Wayne County commissioners recognize The Wooster Brush Company

Long before automobiles, airplanes and even the Civil War, a chance purchase at an unclaimed freight auction helped launch a company that would become one of Wayne County’s most enduring manufacturers.

According to company history, The Wooster Brush Company was founded in 1851 when Adam Foss purchased a crate of hog bristles at an unclaimed freight auction. After bringing the material to Wooster, he and his brother began attaching the bristles to wooden handles and selling paintbrushes door to door throughout Ohio.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, The Wooster Brush Company is marking a milestone of its own. The company was recently recognized by the Wayne County commissioners for reaching 175 years in business, a legacy that stretches across nearly three-quarters of the nation’s history.

“Our country is 250 years old, and for our company to be here for all but 75 of that is pretty amazing,” Wooster Brush President Ben Maibach said. “All of it is really a testament to our people. We wouldn’t be here without having great people making quality products for all those years, and so we’re just really thankful for all the people that have been here generation after generation.”

“The Wooster Brush Company reaching 175 years in operation reflects a continuity of American manufacturing, which aligns with the spirit of the nation’s 250th anniversary,” Wayne County Commissioner Matt Martin said. “Founded in 1851, the company’s longevity highlights the enduring role of skilled trades, innovation and local industry in shaping economic growth across generations.”

Throughout its history, Wooster Brush has contributed several innovations that transformed the painting industry. The company developed the angle paintbrush in 1937, a design that remains the most popular brush style in the United States. During World War II, when trade disruptions halted imports of traditional Chinese bristles, Wooster worked with synthetic filaments to create brushes for the U.S. military, helping establish the foundation for the modern paintbrush. The company later pioneered synthetic roller-cover fabrics, another advancement that became an industry standard.

Those innovations are reflected in the company’s 175th-anniversary theme, “Generations of Innovation,” which recognizes both technological advances and the people behind them. Maibach said the company’s success has always depended on adapting to changing needs while maintaining a commitment to quality.

Today, Wooster Brush products are distributed worldwide, extending the influence of a company that began with handmade brushes sold throughout Ohio. Yet Maibach said the mission remains much the same.

“Every day we help homeowners paint their most valuable asset, which is their home, or we help a professional painter who’s likely painting somebody else’s home for a living,” Maibach said. “If we can give them a great experience every single time, we think they’ll keep coming back.”

Dan Starcher is the communications coordinator for Wayne County.