Claire Simmons and Carl White established Auto Crane Company in 1958 to manufacture a small crane designed to handle rock bits for Hughes Tool Company. The Auto Crane name evolved from the fact the cranes were originally placed inside the trunks of automobiles. In 1972, the Noble family of Ardmore, Oklahoma, following the death of Carl White, purchased Auto Crane. The Nobles, in turn, sold the company to Ramsey Industries in 1983. William Ramsey became Chairman of the Board and Joe E. Henry became President. In 1999, Weiss, Peck and Greer, along with former Insilco Corporation COO, Robert Heffron, purchased Ramsey Industries. Today, Bob Heffron is President of Ramsey Industries and Bruce Barron is President of Auto Crane. Under this current leadership, a new focus on product development and customer relationships has emerged, strengthening Auto Crane's market leadership position.