Dramm Corporation

"In the early 1940s, Manitowoc florist John G. Dramm, with a gift for invention, designed a product that was to become the cornerstone of the Dramm Corporation. He called it the 400 Water Breaker. Johnny, as everyone knew him, shared his invention with fellow growers and nurserymen. Basically a watering nozzle with 400 tiny holes that turns high velocity water into a soft-flowing shower that is gentle to plants, the invention proved worthy. Word-of-mouth spread the news and requests for the new nozzle began filtering in. Today the Dramm Corporation manufactures and distributes a complete line of professional greenhouse tools and equipment throughout the world. It is the most respected name within the industry. The company's development, from a ""basement operation"" to a 55,000 sq. ft. facility employing over 50 people, was not without its tragedies. In 1951 Johnny died. He was 47. His wife, Perdita, with two sons ages 12 and 18 and no Social Security benefits, struggled to keep the fledgling business going. Subcontracting the parts and assembly, Perdita-- or Dt, as she was known, packed the orders, attended to all of the paperwork, using her lunch hours while she worked as a school librarian to drive to the post office and mail out the shipments. Taking no salary from The Dramm Company, Perdita used the modest profits to put her two sons through college."