A couple of years after the Wright brothers developed the first effective airplane, in March, 1906, Henry Royce and Charles Rolls formed the Rolls-Royce Company and introduced the Silver Ghost which was hailed as the “best car in the world”. On the other side of the Atlantic, at about the same time, Harold M. Pitman founded the Pitman Company in Chicago, Illinois. The firm originally was a one-man shop manufacturing and selling steel dyes and copper plates to engravers. Eventually Pitman began providing chemical solutions and other tools for the engraving trade. As time passed, Pitman Company phased out the manufacturing side of the business and this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, and is recognized as the “best graphic arts dealer in the world”. Pitman continues their leadership role by providing products, equipment and services, as well as knowledgeable support, dealing with thousands of printing companies through its sales districts and warehouses across the country.

The company, which represents a broad range of industry leading manufacturers, is recognized for its longstanding innovation, performance and tradition, and is focused on six business divisions: Commercial Printing, Packaging, Pressroom, Digital Imaging, Newspaper and National Accounts. In addition there are the Pitman Advantage and the Professional Services units.

This redesigned Web Site honors Pitman Company’s celebration of serving customers for the past century. You can click on the "Market Segments" link on the left navigation menu for more information. Over the course of this year we will be reporting on the past hundred years of Pitman’s history, decade by decade. We think you’ll enjoy reading about the evolvement of the printing industry since Harold M. Pitman first launched the company back in 1906. We will strive to continue to provide products, services and knowledge for the next hundred years.