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Hatzel & Buehler, Inc. 130 Years Young

March 11, 2014

Every economic sector reserves a special place for pioneering companies. Respect grows when, more than a century after the formation of an enterprise, it continues to provide innovative leadership in its industry.

Hatzel & Buehler, Inc., the oldest electrical contracting company in America, founded by two electricians who worked with Thomas Edison, is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year.

The company employs 700 IBEW electricians and is signatory to 21 local unions in Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Two years after leaving Edison’s Electrical Illuminating Co. in New York City in 1882, Mr. Hatzel and Mr. Buehler formed their partnership. The quality of their work was immediately recognized by many of the nation’s most successful entrepreneurs,  who signed contracts with them not just to build their businesses’ infrastructures, but to build their personal residences.

Electrical systems in the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, N.C., at J.P.  Morgan’s personal New York residence, the Vanderbilt Mansion in Newport, R.I., and the duPont’s Winterthur and Longwood Gardens were all constructed by wiremen employed by Hatzel & Buehler, a member of the National Electrical Contractors Association since 1901.

Hatzel & Buehler electricians completed work on many landmark commercial buildings and structures throughout New York City and beyond, including The Chrysler Building, the General Electric Building, Detroit’s Renaissance Center,  Johnson & Johnson’s world corporate headquarters and Walt Disney’s Epcot Center in Florida.

A full-service company, Hatzel & Buehler offers expertise in electric design, construction, engineering, integration, and maintenance. 

Numerous transmitter rooms for tenants occupying the Empire State Building were installed by Hatzel & Buehler electricians. Customers include WCBS, WNBC, WABC, WPIX, UNIVISION, Home Shopping Network, Clear Channel and Motorola.

The company focuses on corporate infrastructure upgrades related to redundant power systems, security and fire safety installations, new office construction, trading facilities, television and radio broadcast studios and transmission systems.

In 2005, Hatzel and Buehler established Bluestone Communications, Inc. to compete in the low-voltage sector.

“The IBEW congratulates Hatzel & Buehler on the occasion of the company’s 130th anniversary,” says International President Edwin D. Hill. “We cherish our long relationship Hatzel and Buehler, a signatory contractor who respects and supports our members and promotes a relationship that make us the right choice for customers.”

Hatzel and Buehler is signatory to collective bargaining agreements with Wilmington, Del., Local 313; Michigan locals 58 (Detroit), 252 (Ann Arbor) and 665 (Lansing); New Jersey Locals: 102 (Paterson), 164 (Jersey City), 269 (Trenton), 351 (Folsom), 400 (Asbury Park) and 456 (New Brunswick); New York Local 3; Ohio locals 82 (Dayton), 212 (Cincinnati), 575 (Portsmouth) and 683 (Columbus); Pennsylvania locals 98 (Philadelphia), 375 (Allentown), 380 (Norristown) and 654 (Chester); West Virginia locals 317 (Huntington) and 466 (Charleston).