In 1918, McIntyre became Meyer’s partner and vice president.

To a young mechanic and entrepreneur name August F. Meyer, this was an opportunity too great to pass up. It seemed logical to Meyer that, with all those flat tires, there should be quite a market for tire pumps. Lured by two acres of prime downtown land and a $500 cash bonus from the Chamber of Commerce, Meyer established the Brisk Blast Manufacturing Company in Monroe, Michigan. Meyer’s next step was to purchase the assets of a St. Louis, Missouri business that made tire pumps. Under Meyer’s leadership, Brisk Blast became a leading producer of tire pumps.

Soon, Brisk Blast was producing over 5,000 tire pumps a week. And Meyer saw bigger things ahead.

So did a local Dodge dealer named Charles S. McIntyre. McIntyre knew the auto industry. And Meyer knew a fellow visionary when he saw one. In 1918, McIntyre became Meyer’s partner and vice president.

In 1926, the first Monroe® Shock Eliminator was introduced.

By the mid-1920s however, two important development changed the nature of Monroe’s business forever. Across the country, service stations started offering free air. And, in Detroit, they started manufacturing cars with spare tires as standard equipment.

By this time, Monroe was busy applying the technology of the single-barreled tire pump to a purpose no one else had yet envisioned: smoothing the ride for America’s drivers. In 1926, the first Monroe Shock Eliminator was introduced. Over the years, one Monroe innovation followed another.

Monroe builds its first shock absorber for railroad passenger cars.

Monroe developed a reputation for making shocks for specialty vehicles. In 1938, Monroe built its first shock absorber for railroad passenger cars.

In 1953, Bill Vukovich won the Indianapolis 500 of Monroe shocks.

Meanwhile, Monroe began demonstrating the quality and importance of its products in other ways. In 1953, Bill Vukovich won the Indianapolis 500 on Monroe shocks. That win was followed by a long and rich history of Monroe racing victories, each one making Monroe shocks better known to drivers all over the words.

Monroe introduces the first rear load-leveler stabilizing units.

In 1964, Monroe opened its St. Truiden, Belgium, manufacturing plant.

Applying the knowledge and expertise of Monroe’s domestic experience, the company went international in 1964 with the opening of its St. Truiden, Belgium, manufacturing plant.

In 1977, Monroe became part of Tenneco Inc.

In 1977, Monroe became part of Tenneco Inc. Tenneco’s many diversified and multinational resources allowed for new opportunities on a global scale.

In 1985, Monroe acquired W.H. Wylie Company, which was renamed Monroe Australia, PTY.

Monroe expanded globally in its international operations in 1985 with the acquisition of W.H. Wylie Company, which was renamed Monroe Australia, PTY.

In 1990, the company purchased Rancho Industries, Inc.

Another significant expansion followed in 1990 as the company purchased Rancho industries, Inc., a leading supplier of high performance suspension systems and components for the light-truck and sport-utility vehicle aftermarkets.

Monroe Reflex shock was introduced.

In 1977, Monroe became part of Tenneco Inc. Tenneco’s many diversified and multinational resources allowed for new opportunities on a global scale.

Monroe Quick-Strut Introduced

In 2003, Monroe introduced Quick-Strut. The revolutionary Monroe Quick-Strut unit is the first complete, ready-to-install replacement strut assembly available! Monroe Quick-Strut units include all components required for strut replacement in a single, fully-assembled unit.

Monroe celebrates 90 years of innovation.

From the beginning years of the tire pump to the revolutionary Quick-Strut assembly, Monroe is leading the way with the world-class technologies.

Monroe OESpectrum introduced.

Monroe introduced an extensive line of advanced-technology replacement shock absorbers and struts engineered specifically for foreign-nameplate vehicles. Monroe OESpectrum shocks and struts utilize Tenneco’s “Twin Technology Active Control System,” consisting of its latest Impact Control Valve (ICV), which delivers exceptional control under virtually all driving conditions, and a patented Low Speed Tunability (LST) piston design that isolates impact-related noise, vibration and harshness.