Air compressors have been around for quite some time- well over 100 years, and this is mostly thanks to the Jenny company, which we'll cover in a little bit. They are practically indispensable for home or worksite projects. They save time and money, and are longer-lasting and more powerful than their standard electric or battery-powered counterparts. Air compressors increase the pressure and reduce the volume of air, and use that pressure to operate air tools. Air tools are commonly used in almost every area, from home improvement to dairy farming to aircraft and automobiles. Piston, or reciprocating, compressors are available in two main configurations- single stage and two stage. Single stage units draw in air and compress it to its final pressure in a single stroke (hence the "single stage" designation).Single stagers draw in air and compress it with each rotation, so the CFM rating is generally higher. Two stage compressors are similar, except that they do the compressing in 2 steps (very creative nomenclature, as you can tell). There are a few important things to know before buying an air compressor. First, you need to determine the maximum required CFM usage, which is the amount of power you will be requiring the unit to provide. You'll also need to know the maximum required operating pressure, which will determine whether you'll need a single stage or two stage compressor. There is also the choice between portable or stationary units; will you need to be able to move it around or will it be mostly in the same spot? The higher the pressure and volume, the heavier and larger the unit will be, so if you need a lot of power, chances are you will be looking mainly at stationary units. No matter what size and pressure you're looking for, you'll find it at Jenny. Jenny Air Compressors has a long history of quality service and innovation. It all began back in the 1870's, and in 1892 was incorporated as Homestead Valve Manufacturing Company in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. Naturally, they weren't making air compressors back then, but they were pretty well respected in the steel industry. Just a reminder, the 1870's were around 140 years ago. The United States was going through the Reconstruction after the Civil War, the telephone and light bulb were invented, and the Gilded Age and all of its trappings were at the height of their life. Homestead Valve Manufacturing Company had a lot of company in its rise, as it was smack dab in the middle of the Industrial Revolution. For a company like Jenny to result from this explosion of industry, factories and products shows exactly what kind of a company it is- committed, quality, and enduring. In 1927, Jenny (now actually named Jenny) introduced the steam cleaner, and single-company-edly revolutionized the cleaning industry. It reduced the amount of time and labor required to clean tough dirt, grease and equipment. Their next big project was the first positive displacement triplex pump with an oil-bath crankcase for steam cleaners. Today, triplex pumps are still in use, and are a vital component of all pressure washers. Always one step ahead of the game, in the 1950's, Jenny started the self-service car wash system. Though the customer service of the day meant this invention did not get a whole lot of use, it was obviously a very forward-thinking move that is characteristic of the company. In 1992, Jenny was purchased from Homestead Industries by Peter Leiss and relocated to Somerset, Pennsylvania, and six years later, the Davey Compressor Company joined with Jenny. Davey designed the world's first portable, air-cooled air compressor in the late 1920's, and their cutting edge technology as well as company longevity combined with Jenny results in one of the top compressor producers in the world. Obviously not content with resting on their laurels, Jenny purchased the Emglo line of Industrial Stationary air compressors [http://www.durableaircompressors.com] as well as the pump manufacturing facility from Black&Decker in 2003. Today, Jenny offers a large line of air compressors [http://www.durableaircompressors.com] - hand carry, single and two-stage wheeled portable, service vehicle, industrial stationary, base plated mounted, climate control and fire sprinkler. No matter what size and power of air compressor you need, Jenny is sure to have the perfect thing. With over one hundred years of experience, their products are reliable and quality.