In the 1950s, Boston area drummer Jack Adams opened Jack's Drumshop in Boston, and in 1956, Fred Maichle began hand-turning drum sticks for the shop, sometimes supplying custom drumsticks to musicians touring through the area, including Philly Joe Jones, Louie Bellson, and Buddy Rich.

In the late 1970s, the supply of popular Regal Tip drum sticks was disrupted by a labor dispute, so the family decided to rent lathe time locally to turn their own drumsticks for the store.

Then in the early 1980s, musical instrument distribution company Harris Fandell approached the Vater family to manufacture drum sticks, which were marketed under the Power Sonic Drumsticks brand.

Ron and Alan Vater began working with Vic Firth to design and manufacture drum sticks for the brand, after which they were approached by Zildjian, launching that company's line of drumsticks in 1986.

Vater expanded into manufacturing deals with Tama and Pearl, as well as private label drum sticks for distributors in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Australia, and New Zealand.