In 1880, Lester A. Pelton (1831-1908), patented (#233,692) a water wheel based on the splitter principle. He developed the Pelton Turbine, first in Camptonville, CA in 1878 and then at a foundry in Nevada City, CA. He then moved to San Francisco, CA, where he partnered with A. P. Brayton, to establish the Pelton Water Wheel Co. in 1888.
In 1956, the company was acquired by the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Co., which discontinued the manufacture of Pelton Water Wheels.
The company manufactured water wheels and power transmitting machinery for a variety of industrial uses.
Information Sources