Scott Whitney (deceased) founded American Manufacturing around 1980 and began by making tool joints for drill pipe. In the mid 1980s, distributors approached the company for replacement pump parts, so American, in turn, began producing a line of replacement pump parts for well known pumps like Gardner Denver, Failing, Gaso and Wheatley.

Faber McMullen bought a majority interest in the company in 1999, and since then, the McMullen family has acquired 100 percent of the company. McMullen, currently serving as president of the company, has his offices on his farm in Navasota, Texas, and keeps contact with the factory each business day via the Internet.