Until the late 1800's, most railroads used the link and pin coupler. This consisted of a large metal link which looped around a removable pin. Although the coupler was easy to manufacture, it was often responsible for train wrecks when one would break. The coupler was also very dangerous to operate. When dropping the pin in place, there was the danger of catching a finger in the connecting slot, or simply being crushed by the approaching car.

A number of new couplers were designed to replace the link and pin system. In 1887, the Master Car Builders Association selected the Janney Automatic Coupler, invented by Eli H. Janney in 1873, over 40 other designs as a standard design for the railroad industry. On March 3, 1893, President Benjamin Harrison signed the Safety Appliance Act, which made automatic couplers and air brakes mandatory on all trains.

The Janney coupler was manufactured by McConway & Torley in Pittsburgh. The McConway & Torley Group continues to operate as the "world-leading manufacturer of standard couplers and rail car connecting systems in the world". Manufacturing operations remain at the location of the original Pittsburgh foundry, and also at Kutztown, Pennsylvania.