Ole Bardahl was a Norwegian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1922. In 1939, he began his business and bought a small chemical company (the beginning of Bardahl). He had a small manufacturing plant in Ballard, a small community of Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish immigrants. He personally oversaw the entire operation from operating blending tanks, serving as salesman, shipping clerk and canning machine operator. The company he bought had a number of cleaners and one oil product. Ole Bardahl was a man of vision quickly realizing the potential of his oil additive.

Ole Bardahl died in August of 1989. Bardahl Manufacturing Corporation corporate offices are still located in Ballard (Seattle) and the company is still run by the Bardahl family with Evelyn Bardahl McNeil, as Chairman.