Acetylene Oxygen Co. of Harlingen, Texas, (www.aocweldingsupply.com) has acquired Bailey Oxygen and Tool Co. of Bryan and College Station, Texas.

Bailey Oxygen and Tool Co. is a 50-year-old, family-owned company with 22 employees and annual sales of more than $4 million.

Acetylene Oxygen Co. has been headquartered in Harlingen for more than 70 years.

Bert Wolf, President and chief executive officer of Acetylene Oxygen, said his company is the oldest and largest independent compressed gas and supply distributor in Texas.

Acetylene Oxygen has 23 Texas distribution branches, and two acetylene manufacturing facilities. It also owns South Texas Chlorine, a packager of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, anhydrous ammonia and other water treatment chemicals.

Acetylene Oxygen Company operates its branch locations under the name “AOC Welding Supply.