i

MAY, 1949 EMPLOYEES' EDITION No. 151

MUELLERRECORD

May, 1949 No. 151

GENE J. KUHN, Editor

Published in the Interests ofEmployees of the

MUELLER Co.PLUMBING, WATER AND GAS PRODUCTS

FACTORIESDECATUR, ILL. LOS ANQELES, CALIF.SARNIA, OUT. CHATTANOOGA, TENN.

BRANCHESNEW YORK CITY SAN FRANCISCO

TRADE MARK

MUELLERReg. U. S. Pat. Off.

This Month's Cover

BILL KUNTZ, CLASS A toolmaker, isshown operating a Milwaukee mill-

ing machine, one of the most versatileand precise machines in the tool room.The piece being machined is a finishingreamer to be used with a New Britainautomatic machine in department 9.

Bill has been a Mueller Co. employeefor almost 28 years, having started atthe Decatur plant on June 6, 1921.

Family DayT7AMILIES OF Mueller Co. employees-T have been invited to attend a FamilyDay open house, which will be observedat both Decatur plants on Thursday,June 16. The main plant will be open tovisitors from 8 to 10 o'clock Thursday

morning and from 12 until 2 o'clock thatafternoon. Plant No. 2 will be open tovisitors from 1:30 to 2:45 o'clock in theafternoon, so that they will have an op-portunity to watch pouring operationsin the iron foundry.

All departments of the plants will beopen to the families of employees. Thecommittee in charge has emphasized thefact that an opportunity will be givenfamilies to visit employees at their workstations, so that they will be able to seefor themselves how the individual fitsinto the production picture as a whole.It was solely for this reason that theopen house was scheduled during regu-lar production hours.

Employees and their families also willhave a chance to go on the air. WSOYwill interview employees and their fam-ilies in various departments of the plant,and the transcription will be broadcast.

The committee in charge of arrange-ments hopes that all members of fam-ilies of Mueller Co. employees will berepresented at the open house.

H A P H A Z A R D

NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL

M U E L L E R R E C O R D

KINO & WOOD'S IMPROVED COOK BOOK.

H. MUELLER PLUMBING AND HEATING CO.,237 NORTH MAIN STREET, DECATUB, ILL.

Combination Folding Bath,With Improved Bath Heater Attached.

O'XTOEJH 1O,OOO I3XT TJSI3.

BOON TO HEALTH.This popular tub is especially designed for su-

burban residences, flats, houses with limited space,sanitar iums and public and private buildings of allkinds.

DEALERS INIron and Lead Pipe, Iron & Brass

Fittings, Siuks, Bath Tubs,Sewer Pipe, Flue Lin-

Ing, Etc., Etc,

AVe make a specialty of HighArt Plumbing-, Heating & Light-ing Plants.

H.

PlilmMog and Heating Go,

Finds Old Mueller idDates back to 1891-96, when com-pany was at 237 North Main Street.

AN ADVERTISEMENT of the H. MuellerPlumbing & Heating Co., one of the fore-

runners of the present Mueller Co., was recentlybrought to light in an old cook book, which wasfound during a St. James school scrap paperdrive.

Bobby Welch, seven-year-old nephew of OttoDannewitz, department 8, was sorting maga-zines and newspapers when he came across thebook. The youngster took the book home tohis mother, Mrs. Ambrose Welch, who saw thead as she was looking through it.

The cook book, published by King & Wood,former Decatur druggists, is undated, but wasprobably printed some time between 1891 and1896, the period in which Hieronymus Muelleroperated the store.

The plumbing business was located in its ownbuilding at 237 North Main Street at the time.Increased business had forced the company tomove into larger quarters from 249 East MainStreet. The Mueller interest in the plumbingbusiness was disposed of in 1896, and the gunstore, located at 134 Prairie Street, was soldthe following year.

M A Y , 1 9 4 9

Site of the H. Mueller Plumbing &Heating Co. from 1891 to 1896, duringwhich time the ad above appeared.

