A.H. Raymond founded the A.H. Raymond Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1902. The company manufactured clutch facings, brake linings, and drum brakes. In 1906, they developed “Raybestos,” a woven asbestos and copper brake liner that became their chief product. The company later adopted the name in 1916 and dropped the short-lived Royal Equipment Company name. They became a manufacturer of brake shoes and clutch linings that could withstand high-speeds and temperatures without deteriorating. As the automobile grew in popularity, Raybestos moved to Stratford, Connecticut in 1919.
Raybestos later contributed brakes to tanks, military vehicles, and heavy bombers for the army in WWI and WWII. In 1929 Raybestos merged with the Manhattan Rubber Manufacturing Company to form Raybestos-Manhattan Friction Materials Company. They added rubber products to Raybestos’ inventory, and became a supplier for car companies like GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Packard by 1938. They had developed a friction clutch that was an integral part of the early automatic transmission.
Raybestos-Manhattan continued to make advancements in other fields, providing products to be used in auto racing in the 1950s. Their development of heat-resistant parts led to contributions on the Explorer I—the first U.S. satellite to reach outer space. As Raybestos purchased smaller companies and expanded their products, they changed their name to Raybestos Friction Material Company in 1978. In 1982 the company changed its name again, this time to Raymark Industries. Along with many other companies and products, the awareness of the danger of asbestos grew, and all later products abandoned the use of asbestos.
Raybestos was purchased by Echlin, Inc. in 1985 and the Dana Corporation in 1998. In 2004, Raybestos was sold to the Affinia Group. They have since combined with Affinia Global Brake and Chassis Brake Parts, Inc. and included brake and chassis parts. Today, Raybestos offers products ranging from high-quality rotors, wheel hubs, cables, shocks, ball joints, control arms, tie-rods, sway bar links and more.
Need Raybestos Parts?
You can find an incredibly large selection of Raybestos parts here at 1A Auto for many makes and models, and at great prices! From brake pads to shoes and rotors, let 1A Auto be your source for aftermarket Raybestos branded auto parts for your car or truck.
