The electrical laboratory that bears his name was founded by the late Charles O. Nilsson in 1919 at 563 Fairview Avenue in Brooklyn. At this time, while still a young man, he severed his connection with the Brooklyn Navy Yard where he had repaired instruments for the previous 4 years.

Being of an inventive turn of mind, he set up a laboratory for experimental work. There he puttered around for about a year with several items, among them being a safety clip for stickpins, a new alloy substitute for iridium on fountain pen tips, and a white paint for old golfballs.

None of these attempts were particularly successful, so he seized upon an opportunity presented during a meeting with a friend. In the course of their conversation it was brought out that the Independent Wireless Telegraph Co. was experiencing difficulty in obtaining satisfactory electrical instrument repair service. Since they serviced ship wireless telegraph installations, their prime requisite was rapid repair service. Instrument manufacturers could not supply this, so the friend suggested that Mr. Nilsson handle the work.

That day saw the birth of the Nilsson electrical instrument repair service which has grown and provided the basic knowledge for a unique manufacturing establishment. Such customers as Shipowners Wireless Telegraph, RadiomarineCorp., and Mackay Radio followed along until, in 1922, Mr. Nilsson was forced to find larger quarters. He moved his laboratory to a bigger location in Brooklyn.

The Nilsson business and reputation grew, and in 1928 the opportunity was presented to form an association with an instrument manufacturer as an authorized repair representative.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nilsson had been dabbling in a host of projects such as a device for regulating the flow of gas to a carburetor and a wireless telegraph set among others. During most of these years his son, Henry O. Nilsson, had been closely associated with his father, and learning his business. In 1936, the elder Mr. Nilsson passed away, and the business was incorporated under its present name with the son as its president.

While continuing to operate as a meter repair shop, it was soon apparent, from customer inquiries, that an opportunity existed for the establishment of the present manufacturing service. This was started in 1938, and since then many customers who have availed themselves of the repair service, came to Nilsson requesting the building of instruments or special devices.

During the Second World War, many projects were undertaken for the Government and the Army including high power amplifiers, component testers, and radio direction finding instruments.

After the war the company returned to its previous work, and also became a distributor of all types of electrical instruments. We were recognized as the people to call for all types of instrument requirements. We could supply almost any stock instrument, or design an instrument for any custom requirement.

In the early 1970's, Nilsson became involved in the design and manufacture of instruments for the Cathodic Protection industry. We developed a series of units including Pipe & Cable Locators, Soil Resistivity Meters, and Current Interrupters.

In 1957, Charles O. Nilsson's grand son, L. Richard Kopp came to work for the Company. He took over as President upon Henry Nilsson's retirement in 1976. We continued to build our line of Cathodic Protection instruments which are now sold around the world. The major distributors in the cathodic protection field carry our products.

In 1959, John E. Brown joined the company and became President in 1997 upon Richard Kopp's retirement. The Company moved to its present location at 333 West Side Ave. in Jersey City in 1998. the Company continues to concentrate on our Cathodic Protection instruments and can supply any standard or custom instruments required.