Bill Jett, veteran West Coast salesman, isshown admiring a wrist watch, which waspresented by Mueller Co. in honor of hisforty-five years of service with the company.

BILL JETT, veteran Mueller Co. salesman,retired April 30 after completing his goal

of 45 years of service with Mueller Co. witha week to spare. Bill started with the com-pany in the shipping department of the De-catur plant on April 22, 1904, and his servicewas continuous until his retirement. On April21, the eve of his forty-fifth year of service,he was honored with a dinner party at LosAngeles. Herman M. Dash was master of cer-emonies, and presented Bill with a travel clockand an electric razor on behalf of the LosAngeles office. J. L. Logsdon then read anumber of letters from company officers andothers, recalling many of the experiences thathad made Bill something of a legend in theMueller organization. West Coast salesmenpresented him with matched luggage, and Mr.Logsdon presented a wrist watch from thecompany in honor of his many years of ser-vice.

J. L. Logsdon, general manager of Mueller Co.'s Los Angeles factory, is shown making one of thepresentations at a party on the eve of Bill's 45th year with the company. Mrs. Jett is at the left.

4 M U E L L E R R E C O R D

^etvie rffciii 30

G EORGE A. KRAG, foundry engineer, re-tired April 30 after more than 21 years

of service with Mueller Co. A foundryman'sfoundryman, George had been connected withfoundries for about a half-century. He was anold-timer in his field, but he constantly studiednew developments in the field and kept him-self abreast of modern trends. He was re-sponsible for many innovations in the com-pany's brass and iron foundries which resultedin the adoption of a considerable number oftime and labor saving practices. At one timehe had his own foundry and he had also heldresponsible positions with other foundries be-fore coming to Mueller Co. in December, 1927.Two months later he was made foreman ofthe metal pattern and corebox department andin January, 1930, he was appointed foundryengineer and foreman of the pattern shop. Hebecame general foreman of the brass and ironfoundries in 1935.

George A. Krag, left, received a Parker penand pencil set from pattern shop employees.Those looking on are Harold Munsterman,Carleton Hackman and Richard Dannewitz.

George received a luggage gift and the first can of beer at the first social meeting of the 4X Club,composed of foremen and executives. Mel Chaney, left, and Ollie Fortschneidsr did the honors.

M A Y , I 9 4 9 5

— I

Members of the Department 9 team, which finished out front in the Mueller Bowling League,are, left to right: Athie Thompson, Wilbur Davidson, W. L. (Lefty) Adams, Preston Ruthrauffand Wilbur Edwards. Bob Salogga, not shown, also is a member of the Department 9 team.

Department 9 Wins TitleGround Key, Mueller Bowling League champions forthe past two years, finishes season in second place.

DEPARTMENT 9 emerged with thechampionship and a four-game ad-

vantage over the second-place GroundKey team, title-holders for the past twoconsecutive years, with the end of playin the Mueller Bowling League May 10.Specialty Division and Tool Room teamswere in a tie for third place.

Ground Key jumped from third tosecond place on the last night of leagueplay, neatly by-passing the SpecialtyDivision and Tool Room teams, whichwere tied up for second place a weekbefore.

Ed Hartwig, Specialty Division, endedthe season with the high individual av-erage for the second straight year. Hisaverage for 105 games was 190. Lastyear he had an average of 182.

Anthony (Buddy) Grossman, ToolRoom, was the high money winner inthe Mueller sweepstakes, which was heldMay 17. Grossman received $10 forfinishing first in the sweepstakes, andthen picked up $2.50 for high natural

game and another $2.50 for high naturalfor three games.

Others who finished in the money wereLeo Wiant, Works Manager's Office, $7;Henry Stratman, Specialty Division, $5;Wallace Gould, Product Engineers, andMartin Riewski, Ground Key, each $2.50(tie for fourth); Merlin Coates, WorksManager's Office, $1.50; Robert Arm-strong, Works Manager's Office, $1.50;and W. L. (Lefty) Adams, Department9, $1.50.

