1907-1908
Some of below I regard as indisputable hard fact, some is also questionable. Anything red, or with question mark? definitely questionable/requires more research and or editing/possibly deleting.
Chronology continues:
1907
- polk 1907 langs-wheel brass shelby.jpg (29.45 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Mention of brass sheet tube & rod may imply L-W were retailing goods previously supplied by Langsenkamp Coppersmith?
Both telephones 121, apparently transferred from previous Georgia street address.
Earliest known use of name “Langsenkamp-Wheeler Brass Works”* and 1208-1220 Shelby street address. *previously Langsenkamp Brothers Brass Works, Georgia street.
- langs multi 1907 polk pg 771.jpg (13.4 KiB) Viewed 300 times
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... ew=theater
LANGSENKAMP-WHEELER BRASS WORKS F H Wheeler president; William Langsenkamp Jnr vice president; Henry J Langsenkamp secretary & treasurer. Both telephones 121.
William LANGSENKAMP snr & Son*, Coppersmith, North-West Corner Delaware & Georgia streets. Both telephones 121. See ad pg 13. *Currently first known use of “& Son” in name. This is youngest son Frank, I suspect William senior was preparing for retirement and handing over to Frank? Not verified, more data required.
NOTE: I have been unable to find ad referred to, Index on page 75 (scan page
also lists pg 13 for ad, but original document page 75 is first numbered page, apparently all prominent, “non directory” ads deleted when 1907 directory scanned. Could Georgia street and Shelby street have simultaneously had identical phone numbers.? unverified, more data required
1907 early. “Wheeler & Schebler Manufacturers” were known to be established at 127-131 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis (building subsequently demolished). Page 10 https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/shaard/r ... CO_Nom.pdf
- scheb polk class 1907 pg 1387.jpg (2.83 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1907 precise date unknown, Original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1907 Directory, pg 1387 Image source https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... ew=theater
Schebler Carburetor Co, name as for 1906 Polk’s, 127-131 N Alabama. NOTE: This North Alabama street address was correct circa 1904 to early 1907approx.
1907 was first year Indianapolis Polk’s had “classified” listing for carburetor manufacturers, sole listing Schebler Carburetor Co.
Coincidentally, in later years, the Langsenkamp family home was at 2146 North Alabama Street, William Snr resided there until his death in 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7377013 ... 80-german/
- scheb all denison 1907 polk pg 1095.jpg (8.52 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1907 precise date unknown, all Schebler listings, original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1907 Directory, pg 1095. Image source
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... ew=theater
THE SCHEBLER CARBURETOR CO. (Frank H. Wheeler, George M. Schebler), Manufacturers of Gasoline Carburetors sw cor Shelby and Sanders. NOTE: This Shelby street address is definitely on South West corner of Shelby & Sanders, elsewhere* stated as 1200-1220 Shelby, and for L-W Brass Works 1208-1220, see above Polk classified ad & Langsenkamp listing. I suspect that circa 1907**, initially both Wheeler-Schebler Carburetors and Langsenkamp-Wheeler Brass Works shared pre-existing buildings at Shelby and Sanders***, with additional, new construction buildings commenced approx mid1906 and completed approx mid 1907. *Sanborn Fire Insurance map 1913. **Precisely when both companies re-located to Shelby is unknown, entirely possible the moves were spread over time to allow for re-purposing of pre-existing buildings (particularly for Brass Works) and minimise disruption to production, which may explain the conflicting addresses in 1907 Polk’s Directory? i.e. when Polk’s data collected W-S & L&W knew they were moving and where. ***Possibly some ex United states Wire and Nail buildings?. Not verified, more data required.
Schebler George M (The Schebler Carburetor Co), r* Denison Hotel. *rooms 1907)
NOTE: The Denison Hotel was upmarket and located at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Ohio Streets and Massachusetts Avenue. Demolished 1933. Source https://historicindianapolis.com/then-a ... ia-street/
- wheel F polk 1907 pg 1305.jpg (2.6 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1907 precise date unknown, Frank H Wheeler, original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1907 Directory, pg 1305. Image source https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... ew=theater
Frank H Wheeler, president Langsenkamp-Wheeler Brass Works, h 904 North Meridian street. (residence) as for 1904-06
1907, Jan 24: BURT NEULON PIERCE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, filed patent application 353,773 for a floatless carburettor. Patent 917,125 granted April 6, 1909. In Pierce’s name only, not assigned to a company.
