About
Ritchie & Sons

The story of Ritchie & Sons begins with Ralph Ritchie, a Navy veteran who returned from World War II determined to build a future for his family. After coming home to his wife, Betty, with a child on the way, Ralph worked at Coca-Cola packing bottles into six-packs before taking a job at a tannery in Peabody, Massachusetts. Neither role fulfilled him, but they set him on the path to discovering his true calling: sales.

Ralph joined City Service, a distributor of waxes and oils, where he quickly proved his natural talent. In 1960, he answered an ad from Engel Industries, a manufacturer of HVAC equipment seeking a Northeast sales distributor. Investing his entire savings of $10,000 into showroom equipment, Ralph founded Ralph E. Ritchie Co., rented space in South Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and began traveling across New England to generate orders.

Early sales were difficult. At the time, most ductwork was made by hand, and shop owners feared automation would replace jobs. After months of rejection, Ralph met Charlie Touchette of Cox Engineering—the only company then using automated duct equipment. Watching Charlie operate the Engel Shopmaster, Ralph immediately saw how to sell it: he challenged shop owners to compare production speed, guaranteeing Engel would cut job time in half. Saturday demos followed, and Ralph even produced a film so effective that Engel adopted it nationally. That pivotal meeting launched Ralph’s lifelong career in machinery sales.

By 1975, Ralph’s sons—Ralph Jr., Bob, and Don Sr.—had joined the business, helping expand its reach and reputation throughout the region.

More than 65 years later, Ritchie & Sons remains family-owned and operated, supplying metal fabrication machinery, parts, and service to fabrication shops, contractors, and industrial businesses throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey. Today, partners Don Ritchie Sr., Donald Ritchie Jr., Brian Ritchie, and Jon Way are joined by a dedicated team who continue to build on Ralph’s vision of honest advice, responsive service, and lasting customer relationships.