About WC DuComb Industrial Supply

Our Story

The roots of W.C. DuComb Company trace back to Royersford Foundry and Machine Company, founded between 1890 and 1891 by Yelles C. Freed in Royersford, Pennsylvania. Royersford manufactured power transmission products including split and solid roller bearings, couplings, shaft collars, iron pulleys, and journal bearings. It was there that William Crawford DuComb began his career as a salesman — and where he met and married Freed's youngest daughter, Elmwood (known as "Elva").

In 1915, William C. DuComb was hired by James Harvey Gravell to open a Detroit office for American Chemical Paint Company. Mr. DuComb relocated to Detroit with his wife Elva and opened an office at 6335 East Palmer Street — the warehouse we occupy to this day, purchased by Mr. Freed and gifted to Mr. DuComb. Drawing on his experience in power transmission, Mr. DuComb simultaneously launched a stocking distributorship for bearings and power transmission products in the same building. Thus, the W.C. DuComb Company was born.

When the Great Depression arrived in 1929, Mr. DuComb chose to run his company full time, cutting ties with American Chemical Paint. Following World War II, his son William Freed DuComb joined the business, eventually settling in Bloomfield Hills, MI with his wife Josephine Evans DuComb. William Crawford DuComb passed away in 1957, and his son William Freed DuComb Sr. took over as president — a Harvard MBA graduate who had ambitious plans to grow the company. Tragically, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1965 and passed away on June 1st, 1966, at 48 years of age.

In the early 1970s, Josephine DuComb used funds her husband had saved to build the front office on the corner lot at what became the company's permanent address: 5700 Mt. Elliott Street. Leadership transitioned through Leonard Burgeson and later Robert D. Hill — a CPA and former Vice President of Fruehauf — who guided the company through significant operational growth.

Duke DuComb (William F. DuComb II) joined the company in 1967 right out of Michigan State University, learned the business from the ground up, and was elected President on March 9th, 1986. He worked closely with James "Jim" LaHaie, who joined in 1981 and served as Vice President. Duke's son Steven DuComb began working at the company in 2000.

On January 9, 2015, William F. DuComb Jr. unexpectedly passed away from a dissected aorta while in Florida. This sudden loss triggered an immediate succession plan. Jeffrey DuComb became Chairman of the Board, James LaHaie was elected President, and Christopher DuComb — nephew of Duke and son of Laurence DuComb — relocated from the east coast to lead business development, starting February 23, 2015.

Starting in 2020, James LaHaie retired after 38 years of devoted service. Jeffrey DuComb retired from a 41-year career at Ford Motor Company to serve as CEO and CFO. Christopher DuComb was elected President and Chief Marketing Officer. Steven DuComb was elected Chief Operating Officer.

Josephine DuComb passed away on April 1, 2020, at nearly 100 years of age. Jim LaHaie passed away on December 18, 2021. The Board of Directors today includes Laurence, Jeffrey, Steven, Keven, and Christopher DuComb, along with fourth-generation members William, Daniel, and Andrew DuComb, and outside director David Costa — carrying the family legacy into its second century.

Why We Exist

W.C. DuComb exists to provide excellent service at a fair profit. Our goal is not to be the biggest, but the best. Therefore, we must:

• Maintain accurate inventory that represents the broad product lines we distribute.
• Deliver products on time.
• Maintain a high rate of accuracy in all facets of the operation.
• Provide value added to our products by our sales force.
• Develop close and long-term relationships with our customers.
• Be dedicated to giving the extra service that sets us apart from our competitors.
• Create an atmosphere of professionalism and cooperation.