From day one, Mine Safety Appliances has been a leader in keeping workers safe. Our mission started with founders John Ryan and George Deike on June 14, 1914 when MSA set up a workplace in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Their first order of business was to enlist Thomas Edison to scale down his alkaline battery to power a flameless cap lamp.

In February, the Edison Flameless Electric Miners' Cap Lamp was the first to receive the US Bureau of Mines approval – and the first order for 500 cap lamps shipped to the Carlisle mine in West Virginia. Edison called it his most humanitarian achievement, and the most difficult. The payoff is grand, reducing mine explosions by an astounding 75% over the first 25 years.

United States declared war on Germany, Austria and Hungary. MSA's breathing apparatus market was created when Deike and Ryan responded to US Army's need to equip miners tunneling under enemy lines to lay explosives. Edison provided factory, materials, and skilled workers to build 200 Gibbs breathing apparatus in 90 days.

During this decade, key products that would shape MSA history were created and/or patented, including the Ever Ready First Aid Packets (1914), sterile compress bandages (1914), Gibbs breathing apparatus (1917), battle-ready gas mask (1917), and the CO detector (1919).

Peacetime brings corporate growth. First “main” factory built on Braddock Avenue in Pittsburgh. Primary products manufactured included gas masks, hardhats, and first aid kits.

Similar in construction to the industrial workers' Skullgard® Hat, the MSA Topgard® Fireman's Helmet substituted Micarta for Bakelite, the latest innovation in lightweight but strong materials.

During WWII, we had 132 major military projects and employment tripled to well over 3,000. One project involved work at Oak Ridge, TN, as part of the Manhattan Project (development of the first nuclear weapon).

The same year the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, MSA stepped up operations to meet war-time demands, producing 300 products for US military. This included the first chemical oxygen breathing apparatus introduced, which helped to save several aircraft carriers after Kamikaze attacks.

MSA Demand Masks introduced, available as Front- or Back-Type, providing Oxygen (or Air) to wearer.

The 1940s began MSA's expansion abroad. First, on February 15, 1940, MSA South Africa Pty. Ltd. was established. Seven years later in 1947, MSA established its first European subsidiary in Britain.

John T. Ryan Memorial Lab opened in Pittsburgh on June 14, 1950, with over 400 people in attendance. This was the largest facility devoted exclusively to the research and development of personal protective equipment and worker and plant safety. It also contained the largest library in the world devoted to safety.

Shockgard hat for electrical linemen introduced to protect against electrical shock up to 10,000 volts.

A year known in the United States for landing on the moon, MSA designed filter system for Apollo moon spacecraft. Upon return from the moon, Apollo 12 Astronauts wore Custom Comfo® Aerosol Filter Respirators with inhalation and exhalation valves reversed so the astronauts' exhaled air was filtered to trap any potential "space microbes."

In 1961, the Topgard® Helmet was introduced, which was the first polycarbonate hardhat. Polycarbonate is an extremely durable plastic that is very difficult to crack or break. A year later in 1962, the V-Gard® Helmet launched. Today, both helmets are part of the family of “best-selling helmets.”

MSA produces military gas masks for United States forces in Vietnam.

MSA International rapidly expands, with new companies in Australia, France, India, Peru, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

MSA supplied respirators, filters, and room-sized High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) scrubbers from locations as far away as Washington State to assist with the Three Mile Island clean-up. Four 20-ton such units were flown in by Air Force Transport.

The Model 401 Pressure-Demand Air Mask was introduced and primarily used by firefighters, but was also used anywhere there was a condition regarded as "Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH).

Developed by CEO, Bill Lambert, the introduction of the truly revolutionary Quick-Fill® System allowed firefighters to replenish air supplies during emergencies. It is now part of every firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), regardless of manufacturer.

WUXI-MSA joint venture was our first entity in mainland China, at a time when few American companies had operations there. KFC also started in China in 1987.

MSA brings thermal imaging cameras to the fire service as the exclusive distributor for three generations of the Argus Thermal Imaging Camera.

In response to terrorist attacks of 9/11, MSA assistance at Ground Zero in NYC included:

• Fit-testing trailer and personnel

• Three tractor-trailers of product shipped within six hours

• Round the clock representation on-site

• $200,000+ donated

On October 13, MSA made the largest expansion in its history with the acquisition of General Monitors of Lake Forest, California. This union created the world leader in fixed gas and flame detection.

The most technologically advanced gas detection available, the XCell® Sensor Platform for ALTAIR® 4X Detectors, launched.

MSA and General Monitors launched six cross-branded product platforms including GM PA4000/MSA Chemgard® Monitor and Flamegard® 5 Flame Detection System.

V-Gard Accessory System launched with complete range of over 50 frames, visors, winter liners and other items including an innovative retractable chin guard.