HISTORY OF CHESAPEAKE RIM & WHEEL – R.W. NORRIS & SONS, INC.
1850 to 2002
By Ralph (Bo) Willis
  Chesapeake Rim & Wheel Distributors was founded March 12, 1962 by Ralph Norris Willis.
Prior to that, he was the fifth generation to enter the family business R.W. Norris & Sons of Baltimore, Maryland, one the original members of the National Wheel & Rim Association.
  The Norris Company was founded in the year 1850 by Mr. Willis’ great, great grandfather, and operated continuously by the Norris family until 1962.
  During the 1800’s the horse and wagon dominated the overland transportation picture and R.W. Norris & Sons was a supplier of just about all the component parts necessary to build a wagon or carriage. This included such parts as wooden wheels, spokes, lanterns, interior trim, upholstery, and carriage hardware. With the advent of the “horseless carriage” in the early 1900’s the step was taken to enter the automotive parts business then in it’s infancy.
  During the 1920’s and 1930’s the automotive business grew steadily, but it was not until the late 1940’s that the last of the carriage component parts were finally liquidated. At this point, the Norris Company was operating in nine warehouse locations and was recognized as the largest automotive wholesaler in the state of Maryland.
  By the early 1960’s the management team of R.W. Norris & Sons was devastated by the death of two of it’s three principals. With careful consideration, the decision was made to liquidate the 112- year-old firm.
  A new company (Chesapeake Rim & Wheel) was started as a specialized wheel and rim
distributor. The original investors were Ralph Norris Willis and his mother Katherine Norris Willis who reinvested their interest from the old company. Many of Norris’ personnel went to work with Chesapeake. They moved into a rented warehouse on Pulaski Highway while construction was planned on a new building completed in April of 1964 at 1211 68th Street, Baltimore, Maryland. This continues to remain the corporation’s home office.
  In July of 1967 a first branch warehouse was opened in Landover, Maryland on the Capitol
Beltway near Washington D.C. As our company name implies, we have attempted to service the Chesapeake Bay Region, and in an effort to supply the southern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay another branch warehouse was opened in Norfolk, Virginia in November of 1971.
  Through the years, Chesapeake Rim & Wheel has acquired several other allied businesses. In
1972 Dixie Wheel Company of Richmond, Virginia was acquired. In 1982, Brake and Equipment Co. with locations in Wilmington, Delaware and Salisbury, Maryland was acquired. In January of 1998 Standard Wheel & Rim Company with locations in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Allentown, Pennsylvania was acquired. Additionally Roanoke, Virginia was opened in 1979, Jessup, Maryland in 1994 and Hagerstown, Maryland in 1999. Today we operate from ten locations in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware & Pennsylvania. In 1996 Chesapeake Rim & Wheel changed its name to CRW Parts, Inc. in an effort to more accurately relate to the wider coverage of parts that we offered. The company continues to operate as a specialized two-step distributor for passenger cars and heavy duty trucks.
  David Norris Willis is the current President of CRW Parts, Inc. and represents the sixth
consecutive generation to be active in the business. We are blessed with an outstanding group of twelve managers who have roughly 225 years experience with CRW and an additional 85 years with other aftermarket companies. The average age of the group is 46 years old. Their metal has been severely tested in the last couple of years and they have responded with great dedication, energy, sacrifice and teamwork. They are without doubt the strongest asset we have and the best team we have ever assembled.
  It is always difficult to predict the future but we are optimistic in the outlook for the future of
our business, provided we listen to the needs of our customers and work to efficiently serve those needs.
Copyright 2007 CRW Parts, Inc