J.W. Speaker specializes in LED & other emerging lighting technologies. The brand proudly designs, makes, and assembles its products in Germantown, Wisconsin.
J.W. Speaker recognizes that in order to be the best, it must remain focused on developing innovative and high-quality vehicle lighting solutions that are second-to-none. J.W. Speaker understands the need to constantly explore new and emerging technologies with the goal of providing better performance for the OEM and aftermarket customers. J.W. Speaker is Driven. To See More.
“J.W. Speaker’s excellent LED headlamps and auxiliary lamps are a joy to drive with in good and bad weather alike, and they keep getting better and better with each revision. They’re well-designed and thoughtfully-engineered with well-formed and -focused photometrics, and the build and materials quality are A1.”
— Daniel Stern, General Editor, DrivingVisionNews.com
“After seeing the difference that J.W. Speaker lights could offer, I decided to bring them in and sell them. As soon as we sold the first set, the word spread that these lights were amazing! It’s so nice to sell a quality product that is made in the USA and see the reaction of customers when they come back in raving about them.”
— Jim Oostdyk, Owner, OK Auto, 4WD and Tire
We’re celebrating our 80th anniversary in July 2015! J.W. Speaker Corporation was established July 9th, 1935 by John W. Speaker initially manufacturing tire repair kits. Today, 80 years later, J.W. Speaker is proud to specialize in vehicle lighting solutions for OEMs and aftermarket applications!
80 years ago, John W. Speaker founded the J.W. Speaker Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a maker of automotive repair parts. The company offered radiator fronts, car mirrors, repair kits, and automotive lighting.
The automotive market has changed dramatically over the past 80 years. Today, J.W. Speaker Corporation is still a family-run business and is led by John’s grandsons, Tim and Jamie Speaker. J.W. Speaker has evolved into a major lighting manufacturer specializing in quality lighting products for OEMs and aftermarket customers around the world. The company now serves a variety of industries, including agriculture, construction, off-road, mining, motorcycle, recreation, and aviation markets.
Success is derived from putting the customers’ needs first, continually focusing on new and emerging technologies alongside quality production. J.W. Speaker has progressed from small parts automotive maker into a global maker of cutting-edge lighting technology.
J.W. Speaker is no stranger to change. In the early 1940’s, J.W. Speaker started to make the Heatab® miniature portable stove and the P-38 GI can opener. These were simple tools that assisted soldiers in the field and were widely used during World War II. After the war was over, the Heatab stove and P-38 can opener were still used by the U.S. military, but the company shifted focus back to the automotive market.
Heatab miniature portable stove
P-38 GI can opener
In 1960, under the leadership of John’s son Jack, J.W. Speaker shifted to support original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicular lighting, like Harley-Davidson. The company also started to expand the product offering outside of the automotive markets and started to include lighting for lawn & garden and golf & turf tractors, supporting John Deere.
As LED lighting started to shine, the company continued to evolve by investing in new LED technology and focusing on the aftermarket. Now serving both OEM and aftermarket customers, J.W. Speaker takes pride in meeting the unique needs of both large manufacturers and end users, by providing innovative and high-quality lighting products. At J.W. Speaker, they are committed to continually evolving to meet the needs of their customers, just as they’ve done for the past 80 years.