The final standings:Team

Department 9Ground KeySpecialty DivisionTool RoomMain OfficePattern ShopProducts EngineersW'ks Manager's Office 52Experimental ShopBrass Finishers

M U E L L E R R E C O R D

W61575656555554524945

L47515252535354565963

Pet..565.528.519.519.509.509.500.481.454.417

The ten high bowlers in the Mueller Bowling League included, left to right, Edwin Nalefski, AlDegand, Jack Bain, Wilbur Edwards, Al Hill, Ed Hartwig, Henry Stratman, Ben Taylor and W. L.Adams. Bob Salogga not shown. Hartwig won high individual honors for second straight year.

The Mueller womens bowling team finished first in the 4-team Minor Ladies League. Membersare, left to right, Ellen lane Stevenson, Aline Moore, Betty Dehority (captain), Betty Walker,and Catherine Bauer. Wilma Maleska, not shown, also is a member of the team. Aline fin-ished in second place in the league's sweepstakes event and Ellen lane was in fourth place.

M A Y , I 9 4 9 7

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This is Y°ur invitation to visit both Decatur plants ofMueller Co. under actual production conditions . . .to watch the complete manufacturing process ofMueller quality products from ingot metal to finishedgoods . . . and to see the part the member of yourfamily has in making these products. You'll see pat-terns, cores and molds being made, the first steps o[

the process — the moltrough castings be in<machined to exacting spass along the conveyocertain they conform tcfinally readied for shiplages throughout the <

ABOUT YOUR VISIT TO MUELLER CO. PLANTS DURING THE FAMDATE: Both plants will observe FAMILY DAY Open House onThursday, June 16.

T I M E : The main plant will be open to visitors from 8 to 10A.M. and from 12 to 2 P.M. Plant No. 2 will be open from 1:30to 2:45 P.M.

LOCATION: Visitors to the main plant, 512 West Cerro Gordo,are requested to register at the Mueller gymnasium on MonroeStreet, just north of Eldorado. Visitors to plant No. 2 will registerat the office, 1942 East Eldorado.

P A R K I N G : The parking lot just south of the garage arid gym-nasium building, between Monroe and Mercer streets, will bereserved for visitors' parking. A guard will direct you.

TOURS: All tours will b«nasium. Each tour of the ntours of plant No. 2 will laForemen will be glad to poiiof your family so that you 'at his job. Refreshments w:

For the safety of employeesthat children between the aan adult. Supervised ent<gymnasium for children unbe in attendance.

WSOY wi l l broadcast interviews w i l h employees and families attending

MUELLER CO.DECATUR, ILLINOIS

OTHER FACTORLOS ANGELES

LIES OF MUELLER CO. EMPLOYEES...|

K DAY open h o u s eU l l i BOTH UECATUR PLANTS

metal being poured — theg r o u n d — t h e n precisionidards — assembled as theyme — tested to make doublyMueller specifications — thensnt to cities, towns and vil-intry.

Y DAY OPEN HOUSE..i and end at the Mueller gym-n plant will last about l'/2 hours;about one-half hour. Guides andjut the work station of the member1 have an opportunity to visit himDe served at the end o) each tour.

id their families we must stipulate3 of 12 and 16 be accompanied bytinment will be provided at ther 12, and a registered nurse will

•S: CHATTANOOGA,

SARNIA, ONTARIO

...

This Year's High School Graduates

James E. Rambox-.l , ;*. L ; . . . . J. "" *»

Florence Tauber Donald W. Ferry, Jr. Martha Fleckenstein

Clara Luka Donald D. Butler Joyce Anderson Clayton Walters

Yvonne H. Jones Edward Hinderer Norma Lee Stark Dale Fleischauer

Cl1""n -'" i

At*Jack Garver Betty Blankenburg Gerald Hettinger Barbara Fonner

10 M U E L L E R R E C O R D

TWENTY-ONE sons and daughters ofMueller Co. employees are included in

high school graduating classes thisspring. Schools represented are Decatur,Blue Mound, Mount Zion, Atwood, Lov-ington Township, Macon and Moweaqua.

