Welch Allyn was founded in 1915 by Dr. Francis Welch and William Noah Allyn, who built a hand-held, direct-illuminating ophthalmoscope to look in a patient’s eyes in the second story of a building in Auburn, New York. Just a short year after the company’s founding, Dr. Welch passes away, and the company almost folds.
Five years later, Mr. Allyn leaves behind enough money for two weeks of payroll and heads to the American Medical Association meeting in Chicago with the company’s last $25 in his pocket. Although he had no money to reserve a vendor space, he convinces organizers to let him set up a table near the men’s bathroom to showcase the ophthalmoscope, which was the only Welch Allyn products. He returned from the meeting with over $1,000 in orders and $350 in his pocket.
The Great Depression almost takes the company under again, but they manage to squeak through, and World War II brings lots of demand for their ophthalmoscope, which is still the only Welch Allyn product. It was not until the 1950s that the company started expanding its line when they became the first medical supply company to use rechargeable batteries for diagnostic instruments. In 1953, the company moved to Skaneateles Falls, where it still maintains a factory in 2020.
After being owned by the same family for more than 100 years, Welch Allyn sold to Hill-Ron in 2015. The medical community still finds new Welch Allyn products that they love.
