The West Bend Aluminum Co. was incorporated on September 27, 1911 by Bernhard C. Ziegler, Stephen F. Mayer, Martin Walter, and Andrew and Edwin Pick of West Bend, Wisconsin; and Carl and Robert Wentorf, previously of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The company rented an old button factory located on the west bank of the Milwaukee River in West Bend, Wisconsin. Robert and Carl Wentorf, who had been foremen at an aluminum plant in Two Rivers, managed production for the new company, and began production of the tools and dies on October 17, 1911. The company's first products were a frying pan, a pie pan, a water dipper, and sauce pans. In April 1912 Ziegler and Andrew Pick participated in a hardware association show in Milwaukee where they obtained the first large orders for the new products.
During 1912 and 1913 sales representatives established the company's products with Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Wanamakers; Gimbel Brothers; and other large department stores and mail order firms. At the third annual Board of Directors meeting in 1914, the directors convinced Ziegler of the need for a general manager of the growing company. Ziegler had previously been reluctant to accept this position due to his involvement in his investment and insurance business. Ziegler, as general manager, instituted a perpetual inventory and cost system, and began construction of a 14,000 square foot building across the river from the company's original location.
After briefly experiencing a slight recession at the onset of World War I, the West Bend Aluminum Co. began preparations for limited war production of mess equipment in addition to its civilian operations. About the time West Bend began producing the equipment, the war ended.
West Bend introduced its famous “Waterless Cooker,” a large aluminum pot with inset pans designed to cook an entire meal over one burner, in 1920. The lid of the cooker was fitted with clamps that prevented the escape of steam during cooking, enabling meals to be cooked without the addition of water. Advertising for the cooker illustrated the convenience, healthfulness and economy of waterless cooking. The new product was marketed coast-to-coast and world-wide. The “Waterless Cooker” evolved into Flavo-Seal ware, which adapted the cooking method to roasters, skillets and sauce pans. During the 1920s, West Bend Aluminum Co. won lawsuits that granted West Bend exclusive right to the trade name “Waterless Cooker,” and upheld patents for its detachable cover. The success of the product allowed the company to continue expansion. Company histories state that the success of the “Waterless Cooker” allowed the company to remain open during the depression while still making a profit; and permitted the introduction of a successful new line of copper giftware in the fall of 1932 which included beverage sets, ashtrays, serving trays, lamps and mugs.
A new drip coffee maker, which did not require filter paper, was developed by West Bend in 1922. The popularity of the “Flavo-Drip” led to the development of the “Flavo-Perk,” a range top percolator. In 1949 this design became electric; and in 1950, when it was converted to fully automatic operation, it was renamed the “Flavo-matic.” In addition to percolators, West Bend Aluminum Co. introduced various sizes of portable coffee urns to its coffee maker line.
In 1941 aluminum was placed on the mandatory priority list which prohibited its use for civilian goods. But, in June, the West Bend Aluminum Co. was awarded a U.S. Navy contract to produce 20 mm brass anti-aircraft cartridge cases. In recognition of the company's fast conversion to war production and exceptional productivity, the Navy presented the company with six Navy “E” Awards from May 1942 to March 1945. Throughout the war, West Bend Aluminum Co. produced over 300 different items under defense contracts, including powder tanks and rocket containers.
Before the end of the war, West Bend executives purchased the Kissel automobile plant in nearby Hartford, Wisconsin. Although the new plant was immediately used for war production, plans were made to use the plant to east the transition from war to peace-time production. Under an agreement with Sears, Roebuck and Co., West Bend Aluminum Co. developed the 1 1/4 horsepower “Elgin,” the first air-cooled outboard motor. The “Elgin” name was sold exclusively through Sears; “West Bend” motors were sold by West Bend Aluminum Co. beginning in 1947.
The West Bend plant finished its conversion to peace-time production, with added facilities, in 1946. From 1946 to 1950, the company developed a line of small appliances including coffeepots, popcorn poppers, and skillets; and a color finishing process for aluminum. But in December 1950, due to the Korean conflict, aluminum, copper, and steel became controlled procurement materials. The company partially converted to war production while continuing limited manufacture for public consumption. Among the defense items produced by West Bend were cartridge cases, powder tanks, rocket containers, kitchenware and gas-mask canisters.
In 1957 West Bend Aluminum Co. began producing outboard motors in Barrie, Ontario for Canadian distribution. The Barrie plant operated as a division of the company until 1961 when it became West Bend of Canada. Simultaneously, West Bend Aluminum Co. changed its name to West Bend Company to reflect its use of materials such as plastics, copper, steel and brass in addition to aluminum. The company continued its expansion and its defense production, notably with an Army classified ammunition contract. In January 1965 the West Bend Company sold its outboard motor and industrial engine division including the Hartford plant, West Bend Company engine product line, and the machines and equipment located at Barrie, Ontario, to Chrysler Corporation. West Bend of Canada converted from a production facility to a distribution center for West Bend Company's Canadian sales.
During the 1960s West Bend Company expanded both its product lines and physical plant capacity. The company introduced Gem Coat and Teflon finished cookware products; buffet appliances, including the Kabob 'n Grill, Automatic Buffet Chef, and Smokeless Broiler-Rotisserie; and a new line of decorative pantryware and insulated serveware. In 1965 the West Bend Company began a million dollar expansion program at the West Bend plant as well as construction of a new plant in Sheridan, Arkansas; and also acquired NFC Engineering Co. of Anoka, Minnesota, manufacturer of Thermo-Serv insulated plastic dishes.
In the 1970s the West Bend Company introduced a new line called “specialty electrics” which consisted of products like the electric pizza baker and grill, electric yogurt maker, automatic egg cooker, and the “Fryette” electric deep fryer. Additional products introduced at this time included drip coffee makers, an electric wok, microwave oven cookware, and vertical wheel humidifiers. In the 1980s West Bend Company divested its aluminum cookware and humidifier lines; and pioneered the home electronics industry. New products such as the “Kitchen Controller” electronic timer and calculator, stopwatches and distance calculators for athletes were developed and marketed. Also in the 1980s West Bend Company acquired Total Gym (exercise equipment), Borg (electronic scales), Precor, and Ekco Home Products.
The West Bend Company remained privately held until it merged with Rexall Drug and Chemical Company on July 23, 1968. Rexall Drug and Chemical Company later changed its name to Dart Industries. In 1980 Dart Industries merged with Kraft Inc. In 1986 West Bend Company became part of Premark International Inc. a corporation which split off from Kraft Inc.