The graduates include:Joyce Anderson, daughter of George

Anderson, core room, Decatur highschool.

Betty Blanken-burg, daughter ofEric Blankenburg,tool room, Decaturhigh school.

Rea Del Boggs,daughter of FayeBoggs, plant No. 2,Blue Mound highschool.

-r_ Donald D. Butler,|3 son of Dean Butler,* plant No. 2, Deca-

Rea Del Boggs tur high school.

Wanda Lou Cunningham, daughter ofMerle L. Cunningham, department 300,Decatur high school.

Anna L. Edwards, daughter of FrankEdwards, department 300, Blue Moundhigh school.

Nelda Epperson, daughter of LeslieEpperson, brass foundry, Macon Com-munity high school.

Donald Ferry, Jr., son of DonaldFerry, head draftsman, Decatur highschool.

Martha Fleckenstein, daughter of RoyFleckenstein, ground key foreman, St.Teresa high school.

Dale Fleischauer, son of Carl Fleisch-auer, maintenance department, Loving-ton Township high school.

Barbara Fonner, daughter of Marion(Pat) Fonner, core room, Mount ZionCommunity high school.

Jack Carver, son of Ernest Carver,garage foreman, Decatur high school.

Gerald Hettinger, son of Helen Het-tinger, billing department, Decatur highschool.

Edward Hinderer, son of Orville Hiri-derer, department 300, Blue Mound highschool.

Nelda Epperson Wanda Cunningham

Anna L. Edwards Earl E. Talley

Yvonne Jones, daughter of Roy C.Jones, department 8, Atwood Commun-ity high school. Yvonne was elected tomembership in the National Honor So-ciety, high school scholastic award or-ganization. She was also named vale-dictorian of her graduating class.

Clara Luka, daughter of Henry Luka,plant No. 2, Decatur high school.

James E. Rambo, son of Wade Rambo,garage, and Emma Rambo, core room,Decatur high school.

Norma Lee Stark, daughter of EdgarStark, department 300, Decatur highschool.

Earl E. Talley, son of Creo Talley,shipping department, Moweaqua highschool.

Florence Tauber, daughter of RobertTauber, methods engineer, Decatur highschool.

Clayton Walters, son of Emelie Walt-ers, core room, Decatur high school.

M A Y , 1 9 4 9 II

Marva Witts, center, tool room office, "whose marriage to Joseph Moore took place February18, was honored with a shower at the Blue Mill April 27. Others in the photograph are EthelTurley, Edna Johnston, Nalda McCollough, Pauline Harris, Ruth Brownlow and Louise Whitehead.

\e Chicoine, who became the bride of

Harold Munsterman, pattern shop, on May14 at St. Thomas Catholic church, Decatur.

Jacqueline Morford of the personnel officeand Dean DeVore were married May 13 atthe Central Christian Church in Decatur.

12 M U E L L E R R E C O R D

The traffic division of. the police de-partment recently completed the paint-ing of pedestrian warnings, a crossingzone, and no parking signs from theMonroe street underpass to the Muellergarage.

The crossing at Cerro Gordo and Mon-roe streets has been recognized as atraffic hazard for some time. Employeesregularly cross at the point at lunchtime, enroute to the cafeteria, and atquitting time, and the underpass hasserved to encourage speeders.

Roy M. Workman, department 800,was fatally injured March 5, when he

was struck by a car as he started acrossMonroe street at the site of the presentpedestrian crossing zone.

