In this installment of "Western Michigan at work," Dr. Willis Dunbar profiles Ruud Manufacturing Company which specializes in hot water heaters. He describes the pioneers of the water heating industry, Herbert S. Humphrey of England and Edwin Ruud of Norway, the growth of their careers, and how they eventually merged and manufactured both Ruud and Humphrey heaters in Kalamazoo. Dunbar describes the six plants they currently own, and interview workers from the two located in Kalamazoo. Ray Johnson, an assembler, describes the various heater models they now produce, while assistant chief engineer John Lyle talks about how they have dealt with the problem of corrosion from aggressive water supplies.
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