Dresser Roots is the longest continuously run manufacturer of rotary positive displacement blowers in the United States. In 1854, Francis and Philander Roots, woolen mill owners in Connersville, Ind., stumbled upon the principles that drive the rotary positive displacement concept. The Roots brothers attempts to improve efficiency in their mill's power system failed as the wood lobe impellers water wheel warped and jammed when put to use. In the course of investigating the problem on dry land, one of the brothers turned a shaft and rotated the pair of impellers. The impellers produced a large wind force blowing off his brother's hat. At that point, the brothers decided that they had a better blower than water wheel. Thus, the blower concept and the company was created. In 1998, the company merged with Halliburton. During 2001, Dresser Equipment Group separated from Halliburton through a management buy-out to form Dresser Roots.