Robblee’s Total Security Inc., a Washington state full-service, residential, commercial and industrial security company, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. 

The company began in 1913, founded as J.A Robblee & Company by James A. Robblee and his brothers in a shop that sold and repaired tires for bicycles, and an exciting new invention — the automobile. In 1918, William A. Robblee, a locksmith, joined his five brothers, beginning a safe and lock division. The business continued to grow and in 1947, right after WWII, William H. and his son-in-law Thomas H. Patterson bought out the safe and lock division so it could more efficiently serve within the budding security industry. 

“Even a hundred years ago, the company was ahead of its time,” said Jim Patterson, president of Robblee’s. “From the beginning, the company was willing to be forward thinking and flexible. We’ve been able to evolve as the security landscape has evolved.”

Their history includes securing everything from bank safes to speakeasies during Prohibition. More impressive, however, is how the company weathered time, surviving world events including five major wars and the Great Depression. Robblee’s survived and thrived because it was preparing for today’s physical security industry from its inception, the company described, moving into access control and video surveillance in the 1980s.

“It takes more than resilience to survive more than a century. It isn’t just drive. In the physical security space especially, it takes a willingness to change and adapt. Hold on to your values. Hold onto your work ethic. But let go of what doesn’t work and embrace the things in your space that do,” Patterson advised others within the physical security industry. 

Patterson further recommended doing all you can to stay relevant. 

“To stay strong for the long-term, you need to stay relevant. Continue to learn every aspect of the industry. Follow every new and promising technology and know it all well. Additionally, stay on top of your branding, leveraging your established name to incorporate new facets of your business. That has been the key to our success in the security industry.”

Today, Robblee’s Total Security is in its fourth generation of brothers running the business and devoted to meeting marketplace needs.