Charles Emdy made his first prototype, a Model DV out of a wooden box to prove his concept. He then purchased 12 motors from Ametek and started M.D. Manufacturing in his garage in North Hollywood.
The first 100 units had a huge 14” decal on the front.
MD produced the first 2-motor unit
MD produced the first unit with dual intake necks
1963 MD started it’s first dealership: John Blakee of Central Systems
Model A (cyclonic) , Model B (Basic single Motor) Model E (Extra-Large Capacity)
Marketing materials developed and dealerships grew:
1971 Son Wayne Emdy purchased the business from his father
1976 Business moved to Sunland, CA in it’s first shop
1976 First non-family members hired
1978 Wayne quit local installing to concentrate on dealers and distributors
1978 MD computerized it’s billing and inventory system
1978 Sales of units expand to Ted Hayden in Canada
1979 Business moved to North Hollywood on Magnolia Blvd.
1979 Air Master brand and FloMaster brand initiated
Growth and expansion - First distribution to nationwide distributors:
1983 Began exhibiting and teaching seminars at VDTA (Vacuum Dealers Trade Assn)
1983 Fire at Sun Valley Plant destroyed all tooling & inventory. Units began shipping two weeks later from operations back at Charlie’s garage.
1983 Exhibited at National Builders Show in Houston.
1985 MD produced the first installation video of the industry
1987 Wayne Emdy receives patent for first Quiet Central Vacuum and Silent Master Brand
1987 Factory moves to much larger facility in Bakersfield, CA
1988 Sales expand to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe
International Growth:
1992 Wayne Emdy passes away; succeeded by Grant Olewiler as General Manager
1993 Sales extend to Malaysia, Ireland, Spain, UAE, Taiwan
1994 MD successfully defends it quiet patent against two infringing companies
1994 MD begins sales of incredible new Stealth Powerbrush
1995 MD introduces CartMaster; a central vacuum contained within a cart
1995 MD purchased domain-names and started builtinvacuum.com and centralvacuuum.com (world's first central vacuum site, initially just over 100 pages).
1995 Wayne and Charles Emdy inducted into the VDTA Hall of Fame
1995 Charles Emdy quit sewing the cloth bags for all the MD units at age 89
1998 MD hires Andrew Bransby as E-Commerce Director
Internal Growth:
2001 Shipments of MD Vacuums begin into China
2002 MD began on-line sales
2002 MD hires Brian Graves from Toshiba as Operations Director
2002 MD introduced first integrated vacuum system AirForce (first residential product using UPB powerline communication)
2003 Finalist in CEA “Mark of Excellence Award”
2004 MD received new “Olewiler” Patent for quieting vacuum motors
2004 MD doubles it’s office space in Bakersfield
2004 New software system implemented for all facets of the company
2005 MD defends against a wave of online copyright infringment
2006 First report of broken belt on a Stealth after 12 years
2006 MD introduces new Patented CentraMop and Manta to the market
2007 State of the art WMS (Warehouse Management Software) implemented
2007 MD receives “Product of the Year” award from CE Pro
2007 MD receives “Excite” award from Residential Systems
2008 MD hires Steve Spriet to take over Dealer Sales
2008 MD begins construction of new Manufacturing facility / Corporate office