Moses B. Salisbury was one of the most inventive Presidents of the company now known as Salisbury. Salisbury is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and distribution of personal electrical-safety equipment. During his tenure, which began in the 1920's, he invented number out electrical safety equipment products including "Line Hose," "Insulator Hoods," and "Connectors". Over the next 80 years, the use of electric power surged upward, and the need for line safety equipment increased. This demand for power line safety equipment prompted Moses to take the lead in developing numerous safety products and a synthetic rubber. Salisbury gained widespread acceptance by power and light companies thought the nation for their reliable linemen safety equipment. These developments were crucial in creating Salisbury's now famous utility protection line and to the safety of all line workers both then and today.
Contrary to common belief, Moses B. Salisbury was not the company's first President nor the company's first name. The company now known as Salisbury began 65 years earlier, in 1855, in Chicago, Illinois. The company was actually started by John B. Idson, and dealt exclusively in rubber goods. It was known as the "Chicago Rubber Store". It was stocked with hard to find items, including rubber hoses, tubing, boots, shoes, flooring and other rubber sundries.
Over the next 25 years, the company changed hands several times but never list its identity as the "Chicago Rubber Store". The following and devotion to the company allows the owners to quickly rebuild and reopen dater the Great Chicago Fire destroyed the only store. It was in 1871, the same year as the fire, that W.H. Salisbury came to Chicago and joined with partner G.F. Cline and "Rubber Store" part owner Hallock. Thus, the company became named Hallock, Salisbury & Cline. Soon after, the two partners purchased the company from Hallock, which was then known as Salisbury & Cline.
During the Salisbury & Cline era, the company expanded and took on a stock of heavy mechanical rubber goods to sell on consignment. They moved into a larger place, with offices, salesrooms and storage space. Inventory was expanded to include rubber goods for railroads, breweries and other industries.
In 1880, Mr. Salisbury purchased the remaining interests in the firm, which then became W.H. Salisbury and Co. In 1884, W.H. Salisbury was joined by his brother Merrick, and the firm contented to grow considerably. In 1929 retail operations were discontinued and the general offices were moved to Morgan Street in Chicago.
W.H. Salsibury dies in 1902, but his family retained ownership, and two years later, the firm of W.H. Salisbury & Co. was incorporated. Over the next 20 years department stores, and the wholesale and retail trade in rubber products began to diminish for W.H. Salisbury.
In 1922, while Moses B. Salisbury was president, a group of safety engineers from Commonwealth Edison Co. of Chicago aced for a consultation with W. H. Salisbury & Co. They were using large quantities of garden hose for temporary electrical protection for men working on high-voltage lines. Such hose had to be cut lengthwise for installation on the wires and had to be taped together to keep it in place. This was a very dangerous and time consuming practice because the insulating properties were questionable and lots of electrical tape has to be used then discarded right after. Because the Salisbury Company was the supply of the garden hose, Commonwealth Edison thought the challenge to create a better product might interest them.
Being of inventive mind, Moses took the challenge upon himself. He wanted to new insulating hose to be able to lock together to create varying lengths, to insulate properly and to be easy to put on and take off the line. Moses worked with an experience die maker and part of the Salisbury Company to create numbers models to present to Commonwealth Edison. A design was selected, but Moses continued to test, alter and improve upon his design. This included creating the best rubber compound for proper and safe insulation and easy insulation. In 1924, Moses B. Salisbury patented the "Line Hose".
As the years went on he created more and more linemen safety products and continued to improve on those the Salisbury Company was already selling. Moses single handedly revitalized the Salisbury Company and changed the safety practices of all lineman, as we know them today. His inventive mind and ability to strive for perfection has saved many lives and allowed the electrical lineman to work safely and confidently.
In 1922, Salisbury began manufacturing a full utility line of safety products for electrical workers. The company met with overall acceptance of their safety products from all the power and light companies of the time. Moses B. Salisbury went on to have patents for "Insulator Hoods", "Connectors" and many more electrical safety products.
Moses B. Salisbury's life and achievements mean a great deal to the Salisbury Company, but it pales in comparison wot what this many has done to keep lineman safe, even today.