Just before the turn of the century, two brothers from Hagerstown, Md., designed and developed a gasoline engine for farm use. Charles B. and Harry H. Segner obtained a patent for "sparker block" ignition using dry cell batteries as the energy source and snap separation of ignition points to cause the ignition spark. They also obtained another patent for a governor which operated to maintain a constant engine speed. The brothers formed the Domestic Engine Company and sold their first engine (a 2.5 horsepower air-cooled) to Elmer Hess, West Willow, Pa. on Dec. 6, 1899.

At about this same time, H. Milton Etter who then lived at Greencastle designed and patented a hand pump for farm use. He got his idea from an improvised hand pump that a grocer in Marion or Greencastle used on his vinegar barrel. The main feature of the Etter pump was a rack and pinion drive which provided greater mechanical advantage than other pumps then in use. His pump was called the Etter Easy Running Pump and was especially advantageous in this area of Pennsylvania where wells were frequently very deep. In those days farm wells were often 40 to 70 feet deep; today they run much deeper.

In 1903 a group of Shippensburg businessmen became interested in this growing industry and approached the officials of the Domestic Engine Company about locating here in Shippensburg. An agreement was reached and on June 11, 1904, a tract of land located along Harris Alley was purchased from W.J. Martin for $600 and a 40 x 165 x 13 building constructed. Later the Cumberland Valley Railroad installed a siding along the building. The first meeting of the stockholders was held on Apr. 15, 1904. Those in attendance were: A.A. Aughinbaugh, B. Barbour, J.E. Boher, A.C. Book, S.K. Clever, Geo. B. Cole, D.L. Duncan, E.S. Fogelsonger, Mr. Gettel, W. H. Hale, Mr. Holby, J. Hosfeld, W.A. Lutz, W.L. Miller, Mr. Noaker, W.E. Reddig, J.E. Reisner, C.L. Rummel, J.C. Rummel, C.B. Segner, C.. Shugars, Mr. Shullenberger, M. Stough, E.W. Thrush, Mr. Watson, Mr. Zearfoss with J.S. Omwake presiding. The new company was incorporated as the Domestic Engine and Pump Company and the following were chosen as the Board of Directors: Aughinbaugh, Book, Clever, Duncan, Fogelsonger, Hosfeld, Miller, Omwake, Reisner, Segner and Thrush. J.E. Reisner was elected President at $20 per week, A.A. Aughinbaugh as V.P. without pay, S.K. Clever as Sec. Treasurer at $17.50 per week and C.B. Segner as Supt at $20 per week. The normal work week was 62 hours (10 ¹ /2 hours on week days, 9 ¹ /2 hours on Saturdays).

Production of pumps and engines at the new Shippensburg plant began early in 1905 and regular production was a reality by the middle of the year. Sales increased, more production machines were purchased and additional facilities built. Additional stock issues were authorized and rather substantial dividends were declared beginning in 1909, the year the foundry burned.

Until the beginning of 1915 the product line consisted of the Etter Easy Running Pump and the Domestic Gasoline Engine. The principal product innovation during this period was to use the engine to drive the pump, using a belt drive pump jack. From this arrangement a water system for rural homes became a part of the product line. In 1915 the line of gasoline engines was redesigned and increased in size to 15 horsepower. These new engines were called a Type F and used high tension magnetos and spark plugs instead of sparker block ignition used on the Type "A'' engines. In addition, a vertical engine was designed and sold as the "Fisherman." It was used primarily to power fishing boats and was sold principally by Lowe Engineering Co., Baltimore, Md. Two years later a vertical lift, poppet valve type of diaphragm pump was patented and produced.
The product line continued to grow in this manner over the years and eventually included sludge pumps, caisson pumps, plunger or high pressure pumps, sump pumps, non-clog sewage pumps and hoists until 1936 when the Company bought the manufacturing rights to the Ames line of vacuum and condensation pumps. This line was redesigned and extended and by 1947 became the principal product. However, during World War 11 the Company designed and manufactured self-priming centrifugal pumps, which were closely coupled to a gasoline engine and used for water purification by the U.S. Marine Corps. They were made in large quantities and the Company received a commendation for its services.

The largest centrifugal pumps produced at Shippensburg were made for the New York subway (they were about 5 feet in diameter) to pump surface water during flood conditions. They were designed to handle large quantities of dirty water at low discharge heads. The most recent development is a compact high speed pump designed to force relatively small quantities of very hot water into high pressure boilers.
By the end of World War II the original officers had died or retired and in 1947 the Company was purchased by Empire Industries, Inc., with Howard Jackson, President, eventually becoming sole owner. Mr. Jackson later sold the controlling interest to George Zwinzinger who, in 1951, sold the firm to the Hoffman Specialty Manufacturing Corp. of Indianapolis, Ind.