A Note from Our Owner: Some companies may see the phrase 'custom switchboard builders' and automatically associate expensive with custom. This is not necessarily the case. Many times in the field special conduit configurations must be made to fit mass produced switchboards. At Peterson, we can make special adaptors or other devices to help make the install as quick and easy as possible. By doing this for our customers, job time costs are significantly reduced and end up costing less than buying a national switchboard. My favorite saying is, "Expensive is Cheap, and Cheap is Expensive." Sometimes this really is true. Give Peterson a try, you will not be disappointed. History The company was founded around 1905 as Charles J. Peterson Company and has always been Chicago based. Peterson started out by making cut-out boxes, sheet metal and copper work for the relatively new electrical industry. As new buildings went up in Chicago and the surrounding areas, larger and more complex services were required. C. J. Peterson started building live front switchboards with angle frame structures and open switches mounted on slate a few years later. All copper line and load was mounted on the face and the rear of the structure. To this date many of these services are still functioning, although many have been replaced due to safety concerns.The 1960's and 1970's brought on new technology and new electrical codes. Since the computer age was only available to high end companies encompasing hugh rooms, most businesses relied on solid state relays Solid State Panel from Panelmaticand controls for the operation of big machinery and power plants. To the left is mining equipment utilizing this technology. At this time, the name of the company was changed to Peterson Electric Panel Mfg. Co. as new owners bought Charles out but kept the last name in respect of the many years he put into the company. New machinery was purchased and the company eventually moved the plant to its much larger Berkeley facility. Today Peterson is still going strong building custom service and distribution equipment. Additions to our manufacturing catalogue include, panels for lighting and power, tap boxes to utility company secifications, special enclosures, special buss work, wire-ways, and switchboard conversions and additions. Modern PanelboardPeterson equipment is manufactured to follow specifications of the Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.). We adhere to all NEMA, National and other prevalent codes to ensure quality and safety in our product. All products are manufactured by members of the Sheet Metal Local 73 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134. We carry a computerized inventory so there is no delay for our customers who need immediate service. In fact, Peterson is very well known for our dedication to our customers and product. Emergencies happen all the time and Peterson is always ready for them. While most orders take 2-3 weeks to complete, by special request we have been known to deliver in 2-3 days. We do our engineering and drawing on our C.A.D. system in our office. Currently Peterson is striving to meet the needs of electrical contractors around the Nation and make it eaiser then ever to request quotes using online services.