• • aNature note: a sparrow was found

hanged from a thread from his nestunder the shipping department canopy.A self-appointed coroner called it sui-cide.

a m a

Mel Chaney, plant engineer, has esti-mated that the foundry division improve-ment program now is about two-thirdscompleted. The grinding department hasbeen in operation in its new quarters for

50 YEAHS AGO

Olli

\HERICAS FIRST AUTO RAGE

J AMES R. WEILEPP, Decatur realtorand builder, is shown above with a

model of the Mueller automobile, basedupon the cover drawing of the November,1945, issue of the Mueller Record. Mr.Weilepp received the copy of the MuellerRecord through the reference depart-ment of the Decatur Public Library. Mr.Weilepp switched from his hobby ofbuilding model trains to models of old-time automobiles several months ago,and in addition to the model of the Muel-ler automobile, which he recently com-pleted, he has also made models of a

1911 Maxwell, a 1904 Oldsmobile, and a1909 Ford. The Mueller car dates backto 1895. Hieronymus Mueller and twoof his sons, Philip and Oscar, weregranted patents for improvements whichare incorporated in today's automobiles.These included the variable speed trans-mission, steering gear and body suspen-sion, water cooling radiator, an improve-ment to the variable speed transmissionin which a friction disk was used, thespark plug, and the original patent onthe "make and break" circuit used inthe distributors of modern cars.

M A Y , 1 9 4 9 13

the past several weeks, and most of themachines from the pattern shop on thesecond floor will have been moved and inoperation this week on the main floor.All machines will have individual motors,thus eliminating the overhead line shaftwhich has been a pattern shop trademark for many years. The pattern shopis adjacent to the grinding room, butwill be separated by a partition when theelevator is removed to make way for aconveyor from the core room to thefoundry beneath Cerro Gordo street. Theconveyor equipment has been orderedbut has not arrived as yet.

The former grinding room will beused as a metal storage room, and con-crete bins will be installed.

Hugh R. Mooney, 44, assistant powerplant engineer, was fatally injured earlySaturday morning, April 23, when hispickup truck struck the center pier ofthe North Oakland avenue subway. Hehad been a Mueller Co. employee for 19years. Survivors are his wife and threechildren, Patricia, Ancil Allen and Car-

Mrs. C. E. Newlin, nee Betty Scheibly, whosemarriage took place April 30, was honoredwith a shower at the cafeteria on May 10.

ole. Interment was at Macon CountyMemorial cemetery.

Marcella Lykins, Correspondent

On May 11 the members of the Fore-man's Club met for the monthly meetingat the Maypole dining room. This wasa dinner meeting and L. W. (Duke) Muel-ler of Decatur was a guest. The electionof officers for the coming year was held.Two new members, Merle Van Vleet andJack Malone, were voted in. The newofficers are Walter Coventry, president;Russell Davis, vice-president; MarionEckman, secretary; and Odie Walker,Jr., treasurer. From the comments thefood was very good and everyone en-joyed an unusually nice evening.

• • •Robert Parsons, 55, machine repair

man in the maintenance department,died at his home April 2 after severalmonths' illness. He is survived by hiswife, Mrs. Mary Parsons; one daughter,Roberta; and one son, Robert.

Bob was employed by Columbian IronWorks in 1915. In 1918 he quite andwent into business for himself but re-

turned in 1920. With the exception ofthese two years was employed continu-ously until his death.

• • •The Mueller bowling team, consisting

of Wayne Walker, Bernia Fischer, Capt.Marion Eckman, Vance Riddle, LeslieHigdon, and Ben Long, automaticallywon the league championship for theLookout Bowling League after winningboth first and second halves of season'splay. Wayne Walker had the highestaverage in the league, and took tophonors in this respect. The prize moneyof over $70 is by this time all gone.

• • •As of March 31 another of our men

left us to take it easy. Elbert W. War-ren of the maintenance department waseligible for retirement on age. Mr. War-ren has been one of our faithful guardssince he was first employed in 1937. Wesincerely hope that he will enjoy thecoming leisure years to the utmost.

14 M U E L L E R R E C O R D

William Baker, Correspondent

Norma Hanna, dictaphone operator inthe sales office, has gone from the foldto take a position with her former em-ployer, the Runion Engineering Co. Shewill be located in Louisville, Kentucky,suh. Her former fellow employees wishher luck and success and would like tohear from her.

