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In 1908, William A. Walker and his twin sons, Williard and Warren, acquired control and ran a 'Walker Operation'. Even then, it would be several years before the company would enter its present line of business.
In 1912, Willard Walker began a new venture with John Dwight that he called 'tire savers'. In those days, people stored cars for the winter, and tire savers lifted the car off the ground removing weight from the fragile tires.
In 1916, in order to support the new business, a new production facility was built in Racine, Wisconsin. In that same year, the name officially became Walker Manufacturing Company.
The jack business flourished throughout the 1920's.
In 1929, Walker acquired Ajax Auto Parts Company and became one of the country's leading jack producers.
Mufflers, in those days, were little more than tin cans. They provided little real benefit to the driver or passengers. Walker saw an opportunity to design a better product.
In 1932, Walker patented what would be the first in a long line of engineering innovations, the louvered tube. It was the louvered tube muffler that earned Walker its reputation as the industry leader.
As the automobile evolved, the needs of the industry changed. Engines became more refined and standards increased.
In 1941, Walker's pioneering efforts in the exhaust industry included the first stainless steel muffler.
In 1953, Walker introduced the first aluminized steel muffler. Walker also added special sound control chambers called 'Individual Tuning' to its original equipment mufflers. Walker later introduced 'Precision Tuning' which took into account greater horsepowers, automatic transmissions and higher compressions.
With more and more cars on the road, people became concerned with preserving clean air and limiting pollutants.
In 1962, Walker introduced crankcase devices which were the forerunners of today's catalytic converters. Walker's early success working with the California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board enabled it to forge ahead with new research.
Walker successfully designed a catalytic reactor system for use in cars.
Walker introduced its first chambered pipe. It consisted of a series of small tuning chambers spaced at select intervals along the length of the pipe from the manifold to the exhaust outlet.
Walker opened a research facility in Grass Lake, Michigan equipped for acoustic testing and exhaust system work.
Tenneco Inc. purchased Walker Manufacturing Company.
In the late 1970's, the exhaust industry turned to Walker for development of a low-priced, universal-fit catalytic converter.
In 1978, working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Walker developed the first aftermarket converter.
In 1987 Walker launched its now famous DynoMax Performance Exhaust product line that consists of a wide variety of direct-fit and universal stainless and aluminized mufflers, Cat-back systems, glasspacks and turbo mufflers and mandrel bent pipe which increases the flow and performance of the exhaust system.
In 1988, Walker launched its new premium muffler call The Walker Advantage, with Absorbite. The Absorbite acted as a drying agent inside the muffler. The Walker Advantage revolutionized the aftermarket by setting new standards for durability. Walker was the first aftermarket manufacturer to launch a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the thousands of professional installers.
In the 1990's, Tenneco, Inc. purchased two converter companies called Products for Power (PFP) and Perfection.
1993 Tenneco, Inc. purchased a header and muffler company called Performance Industries. Its brands are Cyclone and Blackjack header products and Thrush mufflers. The Thrush muffler is very famous for its colorful woodpecker logo.
1997, Walker again showed why it is the technology leader in the aftermarket industry by launching its famous Quiet-Flow premium muffler. In addition to the Limited Lifetime Warranty on this premium muffler, Walker is so confident that the consumer will be satisfied with their purchase, it offered further incentive called the Safe & Sound Guarantee. This guarantee allows the consumer to return their Walker purchase in 90 days if they are not 100% satisfied.
On November 5, 1999, Tenneco Automotive began its first day of regular trading as an independent company, following completion of its strategic separation from Tenneco's packaging business now called Pactiv.
In 2003, Walker introduced SoundFX mufflers as a quality alternative muffler available for most popular domestic and import makes/models.
In 2004, the Walker Quiet-Flow 3 was introduced providing sophisticated internal routing for superior flow and premium OE-style sound.
In 2006, Walker extended its foreign-nameplate application coverage through its global Starla exhaust offering.
In 2007, Thrush introduced the Thrush Welded ( Two-Chamber ) performance muffler.
In 2008, DynoMax introduces 100% Stainless Steel Cat-Back performance exhaust systems.
Dynomax introduces the Ultra-Flo Welded SS ( Stainless Steel ) straight - through performance muffler in 2008.
In 2008, Walker improved upon its design of the Quiet-Flow muffler with the power of stainless steel. The improved Quiet-FlowSS has 100% structural stainless steel construction that will resist rust-out three times longer than premium aluminized mufflers.
January 1, 2009, Walker launched Walker CalCat converters specifically designed to comply with Carlifornia Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations.
In 2010, DynoMax introduced the revolutionary Dynomax VT performance muffler that delivers a throaty exhaust tone and drone-free performance.
In 2011, the Thrush brand turned up the heat with the release of the new Thrush Mad Hot performance mufflers.
In 2012, Walker released OE-style replacement Diesel Particulate Filters for late-model diesel-powered light trucks.
