June 10, 2014 – The Marrette wire connector is what Kleenex is to facial tissue, and the iconic brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Congratulations! Meantime, Thomas & Betts is celebrating the milestone with an end user promotion and over $35,000 in prizes. But first, a little history…

At the turn of the last century, Bill P. Marr was employed as an electrician by the T. Eaton Company converting gas-lit homes to electrical incandescent lighting for Ontario Hydro. Convinced there had to be a safer and more efficient way to connect wires than the accepted method of ‘solder and tape’, he worked in his basement workshop to invent an alternative.

In 1914, he introduced the first pressure-type wire connector, which was the forerunner to the modern twist-on wire connector and the foundation of the Marr Group company. So successful was this invention and subsequent new products, that the Marrette trademark went on to become synonymous with ‘wire connectors’ in the trade’s lexicon.

In 1997, Thomas & Betts acquired the Marr Group and the Marrette brand name. Today, Marrette wire connectors are still made in Canada at T&B’s Pointe-Claire, Que., facility.

Now the fun part…

To celebrate, end users who purchase specially marked Marrette 833M Flip-Pak containers at participating electrical distributors until September 30, 2014, can enter online for a chance to win one of 106 VISA gift cards. Five random draws to determine winners will be held from June to October 2014 to determine winners of $100, $1000 or $20,000 gift cards. Visit T&B’s Promotions Page for complete details.