Industry

Mining Industry / Industry / Object Histories / Education / Grant County / Platteville / Manufacturing & Trade / 1877-1900 / Region 6 - South West / Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill

OBJECT HISTORY: Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill

Picture of Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill, courtesy of Liam Reinicke. The Ingersoll-Sergeant pneumatic rock drill stands in front of the Rountree Hall Apartments in Platteville, serving as an important symbol of Platteville’s mining history. The drill was manufactured by the Ingersoll-Sergeant Rock…

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December 13, 2022

Industry / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East

Beyond the Dirt Track: Harley-Davidson Expands to New Markets

“Typical Bikemen of the 1920’s,” Courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society. Harley-Davidson motorcycles may have had their first exposure on the dirt-track racing circuits of the early 1900s, but their legacy did not end with extreme sports. 1908 marked the Milwaukee…

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June 18, 2022

Sports & Games / Industry / Broad History / Milwaukee / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East

Harley Davidson and Milwaukee

It’s no secret that Harley-Davidson’s history is deeply rooted in Milwaukee. From dealerships to museums, the motorcycle giant serves as a cultural landmark and has become synonymous with the sprawling city. Thus, one may be surprised to learn of its humble beginnings.…

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June 18, 2022

“1909 Harley-Davidson V-twin motor." Courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Archives.

Industry / Wisconsin Made / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Object Histories / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / Transportation & Tourism / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Region 8 - South East

OBJECT HISTORY: The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine

When Edward Pennington unveiled the first prototype for what he deemed the “motorcycle” in 1895, inspiration struck the minds of two Milwaukee natives, William Harley and Arthur Davidson. Joined by Arthur’s brother, Walter, the three began tinkering with two-wheelers and eventually designed…

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June 18, 2022

Drawing of the Kohler Company's "Armeda" toilet. Courtesy of the Kohler Co. Archives.

Industry / Wisconsin Made / Health & Medicine / Home Furnishings / Object Histories / Sheboygan / Everyday Life / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / Sheboygan County / Region 5 - Center East / The 1904 Kohler “Armeda” Toilet

OBJECT HISTORY: The 1904 Kohler “Armeda” Toilet

By the year 1904, when the “Armeda” toilet pictured here appeared in the Kohler Company’s product catalogue, Sheboygan-based Kohler had become one of the largest makers of bathroom furnishings in the United States. Even at this early date in its history, as…

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March 11, 2022

City of Madison Manhole Cover. Photo courtesy of Keith Kaziak, 2020.

Industry / Art & Design / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Neenah / Related Stories / Everyday Life / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / Winnebago County / Region 5 - Center East / 1965-1987 / 1987-2011 / 2011-Today / Neenah Foundry Manhole Cover

Manhole Cover Designs and Contemporary Aesthetics

Over the past 45 years, there has been a growing worldwide fascination and appreciation for the beauty and craftsmanship of manhole covers. Some enthusiasts even created a subreddit aptly titled, Manhole Porn: Sewer covers in all their glory!, celebrating this ubiquitous iron…

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September 29, 2021