Our History

1956

Faria Beede Instruments, Inc. has been manufacturing world-class instrumentation in Uncasville, CT for over 75 years. Founded in 1956 as the Thomas G. Faria Corporation, the company began with a focus on tachometers for the marine and automotive industries and has since evolved into a global provider of analog and digital engine monitoring solutions across a wide range of markets.

1956

1960’S

In the early 1960s, Faria Instruments partnered with Ford Motor Company to produce tachometers, beginning with the Comet Rally Pack and Falcon Sprint. This collaboration soon expanded to include iconic vehicles like the Mustang and the legendary Shelby Cobra. During this time, Faria also supplied tachometers to major automotive brands including Volkswagen of America and Chrysler Corporation. Recognized for its commitment to quality and performance, Faria was honored with the prestigious Ford Q1 Award—reserved for top suppliers demonstrating consistent excellence and customer satisfaction.

1960’S

1970’S

By the late 1970s, Faria’s reputation for durability and reliability attracted a growing list of equipment manufacturers. Industry leaders such as Caterpillar, Allis-Chalmers, International Harvester, and Bobcat—as well as stationary power and gen-set manufacturers—relied on Faria instruments to perform in the most demanding environments.
Built to withstand harsh conditions, Faria’s gauges became the trusted choice for those who needed rugged, dependable instrumentation.

1970’S

1980’S

In the 1980s, Faria became a key instrumentation supplier to the U.S. military, earning a reputation for precision and reliability. The company is proud to be one of the few to receive the prestigious ABVM Gold Supplier Award for seven consecutive years—recognizing outstanding performance in on-time delivery and quality.
While this honor reflects our commitment to excellence, quality has always been the foundation of everything we do.

1980’S

1986

In 1986 Faria entered the marine market with their first large account, Bayliner.

1986

1990

In the 1990s, Faria pioneered the first programmable electronic speedometer for motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles—becoming a key supplier to industry leaders like Harley-Davidson and Polaris. Around the same time, we expanded into the recreational boating market, applying our expertise in precision instrumentation to the marine industry.

Today, Faria remains the leading supplier of instruments for recreational boats, setting the standard for performance and reliability on the water.

1990

1997

In 1997, the Thomas G. Faria Corporation achieved ISO 9001 certification, underscoring our commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
Today, we carry that commitment forward—integrating advanced technologies to meet evolving customer needs and delivering reliable, innovative products across every market we serve.

1997

2008

In 2008, Faria helped pioneer the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) into the maritime, oil & gas, and mining industries as a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) service provider.

At the forefront of this innovation was the WatchDog—a rugged communications transmitter utilizing Iridium® Satellite, GSM, and Wi-Fi technology to keep critical operations connected, even in the most remote environments.

2008

2016

Fred Merritt acquired Faria Beede Instruments, and under his ownership, the company has invested in modern engineering systems and strengthened its manufacturing capabilities.

2016

2020

Riverside and Faria Beede have integrated their product lines, combining strengths to deliver a unified portfolio of advanced instrumentation and electronics.

2020

PRESENT

We design and manufacture our own ultra-rugged hardware, field-proven in some of the harshest environments on Earth—from Alaska’s North Slope to the Antarctic Ocean. Supporting a wide range of industry protocols—including GPS, CANbus, Modbus, J1939, NMEA 2000, and RFID—our solutions enable seamless data capture across diverse applications.

Our customizable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform offers robust monitoring, control, and data management capabilities. With a web-based interface, users gain real-time insights into engine performance, operator logbooks, and sensor data—powered by intelligent alerts and analytics.

From individual workers and drilling rigs to supply boats, fishing vessels, mining equipment, and even trains, Faria’s technology delivers real-time visibility and connectivity for remote assets—anywhere in the world.

PRESENT