About Ritchie & Sons
Our Story
The story of Ritchie & Sons begins with Ralph E. Ritchie, a Navy veteran who returned from World War II determined to build a future for his family. After coming home to his wife, Betty, with a child on the way, Ralph worked at Coca-Cola packing bottles into six-packs. He later took a job at a tannery in Peabody, Massachusetts. Neither role fulfilled him, but they set him on the path to discovering his true calling: sales. Ralph joined City Service, a distributor of waxes and oils, where he quickly proved his natural talent. In 1960, he answered an ad from Engel Industries, a manufacturer of HVAC equipment, seeking a Northeast sales distributor. Investing his entire savings of $10,000 into showroom equipment, Ralph founded Ralph E. Ritchie Co., renting space in South Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and hitting the road across New England to generate orders. Early sales were difficult. At the time, most ductwork was made by hand, and shop owners feared automation would replace jobs. After months of rejection, Ralph met Charlie Touchette of Cox Engineering—the only company then using automated duct equipment. Watching Charlie operate the Engel Shopmaster, Ralph immediately saw how to sell it: he challenged shop owners to compare production speed, guaranteeing Engel would cut job time in half. Saturday demos followed, and Ralph even produced a film so effective that Engel adopted it nationally. That pivotal meeting launched Ralph’s lifelong career in machinery sales. By 1975, Ralph’s sons—Ralph Jr., Bob, and Don Sr.—had joined the business, helping to expand its reach and reputation across the region.Who We Are Today
More than 60 years later, Ritchie & Sons has grown into a trusted regional distributor of metal fabricating machinery, parts, and consumables, proudly serving New England and New York. We partner with some of the industry’s most respected manufacturers, supplying equipment ranging from press brakes and shears to band saws, tube benders, plasma cutting systems, and HVAC duct fabrication machinery. Our customers include manufacturers, fabricators, and installers who rely on us not only for equipment, but also for expert guidance and fast delivery of parts and consumables. What truly sets Ritchie & Sons apart is our commitment to service. Our in-house and field service department provides installation, training, and repairs to keep your machines running at peak performance. With decades of hands-on experience, our technicians know the equipment inside and out and understand the urgency when downtime strikes. Today, partners Don Ritchie Sr., Brian Ritchie, and Jon Way are joined by Ralph’s grandson, Donald Ritchie Jr., salesman Nick Way, and a loyal team of office and service professionals who continue to build on Ralph’s vision. We remain a family-owned and operated business, dedicated to responsive service, honest advice, and long-term partnerships with our customers.Our Mission
- Provide reliable machinery and parts that help shops succeed.
- Deliver fast, friendly service that minimizes downtime.
- Uphold the family values of trust, loyalty, and hard work that Ralph instilled when he started the company.