04/22/2025
On April 25th we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our company’s founding here in Richmond, Virginia. Phipps & Bird is a manufacturing company located on Bells Road in South Richmond. Although we are very small now (10 employees), at one time we were quite large and many Richmonders worked here over the years.
The company was founded in 1925 by two professors at the Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University): Morris Phipps, and Lloyd C. Bird who later went on to become a Virginia State Senator. L. C. Bird High School is named for him.
In addition to offering contract manufacturing services to local companies, we produced an eclectic mix of Phipps & Bird branded products over the years:
• Dialysis solution warmers for kidney patients;
• Quality control equipment for water/wastewater treatment plants. Our equipment is considered to be the worldwide standard in the industry for a specific procedure performed in treatment plants.
• Hazardous waste testing equipment;
• Electronic testing equipment;
• Physiology/biology experimentation apparatus used in high school, college and university science labs;
• Medical equipment: Aspirators, Blood Platelet Analyzers, Cardiac Simulators;
• Smoking Machines. For many years we were one of two companies worldwide that produced machines that analyzed cigarette smoke. Our machine was utilized by the FTC for its annual tar and ni****ne studies.
Our products are marketed worldwide, and enjoy a reputation for quality, durability and dependability.
I joined P&B in 1984 as its General Manager. In February 1999, my wife, Pattie, and I completed a buyout of the company from its parent, McKesson Corp. (formerly General Medical Corp., which had owned it since 1967). It has been a most rewarding experience to be a part of the company’s history for these past 41 years, enhanced by the honor of working with an exceptional group of people: A shout-out to Geoge, Kevin, Willie, Millard, Chris, Josh, Lisa, Keith, Jeremiah . . . and all those who have come and gone over the years. Thanks for making this the experience of a lifetime, and Happy Anniversary to Us!