F02M7/22 - Other installations, with moving parts, for influencing fuel/air ratio, e.g. having valves fuel flow cross-sectional area being controlled dependent on air-throttle-valve position. https://patents.google.com/patent/US917125
- pierce pat drwg 1907.jpg (25.61 KiB) Viewed 300 times
This floatless carburetor also has throttle controlled variable fuel flow and appears to be the only carburetor patent associated with Pierce, subsequent Marvel patents list others as inventors. Total of 15 Marvel patents. First patent assigned to Marvel was in 1917 https://goodip.io/iq/assignee/marvel-carburetor-company
To his credit, some of Pierce’s floatless principles were used later, on aircraft carburetors.
I have been unable to find any evidence that anything similar to this 1907 patent carburetor was ever advertised, or made by Marvel. See 1908 & later carbs.
1907 possibly March, according to a 1913 report, Pierce starts Marvel Manufacturing Company. The Marvel name was not patented/registered as a trade mark. See 1913. Carb bodies marked Marvel.
A little segue to straighten out a few “Marvel” myths.
Probably 1907? but definitely at least 1908-1911, both Marvel and Schebler carburetor companies were in Indianapolis. i.e. Demonstrably, separate, un-related, and competing companies, operating from very different addresses. (contrary to some modern “histories”)
Until at least circa 1928 absorption of Marvel into Borg-Warner, the partial new company name “Marvel-Schebler” could not and did not exist. See 1928. Also, the 1933 Borg-Warner exhibit at world fair listed Marvel and Wheeler-Schebler as 2 separate divisions, with no mention of Marvel-Schebler. See 1933.
I have found no period evidence that George Schebler was personally involved with Pierce, Marvel Carburetor Co, or Marvel-Schebler Division of Borg-Warner. (some modern “histories” claim he was, but currently no period, corroborating evidence known)
Apparently George Schebler and Burt Pierce were both Indianapolis musicians, violin makers/repairers & motorboat enthusiasts. It is entirely possible that they met and were acquainted.
However, the timeline of patents, established manufacturing of carburetors, the earliest currently known Marvel carburetor having obvious features of documented pre-existing Schebler carburetors, and that Pierce’s only carburetor patent was the above floatless item, appears to preclude the oft repeated assertion that George Schebler and Burt Pierce worked together on their 2 different carburetors before parting into separate manufacturers.
By the time Marvel bought Wheeler-Schebler, Pierce was long gone from Marvel Carburetor Co. see 1924 & 1925.
End of segue.
- marvel ad early undated Mr G.jpg (46.41 KiB) Viewed 300 times
?? Undated, early Marvel ad, Marvel Manufacturing Co, incomplete address, original source unknown: image source Mister G at http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/20 ... etors.html Model number unknown, updraft, pipe thread connection, with bolt-on reversible adaptor shown as dotted outline for side draft. Intake can be swivelled to any position.* Float type carb, the fuel inlet valve, and bowl arrangement are instantly recognisable as signature Schebler design. Presumably Marvel purchased right to use Schebler 1902 patent, which appears to have been in effect until 1919. *patent work-around, this carb is Marvel’s close equivalent to Schebler D, except airflow direction of Marvel cannot be reversed, due to throttle butterfly being integral with body..
1907 approx, Schebler Model E carburetor introduced
- scheb E.jpg (37.68 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Date & original source unknown Image source https://forums.aaca.org/topic/346187-sc ... rb-needed/
The Schebler Model E was a further, but separate and much changed, development of 1905 Model D, which also remained in parallel production. The Schebler model E has different body, bowl and aux air bend, the E has primary air intake at bottom (foreground air-bend), the auxiliary air intake is via the re-configured air bend at top (internally different to D). E still has angled main jet adjustment via bowl. The E was catalogued and sold alongside D and other models.
