FWD Seagrave Museum
  • About Us
  • Our History
    • Seagrave's History
    • FWD's History
    • FWD Seagrave History
  • Hours & Location
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Photos
  • A Step Back in Time
  • About Us
  • Our History
    • Seagrave's History
    • FWD's History
    • FWD Seagrave History
  • Hours & Location
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Photos
  • A Step Back in Time

 1906

Otto 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.

 1909

Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company was founded by Otto Zachow, William Besserdich & Walter Olen.

1910

The 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.

 1916

Punitive 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.

 1920

Luella Bates, a young woman test driver for FWD, crisscrosses country to demonstrate FWD truck.

 1943

FWD forms Wisconsin Central Airlines.


 1945

Since 1941, FWD has produced 24,000 military earning them Army-Navy “E” on December 13, 1943.

 1951

Heavy-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.

 1961

FWD 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.”

 1963

The Colombus Division of Seagrave Corporation is acquired by FWD. All operations were transferred to Clintonville, Wisconsin. 

Complete timeline available at the FWD Seagrave Museum

Seagrave's History (1881-1963)
Fwd Seagrave's History (1963-Present)
ABOUT US  ​
​  OUR HISTORY
 LOCATION & HOURS 
  CONTACT  ​​
DONATE   ​
PHOTOS
Picture
Copyright © 2019
Proudly powered by Weebly