father began working at the Jefferson Union Company in 1918 when he was a teenager. George began work here in 1956 and took over ownership in 1978. George Meadows owned and ran Jefferson Union Company on this site from 1978 until the year 2005 where he moved the business to Deland, Florida. In 2004, when George Meadows was nearing retirement age he approached his sons and offered to pass the business on to them, remaining as a consultant. After many discussions, it was decided that he and his son David would move the operations of the Jefferson Union Company to Deland Florida where they purchased a warehouse and plant.

Today there are less than five iron pipe fitting manufacturers remaining in North and South America, including the Jefferson Union company.