Marmon/Keystone Corp., one of the world's largest wholesale distributors of specialty tubular and bar products, has its headquarters in downtown Butler.

Its rich history dates back to 1907, when the William Horwitz family of partners started with an investment of $600 selling used pipe.

Known as Keystone Pipe & Supply, the business flourished through the years, adjusting to the trends of the 1920s and 1930s, when plumbing and oil well supplies were in demand and branches sprung up in Texas and Oklahoma.

After World War II, the company greatly diversified its inventory and established branches in the Midwest and South. The company's name was changed to the Keystone Tubular Service Corp., following the acquisition of the Tubular Service Corp.

In 1970, the firm became a member of The Marmon Group of companies and the name again changed to the Marmon/Keystone Corp.

Today, Marmon Distribution, which includes Marmon/Keystone, has annual sales in excess of $1 billion. The inventory contains more than 15,000 sizes and grades of carbon, alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, and chrome-plated tubular and bar products.

Some 46 service centers and sales offices serve customers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Affiliated companies are Marmon/Keystone Canada Inc.; Bushwick Metals Inc. of Bridgeport, Conn.; Future Metals of Tamarac, Fla., and Marmon/Keystone de Mexico, S.A.de C.V. The M/K Express Co., a subsidiary trucking company, is based in East Butler.

Marmon Distribution continues to grow. In the past 12 months, acquisitions included Victory Tube in Cleveland, Ohio and Koons Steel in Parker Ford, Pa. Satellite branches were established in Little Chute, Wisc.; Ft. Worth, Texas; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Marmon/Keystone celebrated "A Century of Service" in 2007. The year ended with the announcement that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. would acquire The Marmon Group of companies, including Marmon Distribution Services, further strengthening the position of Marmon/Keystone and its affiliates as they begin a new century of service to their customers and the industry.

The company's Web site is www.marmonkeystone.com.