Pioneer hardware dealer Edward Brammall founded Brammall Supply Company in 1873. A tinsmith by trade, Brammall immigrated to the United States from England in 1853 and settled in Chicago. Brammall was reported to have repaired the icebox of Mary Todd Lincoln in Chicago several years after the assassination of President Lincoln.

Brammall first came to Benton Harbor in the spring of 1869, intending to return to Chicago but instead remained, establishing his fledgling plumbing supply business in December of 1873. Brammall Supply thrived during the late 1800's during the growth and development of Benton Harbor.

Edward Brammall remained active throughout the early 20th century, though transferred ownership of the firm to his longtime employee Wallace Nichols in the early 1900's. An active man until his death in 1946 at the age of 96, Edward Brammall was known to take daily walks to visit his business where a desk was kept for him until he died.

In 1944 Wallace Nichols sold his interest in the business to Howard Ankli who had joined the business in 1930. During the war years, Brammall Supply broadened their product offerings to include general mill and industrial supplies to service the growing local industrial manufacturing base. Customers included such well-known names as Whirlpool, Auto Specialties, Ross Carrier, and Remington-Rand.

Brammall Supply continued to provide both mill supplies and industrial PVF products through the 1970's. Eventually, plumbing products were discontinued as cutting tools and abrasive products emerged as key product areas. Brammall Supply's growth in the cutting tool market mirrored the rise of the local die cast and related mold and die industry.

Today, Brammall Supply remains as Southwestern Michigan's largest locally owned industrial distributorship. We are proud of our past and committed to remaining a key asset for the industrial community.