Note that this illustrated E has a “butterfly shutter” aka choke, in the main intake air bend. The model E was George Schebler’s first foray into production of auxiliary air valve type carburetors.
At least one Schebler Model E has a clover stamp and T inside triangle stamp, see these and other early Schebler hallmarks/cartouches, including a trumpet/bugle at… http://www.oldmarineengine.com/cgi-bin/ ... age=253223
- scheb EX25 a.jpg (85.71 KiB) Viewed 264 times
- scheb EX25 b.jpg (77.93 KiB) Viewed 264 times
Bowl casting number E10. Bowl stamped EX25. Auxiliary air bend casting number E11. Choke missing from primary air bend. Guillotine throttle. Lever for remote operation of tickler.
NOTE: The stamped E is Schebler primary model identifying letter. The X indicates assembled as a complete carburetor by Schebler. (bare components supplied as spare parts did not have X)????. The 25 is Schebler code for actual specification of carburetor assembly. This applies to most, if not all Schebler carburetors. Source????
The smaller sizes of model E did not have the lower air-bend main intake, instead they had a simple gauze disc at bottom of bowl.
- small E gauze intake sans bend.jpg (19.37 KiB) Viewed 264 times
- scheb price D E F H ex joe rsz.jpg (321.98 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Original date and source unknown, Schebler Price List, Image source Page 27, History of the Schebler Carburetor. Compiled by Joseph Greiwe, Batesville Indiana, circa 2009. Private publication and printing. No ISBN. Few sources identified. Some errors of fact. Author’s collection. Historical value diminished without date and original source, Date is likely around time model L released. More data required.
NOTE: In this list, models D, E, F, H & L Scheblers are all pipe thread manifold connection; The model F available up to 3inch; The “Balance Throttles” are likely the optional butterfly throttles. No mention of “butterfly shutter” aka choke . The pipe thread model H is early version of first motorcycle and small vehicle specific Schebler carb.. The E, F, H & L models are all auxiliary air valve types.
1907 precise date unknown, “Harry C. Stutz again changed employment, moving to the Marion Motor Car Company (Indianapolis). He performed the dual role of factory manager and chief engineer, though he had no formal training in either. He took up race car driving for his employer almost immediately while doing other tasks on the side like engineering his own transaxle”. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2022/ ... st-part-i/
- wheeler & schebler 1907.jpg (106.96 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Said to be 1907 ad for Wheeler & Schebler, cropped, only the ebay seller’s “word” for claimed Motor Age (July 4, 1907) source & date . I have been unable to find data re 174 mile sealed bonnet reliability trial, however, the ad’s stated “LOCATION OF NEW PLANT Shelby and Sanders Streets and Barth Ave” is actually correct for at least the latter half of 1907, by which time Schebler Carburetor Co and Langsenkamp-Wheeler Brass Works had both re-established in this location.
The use of the horseshoe motif, photo of Orby the horse with owner Richard Crocker and the connection between thoroughbred horse racing, the English Derby (Epsom) and Schebler carburetors is unclear to me. However, for dating purposes, these obscure details in this ad are very fortunate. In 1907, Orby the horse, did indeed win both the Irish and English (Epsom) Derbys, owner Richard Crocker. https://www.racingbetter.co.uk/races/derby/winners.html
In 1907 Orby became the first Irish-trained horse, and the third owned by an American*, to win The Derby. In the same year, he became the first horse to complete the Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Orby_(horse)
* Irishman Richard “Boss” Crocker was Orby’s breeder and owner, but he also had close links to New York and apparently was regarded interchangeably as both Irish and American.
Thus above ad is almost certainly circa July 4 1907 and at 2023 time of writing is currently the last known use of the “WHEELER & SCHEBLER MANUFACTURERS” name in magazine advertisements.
1907 precise date unknown, Wheeler & Schebler Manufacturers, 127-131 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis, became Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company.
1907 precise date unknown, Langsenkamp Brothers & Wheeler Brass Works, 136-142 East Georgia Street, Indianapolis, became Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works.
1907 July ?, apparently simultaneously, both Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company* and Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works** relocated into complex of existing, and new, built for purpose buildings at Shelby St, which runs South off Sanders.
