About General Wire Spring
About General Wire SpringDrain Cleaning Equipment
General Wire Spring Co. was founded in 1930 by Abe Silverman in a first-floor space in downtown Pittsburgh, originally to manufacture metal springs. Silverman began producing drain cleaning cables to expand his customer base among local plumbers, and in the 1940s he patented a process of wrapping spring wire tightly around a braided wire core, creating what he branded Flexicore cable for its superior strength, kink resistance, and flexibility.
Flexicore cable became the technological backbone of the company's drain cleaning business, now marketed under the General Pipe Cleaners product name. Silverman went on to develop the Sewerooter, the company's first power-driven drain cleaning machine, and subsequent generations expanded the lineup with hand-held cable machines, high-pressure water jetters, and integrated sewer camera and audio inspection systems for locating pipe damage and blockages.
Now a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer based in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, General Wire Spring continues to build drain cleaning machines around the same Flexicore cable principle introduced nearly a century ago. ChatMRO gives plumbing contractors and facility maintenance teams a faster path to General Wire Spring cables, cutter heads, and machine parts, matching exact model and cable gauge requirements against verified stock instead of manual distributor lookups.
Prefer a quick quote?
Get General Wire Spring Pricing in Your Inbox
Share the machine model, cable diameter, or cutter head you need and our team will confirm General Wire Spring availability and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded General Wire Spring and when?
General Wire Spring Co. was founded in 1930 by Abe Silverman in downtown Pittsburgh, originally as a maker of metal springs. He expanded into drain cleaning cables shortly after to serve local plumbers, which became the company's core business.
What is Flexicore cable?
Flexicore is General Wire Spring's patented drain cleaning cable, created in the 1940s by wrapping spring wire tightly around a braided wire core for added strength and kink resistance. It remains the foundational technology behind the company's entire line of drain cleaning cables today.
What is the Sewerooter?
The Sewerooter was General Wire Spring's first power-driven drain cleaning machine, developed by founder Abe Silverman following the success of the Flexicore cable. It established the category of motorized cable machines that the company's later product lines built upon.
Is General Wire Spring still family-owned?
Yes, General Wire Spring, marketed under the General Pipe Cleaners brand, is now a fourth-generation family-owned company. It remains headquartered in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania and marked its 95th anniversary in 2025.
Does General Wire Spring make anything besides cable machines?
Yes, beyond cable-based drain cleaners, the company manufactures high-pressure water jetters and integrated sewer camera and audio inspection systems. These additions let plumbers both clear blockages and visually diagnose pipe conditions with equipment from a single manufacturer.