The Mechanical Seal was invented by a man named George Cook and the seal he invented was called a "Cook Seal." He also founded the Cook Seal Company. Cook´s seal (which actually did not have a means of drive) was first used in refreigeration compressors.

The Cook Seal company was a sideline product for Cook and he sold the company to Muskegon Piston Ring Company where it was renamed as The Rotary Seal Division of Muskegon Piston Ring Co. Muskegon Piston Ring sold the Rotary Seal Division to EG&G Sealol who in turn was largely aquired by John Crane Industries of Morton Grove, IL. John Crane had been in the Mechanical seal business for many years prior to this aquisition and in fact had long since exceeded Sealol in overall market size. Today, Smith´s main competitor is Flowserve.

In 1990 the world market for Mechanical Seals was estimated at $1 billion.