Carla's Cars

Falls Motor Corporation
Early Engine Firm a Force in Employment Picture

One of the largest employers in Sheboygan County, during its existence, was the Falls Motor Corporation in Sheboygan Falls. During its peak production, over 700 workers were employed and the streetcar tracks were laid to pass the plant to transport the men to work.

Falls Motors was an outgrowth of the first foundry in the county began in 1846 by George and Horace Trowbridge. Located at the northwest end of the Monroe Street Bridge, the foundry went through many owners and changes until the Falls Machine Company was founded in 1901.The firm was initially organized by Gus Huette of Sheboygan.

The plant manufactured woodworking machinery needed in furniture, millwork and general machine shops. The company also included a grey iron foundry.

Falls Machine Company was very successful and soon outgrew its quarters in the old Phoenix Iron Works. About 1906/07, 10 acres on the easterly line oh the Chicago and Northwestern Railway line was purchased from Albert Oosterhuis and an extensive foundry and machine shop was built.

The greatly enlarged building allowed for expansion of product lines. Two of the new products begun were the Falls Engine Stops for prevention of flywheel runaways on steam driven power plants and a line engines used for pumping water, running cream separators, driving washing machines and other light uses.

The manufacture of gas engines led to the design and production of the Falls Model B four-cylinder 40 horsepower engine suitable for automobiles, trucks and boats.

In the spring of 1916, the firm incorporated and changed its name to Falls Motor Corporation. Officers were Gust Huette, president; Angello Clas, secretary; Konrad Schreier, treasurer.

During World War I, automobile engine production dwindled to almost nothing. Apart of the plant was converted to manufacture shells. Immediately after the war, production lines were converted to the resumption of auto engines. Soon after, the plant was manufacturing 200 engines daily with a work force of 700.

During the early months of 1924, almost all of the existing automobile manufactures went out of business forcing Falls Motors into bankruptcy. By the end of 1924, the equipment had been sold, service parts went to a parts serving firm and the buildings were sold to Jenkins Machinery Company of Sheboygan.

Center By Janice Hildebrand ~ Librarian
Sheboygan County Historical ~ Research Center

The Falls Eight “Special”

The Falls Eight race car was designed and built in 1920 for use on Midwest tracks, including Indianapolis, Milwaukee and others. The Falls Motor Corp. of Sheboygan Falls was one of the Pioneers in Wisconsin’s automotive heritage and perhaps one of the birthplaces of the automotive industry in the US.

By 1912, the first Falls automobile engines were being produced to power the Michigan Buggy. In 1913, the Falls Model B motor, a four cylinder 40-45 horsepower engine, was built for the Burch auto sleigh—the forerunner of the Sno-cat and snowmobile.

In 1916, the engine business had developed to such a point where sizeable contracts were signed for automobile engines for Grant, Elgin, Maibohm, Velie, Dort, Apperson, Gardner and Moon, Falls Machine was reorganized and named Falls Motor Corp. with 100% production in automobile engines.

In 1920, engineer for the Falls Motor Corp., Louis Knocke designed the eight cylinder Falls engine of which only eight were built. It incorporated many unique features in respect to lubrication. Of these engines only engine 0001 was put into a race car to test and prove the new design. In 1920, it was taken to Indy and in the qualifying run it crashed and was taken back to the factory to be repaired. When it returned it was disqualified for the displacement size.

In 1976, the Treasure of the Falls Motor Corp, Konrad Schreier, stated that in the 1924 the Corp. had declared bankruptcy and liquidated that Buick acquired the designs and possibly a Falls Eight engine. They were unable to fight the loss of their new design and it is believed to be the proto-type of the Buick Straight Eight.

The Racer spent almost 50 years in a Museum and then sold and restored in 1999. The Falls Eight then was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance and returned to the track where it is seen today.