WI BIO - Whittaker Engine & Skein Company - Kenosha

History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1879, pp 550-553

The Whittaker Engine & Skein Company was organized in 1875, and duly 
incorporated 30 August 1876, with a capital stock of $40,000, and possession 
taken of an old gravel foundry on the northeast corner of Exchange Street 
[now Fifth Avenue; streets renamed about 1926], built by Forward & Shuard, 
which was removed and an enlarged brick foundry erected in its place. The 
foundry property was purchased by R. B. Whittaker & Company in 1865 and 
thoroughly repaired. Since that date the manufacture of thimble skeins and 
engines and boilers has been the main business of the company, but the usual 
business of a machine shop has also been carried on. During this period a [p 
553] large number of engines and boilers have been manufactured under the 
superintendence of R. B. WHITTAKER, which have carried and held a good 
reputation as working machines. In 1868 a fifteen horsepower engine and 
boiler was made for Edward BAIN, but in the course of two years, was found to 
be too small for his rapidly expanding business. In 1870 it was replaced by 
a fifty horsepower engine. This has done excellent service for over eight 
years, and has done probably as much work as any of its capacity in the 
State. It will, however, soon be replaced by an engine and boiler of 125 
horsepower, which is now being made by the company. Between thirty and forty 
men are employed, the number varying according to demand the of the times. 
About 900 tons of iron ore are used per annum, daily heats being over three 
tons.

The main branches of the company's business are the manufacture of skeins, of 
which they make twenty-four sizes, engines and boilers, fanning mill irons, 
tire benders, tire drills, shaper machines, seeder castings, reach and 
bolster plates, and cauldron kettles. Annual sales range from $45,000 to 
$55,000. The company are now making furnaces and a large trip hammer for the 
purpose of manufacturing wagon skeins out of steel plates, to be used on 
wagons made for the rough, rocky roads of the mountainous areas of Utah, 
Colorado, and other parts of the Far West.

The figures in regard to the small work are about as follows: 50 sets, four 
per set, of skeins and nuts daily, which are first cast, then tumbled or 
rattled, centered, turned for the nuts, screws cut, nuts and boxes put on and 
faced. The skeins are then ready for shipping. The nuts are drilled and 
tapped. About 2,000 sets are made for fanning mills a year. They have in 
working order ten lathes, two planers, six drills, and a large milling 
machine. The large lathe used for turning wheels and other heavy work is one 
of the largest in the State, having a six feet eight inch swing. Then there 
are two No. 6 Sturtevant blowers. They have the most beautiful engine in the 
city in their engine room, of forty horsepower.

The present officers of the Whittaker Engine & Skein Company are: F. 
ROBINSON, President; George YULE, Vice President; John NICOLL, Secretary and 
Treasurer; R. B. WHITTAKER, Superintendent; F. ROBNINSON, John NICOLL, R. B. 
WHITTAKER, Edward BAIN, Z. G. SIMMONS, and George YULE, directors.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly