Partnership
1923
A partnership of Thomas Thornton Shipman and Elwyn Roy King commenced after they met when pilots in World War 1. E.R King was a fighter Ace in the Australian Flying Corp (AFC) and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). It traded in Petrol and Oil Storage Equipment.
A Company is born
1929
The partnership was made into a Proprietary Company and traded as Shipman King & Co Pty Ltd, all shares being held equally between T.T. Shipman and E.R. King. The company began manufacturing underground steel tanks, hand operated petrol pump bowsers, and underpump valves and caps for the service station forecourt market
War
1939
War started and Shipman King & Co Pty Ltd suspended its business. T.T. Shipman and E.R. King joined the R.A.A.F.
E.R King
1941
E.R. King died at Point Cook of natural causes aged 47.
T.T Shipman
1946
The Proprietary Company was dissolved, and T.T. Shipman commenced business on his own under the name of T.T. Shipman.
Shipman King & Co.
1947
T.T. Shipman altered his trading name to Shipman King & Co.
Patent in Australia and Great Britain
1949
In conjunction with Harold Manderson, T.T. Shipman obtained Letters Patent in Australia and Great Britain for an improved Valve Mechanism for Petrol Pump Equipment.
Mrs T.T Shipman
1952
On 1st July of this year, Mrs T.T.Shipman purchased from T.T. Shipman one half share in the business of Shipman King & Co. which on such date became a partnership.
Patent in Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand
1954
T.T. Shipman obtained Letters Patent in Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand for an improvement in Closure Members, particularly for use in Petrol Storage Installations.
Passing
1966
Mrs T.T. Shipman died.
Passing
1976
T.T. Shipman died.
End of Era
1977
Ms Evelyn Beatrice Cooney and Ms Lena Margaret Oke who were T.T. Shipman’s secretary and bookkeeper inherited the business and carried on the business of Shipman King & Co.
New Beginning
1980
31st March 1980 Shipman King & Co was purchased by Kiwong Pty Ltd and Leon Kevin Howlett was appointed as General Manager. Shipman King & Co. continued to be used as the trading name. The product range was increased to incorporate all fittings required for service station forecourt installations. This included developing products such as under pump triangle valve flexibles, due to the introduction of the digital pump dispenser, and vapour recovery fittings for returning vapours to tankers when filling, to conform with new stage 1 vapour recovery regulations.
Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd
1986
Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd starts trading.
S.K. McIvor
1988
Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd acquire S.K. McIvor’s range of pumps and drum dispensing equipment and integrates this part of the business into Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd.
Nigel John Howlett
1992
Nigel John Howlett is appointed General Manager of Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd and the company starts developing Underpump Containment Sumps, Flexible Entry Boots and Spill Containment Boxes in conjunction with the industry.
Morrison Bros
1992
Shipman King & Co. starts doing business with Morrison Bros. (USA) to market their range of equipment to the Australian market.
Durapipe UK (Aliaxis)
1995
Durapipe UK (Aliaxis) appoints Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd as the Australian distributor for the PLX range of polyethylene pipe and fittings.
Petrorep International
1995
Shipman King & Co. starts doing business with Petrorep International (USA) to market their range of equipment to the Australian market.
Merger
1999
Shipman King & Co merge with Fuelquip (Aust) Pty Ltd to form Shipman King-Fuelquip Pty Ltd.
Browning Spill Safe Pty Ltd
1999
Shipman King – Fuelquip Pty Ltd acquires Browning Spill Safe Pty Ltd and integrates this business into Shipman King-Fuelquip Pty Ltd.
Leon Kevin Howlett retires
2000
Leon Kevin Howlett retires from the business and Nigel John Howlett is appointed General Manager of Shipman King-Fuelquip Pty Ltd.
Larger premises
2000
Shipman King – Fuelquip Pty Ltd move into larger premises at 109 McEwan Road, West Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Shipman King Pty Ltd
2002
Shipman King-Fuelquip Pty Ltd change their name to Shipman King Pty Ltd. The company continues expands its product range to handle petroleum and chemical fluids in industries now outside the service station forecourt such as, telecommunications, construction, defence, mining and genset’s.
Petroleum Equipment Institute
2003
Shipman King Pty Ltd becomes a member of the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) in the USA.
Peter Samuel Saxon
2006
Peter Saxon joins Shipman King Pty Ltd as Operations Manager.
Cim-Tek
2017
Shipman King Pty Ltd commences stocking and distributing the Cim-Tek range of filters.
Husky
2018
Shipman King Pty Ltd commences stocking and distributing the Husky range of nozzles, swivels, safe-t-breaks and other equipment.
100 years
2023
Shipman King Pty Ltd celebrate 100 years of business.