The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 34, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 September 1977 — Page 19
Syracuse location chosen after others considered
Over two dozen locations were considered as possible sites for a plant of the Weatherhead Company, before Syracuse was selected. Albert J. Weatherhead, Jr., president of the company, was involved in the selection of the Syracuse site. He personally visited the town, when the company proposed it as a plant site to the town board and Chamber of Commerce. In the booklet used at the first open house of the plant,
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SELECTED AS PLANT SITE — Alter considering over two do ten cite*. Syracuse was chosen to receive the Weatherhead
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Weatherhead said, “We appreciate our enthusiastic welcome and the spirit of cooperation shown by the people of this area. It is our hope to contribute substantially to the continued industrial growth and civic improvement of Syracuse through the years . . . you have made us proud to be a part of your community." The community raised, through a Chamber of Commerce drive, $30,000 toward the acquiring of the land and the
construction of the plant. Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lilly pledged for each dollar contributed, they would give two dollars. “It is the finest thing that has ever happened to the community,” Lilly was quoted as saying. A door-to-door survey was made by 60 persons, to determine the availability of labor, when the plant was in the planning stages. Initial plant employees participated in the construction of the 376 by 300 foot building. The annual payroll was estimated to
Company plant. The plant now homes three million dollars In materials being processed at a given time.
be $30,000. Aided War Effort The Syracuse plant was built, equipped, tooled, staffed and brought to a high level of production in a remarkably short period of time. The plant was to supply Ermeto tube fittings, hose and tube assemblies, hydraulic control kits and all-steel reusable hose-ends for tanks and combat vehicles used during the Korean War. Production began in 1952, and in six months, January 7 and 8,
Pioneer Club recognizes employees / The Pioneer Club was begun by the Weatherhead Company, to recognize service of employees. An employee becomes a Pioneer Club member after finishing five years of employment with the company. From then on, in periods of five years, employees are given awards marking such service. Each year a different function b planned and staged by the club. Proceeds from the cafeteria vending machines in the company are used to finance such events. As a tradition at other Weatherhead divisions, the club has a formal recognition banquet. “Syracuse hasn’t done that for several years,” says John F. Riecke, plant manager. Instead, recognition awards are presented to Syracuse employees on the date of their employment anniversary. This year’s event, sponsored by the club, is the open house of the plant, Sunday. Sept. 18. Several activities are scheduled tor me employees before the open house from 4 to 6 p.m.
Weatherhead growth came from harnessing changes
“A businessman is an optimist. He knows full well that change must come; it can and must be harnessed to him and society's benefit." So said Albert J. Weatherhead. Jr., former president of the Weatherhead Company. The Weatherhead Company is a manufacturer and designer of products for the control and transmission of fluids, principally in the application of power for the automotive, industrial, mobile, air conditioning and aircraft industries. Nationwide, the parent company has five production phuds. The Syracuse operation is a manufacturer of industrial hose N assemblies and stud fittings. Brake hose assemblies are made, along with drain cocks for radiators for automobiles at the Columbia City location. Columbia City also has a tool plant, where many of the tools used in Weatherhead plants are made. In Antwerp, Ohio, the
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1953, an open house was held. J. D. (Jack) Smetzer was the plant manager. The plant operated modem machines employing the latest methods of statistical quality control, an innovation at that time. “Now it’s standard procedure on all processes," added John F. Riecke, current plant manager. The plant now has 500 employees, 420 hourly employees and 80 salaried employees, with an estimated annual payroll of six million dollars. Employees work a 40-hour week, with some overtime to meet production needs. Company employees reside in Syracuse, Pierceton, Warsaw, Goshen and Noble County.’ Inside the plant, in production at a given time, is three million dollars in material being manufactured. The plant is departmentalized into screw machines, checkers, hose assembly, second operation, plating and shipping departments. Industrial parts have been made at the plant for the past several years. “We’ve put a lot of emphasis on expansion of our productive capabilities,” said Riecke. “Our sales are continuing to increase and our plans are that the Syracuse facility will become more productive as we grow in the industrial market. ’’ Heading up departments at the Syracuse Weatherhead division are Charles (Bud) Miller, plant superintendent; Tony Gammiere, manufacturing, engineering; Andrew Pfefferkom, production control; Jack Carr, quality control; David Arnold, industrial relations; and William Charlton, comptroller.
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STAFFS PLANT — Staffing the Syracuse division of the Weatherhead Company are left, John Riecke. plant manager; Tony Gammiere. manufacturing, engineering; Jack Carr, quality
I ’ "1 I t Celebrates 25 years with plant open house I
To celebrate the 25th year of operation in V Syracuse, the Weatherhead Company is having an | open house Sunday, Sept. 18. Hie public is invited to tour the plant from 4 to 6 ii»- wbw ■ mm*
plant produces brake hoses, power steering hose assemblies and all the steel forgings for the other plants. A brass mill built in 1965 at Angola, produces nearly four million pounds of extruded brass bar stock per month for the company. In the Saint Thomas, Ontario. Canada, location, a variety of parts for the Canadian market are made. Combined with the total employment of these plants and the one in North Hollywood, Calif., the Weatherhead Company has about 4.000 employees. “We also have some foreign markets in Europe,” added John F. Riecke, plant manager of the Syracuse division. The company is just beginning to expand in
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Each year the company budgets amounts to support the Syracuse fire department and the United Fund. “We make a lot of small donations,” besides these, Riecke explained. Several of the
l -»i> v; ■ ■■ V f V • LEAD PIONEER CLUB — Officers leading the Pioneer Club of Weatherhead, a service recognition group, are left, John Whybrew, secretary; Jim Busz, president; Tony Huff, treasurer; and Bill Manninh, vice president.
Europe, primarily in Belgium. A research, and development center is located at the home office of the company in Cleveland, Ohio. Approximately one-third of Weatherhead’s Syracuse products are sold through original equipment manufacturers in industrial industries. The remaining two-thirds of the finished products are sold through a distribution system of warehouses. From the central warehouse, located in Fort Wayne, the products are sent to regional sales outlets, nationwide. i :% Three major types of products are manufactured at Syracuse, industrial hose assemblies of high-pressure hydraulic hoses and air brake hoses, reuseable
Wed., September 14,1977 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL
employees of the plant are firemen and EMS unit members. When a fire or ambulance run is in progress, the company releases these men and pay them * for the time spent on the runs.
control; Charles (Bud) Miller, plant superintendent; William Charlton, comptroller; Andrew Pfefferkorn, production control; and David Arnold, industrial relations.
I p.m. | Sponsoring the open house is the Pioneer Club, V composed of plant workers and the Weatherhead | Company. |
hose-end assemblies such as “coll-o-crimp” and industrial steel fittings. The Weatherhead Company is presently in the process of merging with the Dana Corporation as a subsidiary. The Weatherhead Company has
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As for the future of the Weatherhead Company, Riecke said, “We’re constantly working to develop products that fit our manufacturing expertise and our market.” C
acquired two companies as subsidiaries, the Hyco Company, Ashland, Ohio, makes telescopic and rod-type cylinders for hydraulic machinery and the Williams Air Control Company, Portland, Ore., a maker of valves used in the trucking Industry.
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