A detailed history of Racine’s J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, tracing its rise from Jerome I. Case’s first threshing machines in the 1840s to a global industrial leader by 1916. The article highlights the company’s innovations in agricultural machinery, expansive Racine plant, worldwide sales network, quality-control laboratory, employee benefits, fire protection, and the famous Old Abe trade symbol.
The Racine Puttyless Window Company, one of the recent additions to the business circles of Racine, was organized in 1914, at which time Gustave Bahnemann was chosen president, with Walter S. Goodland, secretary and treasurer, and Dr. J. S. Beech as vice president. There has been no change in the personnel of the firm since that time. The business is conducted at No. 1117 Main street, where they occupy a building two hundred by one hundred and fifteen feet and two stories in height with a four story factory on the west side of the street that is fifty by … Read more
The Junction Hardware Company of Racine, now run by brothers Frederick T. and William G. Maxted, traces its roots to their father’s hardware business founded in 1891. The excerpt also highlights the brothers’ community involvement, fraternal ties, musical interests, and leadership in local football and basketball, where they helped promote clean, competitive sport.
The Racine Rubber Company was organized March 12, 1910, its first officers being C. F. U. Kelley, president ; Frank L. Mitchell, vice president ; Stuart Webster, treasurer, and J. H. Dwight, secretary. Mr. Kelley severed his connection with the business in 1912, at which time George B. Wilson became the president and so continued until January, 1914, when he, too, withdrew from connection with the business. At that date H. L. McLaren became president and advertising manager and in that position so continues, with Stuart Webster as vice president, general manager and treasurer ; H. C. Severance, secretary ; … Read more
The Lavine Gear Company, founded in Detroit and later moved to Wisconsin, now operates from Racine’s Satterly building, where it manufactures auto steering gears for trucks and pleasure cars. Employing 100 skilled workers, the plant can produce 125 gears a day and is said to supply 70% of U.S. trucks, making it the nation’s second largest firm of its kind.
Among the important business enterprises of Racine which have contributed in large measure to the substantial development of the city is the Racine Shoe Manufacturing Company, which was organized in 1902 with Sands M. Hart as president, L. J. Elliott, secretary and treasurer, and Fred C. Goff as general manager. The plant of the company was located originally at the corner of Wisconsin and Seventh streets, but with the demand for larger quarters, a removal was made in 1906 to 1320 Clark Street. In 1914 Mr. Goff was elected president of the company and in 1916 Jens Jensen became president, … Read more
The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company, formed in 1903 by W. T. and W. M. Lewis, grew out of Racine’s long-running Mitchell wagon business founded in 1834. After rebuilding from a major 1880 fire and merging wagon and automobile operations in 1910, the company became a major Racine manufacturer with a large cement plant and more than 2,000 employees.
Racine has called to her midst many captains of industry, men who are controlling extensive and important commercial and industrial interests, and their efforts have given to the city its well earned reputation as a great manufacturing center. One of the important undertakings of Racine is that conducted under the name of the Racine Tool & Machine Company, which was organized in 1908. In December, 1910, it was purchased by J. M. Jones, who is the president, treasurer and general manager of the company, with F. E. Koebler as vice president and L. Jones as secretary. The company manufactures high … Read more
The Mohr-Jones Hardware Company of Racine traces its origins to a hardware business founded in the 1870s and reorganized in 1899. Now led by John W. Jones, the company operates a store on Sixth Street and a large sheet metal factory and warehouse, serving both wholesale and retail customers as one of Racine’s leading firms.
The Mueller-Kuehn Company, organized in 1907, operates one of Racine’s leading wholesale grocery businesses, tracing its roots to Herman F. Mueller’s retail store founded in 1876. Now serving a broad trade territory from Racine and Kenosha, the company has expanded steadily and is erecting a new fireproof building. Annual sales are about $600,000.