• • •Milton Brandolino will leave June 15

for Caramanico, Italy. He will accom-pany his brother aboard a T.W.A. air-liner. Milton has not seen his mothersince 1926, so, needless to say, the tripholds great promise. The boys intend tosee Rome, Venice, Milan, and Florence.

The lovely younglady smiling out ofthe page is Doro-thy Jean S t a c h ,who will graduatef r o m InglewoodHigh. She will con-tinue her educationat Pepperdine Col-lege in Los Ange-les. H e r father,Val Stach, is oneof our veteran em-ployees.

sBarbara Mooring Gene Mooring

Dorothy Stach

Barbara Mooring, pretty daughter ofInez Mooring of the sales office, is gradu-ating from Ramona Convent in Alham-bra, where she has studied for the pastfour years. She will go on to PasadenaCity College.

The accompanying photo is that ofGene Mooring, who will receive his B.S.degree in applied chemistry from Cali-fornia Institute of Technology. Gene, bythe way, has also served five years in theU. S. Air Force.

• • •Ralph Korte, draftsman, and his fam-

ily are now happily ensconced in theirnew home in the Montebello hills.

Almeda Reeve, Correspondent

Our congratulations to:Mr. and Mrs. John B. Woolley, a son,

Paul Norman, April. John is employedin department 11.

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kapala, a daughter,Jean, May 5. Dan is employed in de-partment 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Higgins, a son,Stewart Michael, May 6. Michael is em-ployed in department 7.

• • •Our sympathy is extended to:Mr. and Mrs. Garnet Denomy, depart-

ment 11, in the recent passing of Mrs.Denomy's mother, Mrs. Clydesdale.

Jacob Vollmer, department 10, in theloss of his brother, George.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Preece, depart-ment 9, in the recent passing of Mr.Preece's mother, Mrs. T. B. Preece.

Robert Gillson, department 2, in thesudden passing of his wife, Margaret.

Charles Harrison, dept. 6, in the deathof his mother, Mrs. A. Harrison.

• • •

T ROPHIES AND CASH awards werepresented to teams and individual

members of the Mueller Bowling Leagueat a banquet held in their honor April21 at the Sarnia Riding Club.

M A Y , 1 9 4 9 15

Championship teem of the Mueller, Ltd., Bowling League included, left to right: PeteKrywicki, Alf Kemp, Grace Campbell, Fred Cuthbertson (captain), Eunice Smith, Alex Hodgesand James Facer. The Mueller-Werdes-Parker cup was presented to the winning team.

Following the dinner, George W.Parker, president of Mueller, Ltd., pre-sented the Mueller-Parker-Werdes cup tothe championship team of the league,the Showerheads, captained by FredCuthbertson and had as members PeteKrywicki, Alf Kemp, Grace Campbell,Eunice Smith, Alex Hodges and JamesFacer.

The next presentation was made byR. L. Bevan, former chief engineer olThe Union Gas Company of Canada,from Chatham, who presented the BevanCup to Grace Campbell, winner of the

ladies' high average award with a scoreof 181.

The French Cup for the winner of themen's high average was presented by R.L. French, industrial representative ofThe Union Gas Company of Canada, fromChatham, to Max Fletcher who bowled a199 average.

Two other presentations were individ-ual trophies to the personnel of thechampionship team by Murray Taylor,and then cash awards were presented tothe three top teams in the league, theShowerheads, Pop-Ups and Ferrules, byJack McClure.

Those who presented trophies and the two high average scorers for the season were, leftto right: George W. Parker, president of Mueller, Ltd.; R. L. Bevan, former chief engineer ofUnion Gas Company of Canada, Chatham; Grace Campbell, who bowled the ladies' highaverage; Max Fletcher, men's high average winner; and R. L. French, industrial representativeof Union Gas Company of Canada. Grace's average for the season was 181; Fletcher's, 199.

16 M U E L L E R R E C O R D