Bell Equipment Company was founded in 1951 by Dorman Bell as the exclusive dealer for Elgin Sweeper Company in the State of Michigan. Soon thereafter, Bell was appointed as the Leach Refuse Equipment dealer and quickly became recognized as the premier municipal and refuse equipment house in Michigan. A small shop was opened in the City of Detroit, providing sales, service and parts support.
In 1965, Bell Equipment built a new facility in the City of Troy, Michigan, a suburb north of Detroit. At that time, Dorm's son, Jim, joined the company. Jim quickly moved up in the service, parts and sales ranks and eventually became the company's first Sales Manager.
Upon Dorm Bell's retirement in 1979, Jim became President and Owner of Bell Equipment. It should be noted that Dorm and Jim became the first father/son recipients of the Elgin/Leach George C. Dodge "Red Coat" award with Dorm receiving his in 1956 while Jim received his in 1983. Jim also was the first ever recipient of the prestigious Elgin Eagle Award in 1983.
Jim's son, Jimmy, joined the company in 1989 as an Outside Parts Sales Representative. Jimmy bought the company from his father in 2000 and now serves as the company's President and Sales Manager. This represents the third generation of Bell family ownership in the business. Jimmy’s brother, Dan, joined the company in 1999 and serves the company as Vice President and Outside Sales Representative. In 1996, Bell Equipment Company moved its main offices to a new 20,000 square foot sales, service and parts facility in Lake Orion, Michigan. The facility features eight drive through service bays, a machine shop and wash bay. The two-level parts room maintains an inventory of approximately $1,000,000 in replacement parts. A large outside yard allows for stocking all types of equipment available for rental or a quick delivery.
Today, Bell Equipment Company employs over thirty individuals with an average of 25 years experience in the industry. Bell Equipment Company represents over thirty different manufacturers of environmental equipment. Elgin Sweeper, Heil Company, Epoke North America, and Wausau-Everest are but a few of the quality manufacturers which are proudly represented. Bell’s territories include the Lower and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan, and the State of Ohio.
