1906Otto Zachow meets with attorney Walter A. Olen to discuss a patent for the ball and socket steering joint. A patent is granted two years later. |
1909Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company was founded by Otto Zachow, William Besserdich & Walter Olen. |
1910The Battleship is built and can be seen in our museum. It is considered the first successful four wheel drive automobile in the United States.
Walter Olen is appointed as the companies first president (and remains president until his retirement in 1944). Olen is responsible for the major success of FWD. |
1916Punitive Expedition begins. Over 120 trucks needed to capture Poncho Villa. Colonel John “Black Jack” Pershing leads the American efforts. |
1917$65,000,000 military truck order is received from the U. S. Government for World War I. |
1920Luella Bates, a young woman test driver for FWD, crisscrosses country to demonstrate FWD truck. |
1943FWD forms Wisconsin Central Airlines. |
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1945Since 1941, FWD has produced 24,000 military earning them Army-Navy “E” on December 13, 1943. |
1951Heavy-duty models continue to be added to the lineup: 35,000 pound GVW Model HC6x6, the 40,000 pound GVW Model HCY6x6, and the 45,000 pound GVW Model MU6x6. |
1961FWD Wagner-Portland, OR. The “Tractioneer” line, based on the newly developed driveline system was introduced. This location manufactured “heavy duty, rubber tired tractors and compactors for agricultural earth moving and construction uses as well as heavy duty rubber tired forklifts.” |
1963The Colombus Division of Seagrave Corporation is acquired by FWD. All operations were transferred to Clintonville, Wisconsin. |
