COMPANY HISTORY AND INFORMATION

as Appliance was founded in 1931 by George Pearse. Originally he specialized in the manufacturing of gas burners and their systems for several industries. It was during this period many of the foodservice manufacturers in the west relied heavily on Gas Appliance for not only their burners, but also for their combustion engineering. In 1948, Chester A. Thorp purchased the company from Mr. Pearse, a life long friend and colleague.

Mr. Thorp is an acclaimed chemical engineer. In 1930 he worked for the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Company as Chief Chemist. His department helped develop the gas testing standards in conjunction with the American Gas Association located in Cleveland, Ohio. During WW II he worked on many secret projects involving radio fuses to bombs. In 1945, after the war, he became head of research for the American Gas Association, (AGA). Then in 1948 Mr. Thorp returned to the west coast and purchased the Gas Appliance Company. He retired in 1971 when Bob Padgett, an employee, and Bruce Semple took over the business.

1971 marked a change of direction for Gas Appliance. Prior to working for Mr. Thorp, Bob Padgett worked for a major foodservice equipment manufacturer as a senior supervisor. It was this knowledge coupled with the sound engineering skills of Mr. Thorp that created one of the finest gas counter cooking equipment lines available to the industry.

Gas Appliance's counter equipment was in such great demand throughout the greater Los Angeles area that it was never available any where else until now. Starting January 1,1988, we decided to expand our production facility to accommodate the rising need for quality equipment. We still continue to manufacture our burners and their systems, but as long as there is a need, we will go forward with our counter equipment.