About

About The Founder

The Pete's Plug® Legacy

In 1965, Charles "Pete" D. Peterson, Jr. invented a device to help utility people quickly take pressure readings. With the support of his wife, Bonnie, and children, he decided to become an entrepreneur to fulfill a need in the natural gas and HVAC industry. Pete started designing and manufacturing the plugs in his garage and ran the business from a small table in his master bedroom. The business quickly grew and in 1969 Pete formed his own company, Peterson Equipment Co., Inc. to design, develop, and produce pressure and temperature test plugs.

Pete's inventions include the most popular pressure and temperature reading plugs used today with a ¼” NPT brass housing. This Pete's Plug® allows for the use of a 1/8″ diameter pressure needle to be used without becoming bent or clogged like other standard needles. Importantly, the Pete’s Plug® also has two self closing valves for rapid sealing upon removal of the needle or temperature probe. A second plug was developed with a ½” NPT housing that would allow pressure & temperature readings using a bi-metal thermometer. Pete strengthened his original design with a simple but important feature of a rubber strap to keep the plug cap attached to the plug body for easier and longer use out in the field. The Pete's Plug® is offered in brass and stainless steal with nordel and neoprene.

The Pete’s Plug® is used by the Natural Gas & Hydronic Industries as well as in numerous other applications. Thank you in part to our wonderful sales representatives around the world, the sales of the Pete’s Plug® are over 40 Million units in the last 56+ years and is the standard pressure or temperature test plug used by many companies and industries throughout the world. Today, the Pete's Plug® and all Peterson Equipment Co., Inc.'s products are manufactured by hand. The products are produced in the United States of America. Our main plant is located in Houston, Texas. Pete's company is still a family owned and operated business, lead by two of his grandchildren, Amanda (President & CEO) and John (Vice President & Chief Operations Officer).

Measure temperature and pressure without leaving costly gauges on the line.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Pete’s Plug® has two self-closing valves that improve the speed of valve closure.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Pete’s Plug® has two self-closing valves that improve the speed of valve closure.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

LEGACY

Amanda Lipscomb and John Lipscomb

This powerhouse brother-sister duo is celebrating over nine years of carrying forward their grandfather’s enduring legacy.

Amanda, our President and CEO, follows in the footsteps of her grandparents as an alum of Southern Methodist University. A specialist in business communications and conflict resolution, she brings visionary leadership and strategic expertise to the company.

John, our Vice President and COO, inherited his grandfather’s keen business and engineering acumen. With a sharp operational mindset, he ensures efficiency, innovation, and excellence in every aspect of the business.

Together, they are an unstoppable force—driven, dedicated, and lifelong learners. Their passion extends beyond business; they share a love for traveling, cooking, and cherishing time with family and friends.

With a bold vision for growth and expansion, Amanda and John are committed to preserving superior quality while propelling Peterson Equipment Co., Inc. and the Pete’s Plug® brand into the future—ensuring its legacy thrives for generations to come.

Click to learn more about our legacy in an interview with Shoutout HTX

Fun FactS

Pete drew our logo himself many years ago.

In 2016, Amanda took her grandfather's logo and established it as the recognizable brand to honor Pete. The logo is featured on our sign outside our office building, on every box and label, blown up large inside our office, as a coloring book page for Pete's great-grandsons, a tattoo on John (COO), and on many fun swag items. Our team affectionately calls the cartoon character - Little Petey. We are proud that it is a registered trademark, too!

We're Still Hip and Cool.

We're expanding internally by the size of our team and plant square footage. We're also expanding our product offerings to meet the needs of people around the world.

We've listened to our customers and met their needs for more sizes and materials. We now offer more than

44 products in a combination between various sizes, threads, capabilities, and materials.

More products are in the works.

We're on social media and not just in the textbooks. We're training younger technicians, field representatives, OEMs, sales representatives, and students. Our mission is to continue the family legacy of maintaining superior high quality while helping people. We are here to educate and provide products to people that help them remain safe on the line and have the highest efficiency in temperature and pressure testing with Pete's Plugs®. We're working hard to stay accessible for the fourth generation and beyond of Pete's Plug® customers.

Stay tuned for more information and updates on

our Instagram @PetesPlug.

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About the Pete's Plug®

USA Made & Manufactured.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

Family Owned & Operated since 1969.

56+ Years of the Same High Quality.

Family Owned & Operated since 1969.

About The Founder

The Pete's Plug® Legacy

Measure temperature and pressure without leaving costly gauges on the line.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Pete’s Plug® has two self-closing valves that improve the speed of valve closure.

Pete’s Plug® has two self-closing valves that improve the speed of valve closure.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Pete’s Plug® has two self-closing valves that improve the speed of valve closure.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

Available in various thread sizes, lengths, and materials suitable for all applications.

LEGACY

Amanda Lipscomb and John Lipscomb

Fun FactS

Pete drew our logo himself many years ago.

We're Still Hip and Cool.