R A Mitchell Co Inc

R A Mitchell sells, installs and services diesel engines and generator systems out of Popes Island in New Bedford — marine, industrial and residential. The homeowner-facing half of that is standby power: whole-house generators, transfer switches, pumps, and the parts and service behind them. The company's roots are in the fishing fleet. Its own account has Robert A. Mitchell starting the business in 1954 selling Lister engines to fishermen, with the family's fourth generation running it now; the site names Jennifer DeMello as owner and describes the company as woman-owned. Both of those are backed by the state — the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office confirms Women Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certifications under number 20130155 — though the WBE entry carries an expiry date of 26 September 2026, so ask whether it has been renewed. Customers write mostly about depth of stock and the service counter. A 2024 reviewer had a 20kW generator installed at home and said the sales team kept its promise to finish on time, correctly and safely, calling the service team prompt and knowledgeable. Another 2024 account praises the parts department for having what is needed in stock most of the time. A 2021 customer who had bought a backup generator years earlier reported it running flawlessly through several storms that took out power. A 2021 review credits Mike Oliveira with cleaning up water-cooled exhaust manifolds off a Detroit Diesel 8V71 — a reminder that much of what comes through the door is heavier than house wiring. Not everyone left satisfied. A 2021 reviewer looking for a generator fuel switch said nobody even looked at the part, and left two stars. Two things to square before buying. The website claims 72 years in business and a 1954 founding while the BBB profile records a start date of 9 September 1966 and 59 years. That BBB profile is unrated — the Bureau says it lacks sufficient information — rather than badly rated, and the dealer relationships the site lists for John Deere, Kohler, Winco and Stateline are the company's own statements. For a South Coast homeowner pricing a whole-house standby generator, this is a long-established dealer with its own parts and service operation rather than an installer who subcontracts the after-care. Ask for the installed price with transfer switch and permits included, and what an annual service visit costs.