Robinson, Noble & Saltbush, Inc. - A Brief History of Robinson, Noble & Saltbush

Robinson, Noble & Saltbush, Inc. Established 1947

Home

Help

	Company Information
	Insurance
	Project Management
	RNS History
	Saltbush Acquisition
	Saltbush History
	Staff Bios

Quick Links:

White Paper: So, You Want to Drill a Water Well…

The check-list in this white paper is intended to forewarn the novice groundwater user of the various requirements and pitfalls involved in getting from “I think I’ll drill me a well!” to “Wow, this water is good!”
[More - 190Kb pdf]

A Brief History of Robinson, Noble & Saltbush

The three founders of what is now Robinson, Noble & Saltbush, Inc. John Robinson, Fred Roberts, and John Noble all had similar professional starts, but came from very diverse backgrounds. All three graduated in Geology from the University of Washington, which was then known as a classical “hard-rock geology” school. All took a long time to get their degrees—John Robinson for economic reasons and Fred Roberts and John Noble due to military service. All then served as groundwater geologists in government service—Robinson to the U.S. Geological Survey and both Roberts and Noble to the old Washington State Division of Water Resources. All three became interested in the water well industry during those times.

Robinson left the USGS in 1947 to consult directly for the City of Tacoma in a major well drilling project. He soon formed a one-man consultancy to advise in the “scientific construction” of water wells. Roberts joined him in 1950 to develop a partnership. Noble joined them in 1964. The firm developed a clientele consisting mostly of industries, especially timber, and government agencies such as State Parks, Fish, and Architecture-Engineering. Public water districts also became major clients. In those days, most water well drilling was done without the benefit of any engineering or geotechnical advice. Business marketing was more involved with demonstrating the need for technical advice than the comparative quality of that advice.

In 1972, Roberts left the firm, having moved on to working with the United Nations, and Noble’s name went on the shingle to replace Roberts’. The company continued to provide the area’s leadership in water-well technology, and went into the growing areas of regional hydrogeological planning, permitting, and environmental studies. As the regional management of groundwater resources became both a practical and a regulatory issue, the firm expanded into the definition of groundwater resources. Regional resource management issues now comprise a substantial portion of the services provided to our customers. The company has consistently maintained itself with a basic focus on geology as the framework for its prime product: water.

The company enjoys a solid reputation in the groundwater field throughout the Northwest. Its members are proud to be an important part of that history.

-- John B. Noble

3011 South Huson Street, Suite A
Tacoma, WA 98409
Telephone: (253) 475-7711
Fax: (253) 472-5846
E-mail us