About American Ring & Tool
American Ring & Tool Retaining Rings
American Ring & Tool Company's roots trace back to founder Robert L. Morrissey, who entered the fastener industry during World War II and later started R.L. Morrissey & Associates in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1957, operating as a manufacturer's representative for standard fastener companies. That representative relationship led to an agreement with Anderton International of Bingley, West Yorkshire, England — a manufacturer of retaining rings and Belleville disc springs — which set the stage for American Ring & Tool's founding in 1976.
The company established its warehouse and offices in Highland Heights, Ohio, and in 1979 signed a Master Stockist Agreement with Spirolox Retaining Ring, a division of TRW Inc., becoming an authorized stockist of the distinctive spiral-wound retaining ring design. Growth continued through strategic acquisitions: Precision Ring Corp.'s ring coiling machines, heat-treat furnaces, and wire drawing lines in 1990, followed by Ringmasters LLC (formerly Eaton Retaining Ring) in 2017 and S&M Retaining Ring's tapered-section inch, metric, and milspec retaining ring assets in 2018.
American Ring celebrated its 50th anniversary in January 2026, marking five decades built on solving customers' fastening and retention challenges across standard and custom retaining ring designs. ChatMRO helps mechanical and maintenance engineers match groove diameter, ring style, and material against the American Ring & Tool catalog, and our team supports RFQ submissions for standard-catalog or custom-manufactured orders.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a standard retaining ring and a Spirolox spiral-wound ring?
Standard retaining rings are typically a single stamped piece with a split gap and prong holes for installation, while Spirolox spiral-wound rings are coiled from flat wire into multiple turns, eliminating sharp prongs and gaps for a smoother, more uniform groove engagement. Spirolox rings are often chosen where a conventional ring's gap or prongs would interfere with a mating part.
Does American Ring & Tool supply Belleville disc springs as well as retaining rings?
Yes — Belleville disc springs have been part of the product line since the company's origins in representing Anderton International, a UK manufacturer of both retaining rings and disc springs. These conical washers are used for load distribution, vibration dampening, and preload applications in bolted assemblies.
Can American Ring & Tool manufacture custom retaining ring sizes?
Yes — beyond its standard catalog, the company offers custom retaining ring manufacturing, supported by ring coiling machines, heat-treat furnaces, and wire drawing equipment acquired through its Precision Ring Corp. acquisition in 1990. Provide your groove diameter and load requirements for a custom quote.
What's the difference between inch, metric, and milspec retaining rings?
Inch and metric retaining rings are sized to different dimensional standards for groove diameters and thicknesses, while milspec rings meet specific military specification tolerances and material requirements. American Ring & Tool's 2018 acquisition of S&M Retaining Ring specifically added tapered-section rings across all three standards.
How do I find the right American Ring & Tool retaining ring without an exact part number?
Describe the groove diameter, whether you need an internal or external ring, and the material (carbon steel, stainless, or spring steel), and ChatMRO's AI will match it against the indexed American Ring & Tool catalog. This is especially useful for maintenance teams replacing a retaining ring in older machinery without the original part number.