R.M. Wade & Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural machinery, Irrigation machinery |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Founder | Robert M. Wade |
| Headquarters | Beaverton , United States |
Area served | United States, worldwide (through Wade Rain) |
Key people | Edward H. Newbegin, John Wade Newbegin |
| Products | Agricultural equipment, irrigation products, mining products |
R.M. Wade & Co. is a manufacturer specializing in agricultural and irrigation machinery, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. Established in 1865 by Robert M. Wade, it holds the distinction of being Oregon's longest-running family-owned enterprise. The company gained recognition for inventing the Wade Drag Saw during the early 1930s and for its nationwide distribution of the Ford-Ferguson Tractor. It serves as the parent organization of Wade Rain, one of the pioneering irrigation firms in the United States, which markets agricultural and irrigation products on a global scale.
History
Founded by Robert Morris Wade in 1865 following his involvement in the California Gold Rush, R.M. Wade & Co. initially focused on supplying farming tools and buggies to agricultural dealers throughout Oregon. By 1888, its operations had expanded to include branches in multiple cities such as Portland and Salem. In 1915, Edward J. Newbegin, Wade’s son-in-law, assumed the presidency. His leadership saw the development of the Wade Drag Saw—a forerunner to modern chainsaws—that was distributed internationally for many years.
The company expanded further in 1927 by acquiring Multnomah Iron Works, which later evolved into its subsidiary Wade Rain. After Edward Newbegin passed away in 1929, his son Wade Newbegin became president and led the company until 1991. Throughout his leadership, R.M. Wade & Co. distributed Ford-Ferguson tractors across the Northwest region, along with New Holland farm machinery, Howard Rotavators, and Goulds pumps.
During World War II, the company pivoted to producing ship components for Kaiser shipyards located in Vancouver, Washington. The Wade Rain Division was established in 1937 and is currently managed by Edward Newbegin; it continues to uphold the company's tradition in manufacturing and distributing irrigation equipment.
Recognition
In acknowledgment of its outstanding production efforts during World War II, R.M. Wade & Co. was honored with the Maritime M award in 1945.
Wade Newbegin received the Irrigation Association's Industry Achievement Award in 1979.
In 1999, Edward Newbegin—great-grandson of Robert M. Wade—was appointed President of the Irrigation Association.
Academic scholarships
The R.M. Wade Foundation annually grants a scholarship recognizing teaching excellence at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. Additionally, it supports agricultural students across the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain areas through scholarships offered at both the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
Today
Since 2004, R.M. Wade & Co. has operated as two separate entities: R.M. Wade continues as a distributor of agricultural equipment and manages real estate holdings, while Wade Rain, headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, specializes in irrigation and mining products. Leadership at Wade Rain is currently provided by Edward H. Newbegin alongside John Wade Newbegin.