Fascinating read! When I think of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) industry history, I think of beer! In fact, it might be time for one as I just brought in a couple of pizzas.
I was at the Miller event on Friday ( boy was it hot!) the Sesco display was great, makes me want to plan a trip to the museum. The Garwood boat belongs to Dana Mecum (along with the six Indy cars he brought to the event) The boat was impressive and the engines were unbelievable. I did notice that there was no V drives and other items needed for them to actually run. Did you see the size of the superchargers that could be installed on the Miller V16’s? I’ll be there next year.
Just found Flambeau Outboard Engines by Metal Products Corp. 245 E Keefe, Milwaukee Made for a few years after the war.
Great lineup. I like Wisconsin, it lets me do almost everything I would do in Michigan. Without having to go to Michigan. New Glarus is an added bonus.
Got another one! Merkel. The Motor Cycle guy started as a draftsman with EP Allis (think Allis Chalmers) and started building engines for his bikes, they had ball bearings on the crank. Started in 1902 & in 1908, moved to Penn. He also developed the springer fork.
No one has mentioned RaJo. Made in Racine, Wisconsin OHV conversions for Model T’s and many other automotive performance products. https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2015/01/headmaster-jagersberger-converting-flatheads-ohv-engines/
The Mitchell description belongs to the car posted last. The Mitchell building still stands. Its now condos. Its across the street from the police and fire station on the south side. These cars were on display at the Racine County Fair. Courtesy of the Racine museum.
Mitchell also made motorcycles. I have never seen one in person. There are rumors of one in milwaukee.
Great photos and history lessons. I wish we could see more of this type of thing. Thanks for posting.
Are you talking about the 2 stroke OP 8.125"? There were gas versions and the extra hole in the nozzle was water but a cooling passage. They called them gas or gassers, but it was nat gas.
here's another engine for the books....https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rare-midget-engine-info-needed.319043/#post-3413780
Not in my opinion. Milwaukee/Wisconsin, Chicago/Illinois, Detroit /Michigan was considered the Machine shop of the world till the 1960's 70's, the Major manufacturing hub. The decline was on it's way due to foreign competition, look how the auto industry has changed, Detroit was caught with their pants down producing poor products/service. I was/am a loyal GM customer all my life and will say they sold me a Lot of Junk, I still buy american cars, slow learner on this subject but it's the only area I can buy an USA manufactured item, just about Everything we buy today and in the last 20/50 years is produced off shore. I owned /operated a small Tool & Die/Pattern Shop for 36 years, in the trades my entire adult life to my retirement, the trades were good to me, state or federal taxes were never the problem.
I'll still hold to Wisconsin high rate of taxation.....along with aging facilities businesses were unwilling to capitalize in order to update. I'll agree with going offshore. While we want to promote U.S. made goods ,we lose sight of the fact that the cost of U.S. labor and hobbling government regulations hinder the ability to compete in a global marketplace. When a company can outsource a product off shore and ship to the U.S. and still make a profit says a lot. When component elements of a product can be manufactured in several locales,then shipped to a central assembly facility,packaged ,and shipped...and still turning a profit....something is wrong. Now let's consider the investment aspect. So, we have investors who demand a return on their money....and they say how can we still have a return in the U.S.?
The Jalopy Journal
