Brown Instrument Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, Industrial control equipment |
| Founded | 1857 in Philadelphia, United States |
| Founder | Edward Brown |
| Fate | Acquired by Honeywell in 1934; brand discontinued |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (original) , United States |
| Products | Pyrometers, thermometers, hygrometers, tachometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, ammeters, voltmeters |
Brown Instrument Company was an American enterprise focused on manufacturing high-precision measurement devices and industrial control equipment, including items such as pyrometers, thermometers, hygrometers, tachometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, ammeters, and voltmeters.
Established in 1857 in Philadelphia by Edward Brown, who created the first pyrometer designed in the United States, the firm became part of Honeywell in 1934.
Throughout the 20th century, Brown Instrument was a significant employer in North Philadelphia, operating a substantial brick manufacturing facility near Wayne Junction (currently Extra Space Storage), which also contained its research laboratories. The building’s Wayne Avenue side still displays "Brown Instrument Co" cast in concrete.
Historical documents indicate several company locations along the 4400 and 4500 blocks of Wayne Avenue close to Wayne Junction, as well as at 311 Walnut Street (circa 1915). Additionally, another plant near the Fern Rock Transportation Center carries signage reading "Honeywell – Brown Instrument Division."
Eventually, the company moved its operations to Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, where Honeywell’s automation and control divisions now have a campus; nonetheless, the Brown Instrument name has been discontinued.