GALAXIE PRODUCTS, INC. (the “COMPANY”) BEGAN IN LOS ANGELES IN 1947. TWO PARTNERS BEGAN MAKING POLICE CALL BOXES FOR THE L.A.P.D. AT THE TIME, THE PARTNERS WERE IN THE WHOLESALE HARDWARE BUSINESS. THEY WERE MAKING DECORATIVE BUILDER’S HARDWARE.
AS TIME PASSED, THE COMPANY’S PRODUCT LINE EXPANDED. AND INCLUDED PARTS FOR UTILITY COMPANIES. THE PARTS INCLUDED SUCH THINGS AS “SNOW VENTS” FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY.
THEN, IN THE MID-1980’s, THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER [“LADWP”] DESIGNED TWO SIZES OF PLASTIC FIRE HYDRANT CAPS [2 1/2″ and 4″]. LADWP DESIGNATED THE NAME OF THE CAPS AS “GALAXIE CAPS” ON THE APPROVED DRAWINGS. IN RESPONSE TO THE NEED OF LADWP, THE COMPANY BEGAN MAKING PLASTIC FIRE HYDRANT CAPS THRU THE INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS.
THE QUALITY AND PRICE OF THE COMPANY’S PLASTIC FIRE HYDRANT CAPS QUICKLY BECAME KNOWN. THE COMPANY BEGAN SUPPLYING PLASTIC CAPS TO BOTH L.A. CITY AND L.A. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE LADWP, AND UNDERGROUND WATER PIPELINE CONTRACTORS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
IN 1996, THE COMPANY WAS PURCHASED. THE COMPANY JOINED A GROUP OF RELATED COMPANIES THAT OWNED AND OPERATED TWO FOUNDRIES IN LOS ANGELES. ONE OF THE FOUNDRIES DATED BACK TO 1914. THE FOUNDRIES HAD MANUFACTURED BRASS FIRE HYDRANT CAPS, OTHER BRASS PARTS FOR FIRE ENGINES, AND BRONZE HYDRANT WRENCHES.
IN 2002, THE COST OF BRASS BEGAN TO SOAR. AFTER A FEW YEARS, THIEVES REALIZED MANY OF THE FIRE HYDRANT CAPS WERE BRASS AND BEGAN STEALING THEM. THEY WOULD SELL THE BRASS FIRE HYDRANT CAPS TO THE METAL SALVAGE INDUSTRY FOR CASH. AS A RESULT, THE DEMAND OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN CALIFORNIA, AND ALL OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, INCREASED FOR PLASTIC FIRE HYDRANT CAPS TO REPLACE THE BRASS CAPS.
AS THE DESIGN OF FIRE HYDRANTS CHANGED, AND A NEED FOR A PLASTIC 4 1/2″ CAP DEVELOPED. THE STANDARD FIRE HYDRANT HAS ONE 4 1/2″ PUMPER NOZZLE AND TWO 2 1/2″ HOSE NOZZLES. THE COMPANY COMMISSIONED THE MAKING OF THE REQUIRED TOOLING TO ADD THE 4 1/2″ HYDRANT CAP TO THE COMPANY’S PRODUCT LINE.
IN 2016, THE COMPANY DESIGNED, AND BEGAN MANUFACTURING, A NEW ITEM [THE 4″ ROCKER LUG PLUG]. THIS HEAVY DUTY PLUG IS UNIQUE. THE PLUG’S LUGS ARE TO BE USED BY A SPANNER WRENCH FOR REMOVAL. BUT, THE PLUG ALSO HAS A 1 1/8″ PENTAGON NUT WHICH PERMITS THE USE OF A HYDRANT WRENCH FOR REMOVAL.
THE COST OF A 4″ ALUMINUM LUG PLUG CAN EXCEED $85.00 ea. THE COST OF THE COMPANY’S NEW 4″ HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC ROCKER LUG PLUG IS ONLY $13.25 ea. THIS REPRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS TO BE REALIZED.