*Wheeler-Schebler Manufacturers approx mid 1907 relocation corroborated by above July 4, 1907 Schebler advertisement.
**Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works approx mid 1907 relocation corroborated by one 1928 source https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn ... nge&page=4
As at Feb 2023, this below 1908 building footprint is as close to 1907 as I have been able to find.
- 1908 Biast atlas plan 19 1908 crop.jpg (67.01 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Extract from Indianapolis Biast Property Atlas, plan 19, 1908, image source https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.or ... 241/rec/13
Biast plans are Real Estate plans, not fire insurance plans, Biast pink merely indicates Brick, or Iron construction and thus higher monetary value.
Left is Barth avenue, top is Sanders street, right is Shelby street. 1908 building footprints, i.e. soon after 1906-07 new construction. The 2 separate pink buildings at top, adjacent to Sanders street, are marked “CARBURETOR MANUFACTURY”. Which implies that in 1908 these 2 top buildings were Wheeler-Schebler. I suspect that the isolated pink carburetor building at top left was pre-existing. I suspect that the isolated pink carburetor building at top right was pre-existing and may have been 1877 Wire & Nail Works? The U shaped pink building complex at lower right is marked “BRASS WORKS”. Which implies that, in 1908 this was Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works. I suspect that the 2 vertical legs of U were pre-existing. At lower right, the presumed lot 7 (between 6 &
I suspect that the Eastern portion was pre-existing. Lots 6&8 were new construction 1906-1907, lot 6 being described by Joe Greiwe as “Foundry” and on later Sanborn plans as “Moulding Room” Lot 8 is “Machine Shop” on later Sanborn plans. Exterior views of Shelby street frontage/facade can be seen in below artist rendering and 1907 Bass photo below that. Lot 7 façade has flagpole and doors to Shelby. In 1908 at Barth avenue, lots 21 to 25 appear to not be part of Schebler, or brass works, lot 21 is vacant and lot 25 is partially vacant and same lot seen in 1907 photo and earlier rendering.Joseph Greiwe states “Another new building was built, making it two new facilities and two old facilities. The new buildings were built of steel and reinforced concrete so there was no need of fire insurance* required on the structures.” Original source unknown, this verbatim text from Page 7, History of the Schebler Carburetor. Compiled by Joseph Greiwe, Batesville Indiana, circa 2009. Private publication and printing. No ISBN. Few sources identified. Some errors of fact. Author’s collection. *Fire Proof Construction did not prevent damage from fire, or exempt fire insurance, it simply reduced risk, which enabled reduced annual insurance costs.
Joe implies that pre-existing buildings were re-purposed, together with new construction, for which “ground was broke” circa July 1906.
- cropped brass wks 1915 plan.jpg (46.77 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Partial building footprint, Shelby Street at right, Sanders Street at top, extracted from Sanborn 1915 map. Image source, see complete zoomable 1915 plan at https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.or ... P2/id/2158
I inserted this here to illustrate new and pre-existing construction, particularly the 1906-07 built Moulding Room and Machine Shop of Wheeler & Langsenkamp Brass Works.
Above 1915 Moulding Room, concrete arch roof-no supports = mid 1906-mid 1907 new construction, see Biast 1908 Lot 6 above.
Above 1915 Cleaning 1st floor & Pattern Storage 2nd floor = Western end mid1906- mid 1907 new construction, see Biast 1908 Lot 7 above.
Above 1915 Shipping 1st & Office 2nd = Eastern end of pre-existing 1908 Lot 7 above.
Above 1915 Machine Shop 1st & 2nd = mid1906-mid1907 new construction, see Biast 1908 Lot 8 above.
To the West, or left of above to Barth Ave, in 1907 was a combination of other buildings and a vacant lot adjoining alley at bottom. see Biast 1908 Lot 8 above.
1907 July, verbatim, Joseph Greiwe describes the interior in detail …
- joe office.jpg (205.36 KiB) Viewed 300 times
“The buildings contained machine shops, molding rooms, cruicible room, office, pattern making room, and shipping room. In July 1907 the plant was completed and opened for business. It was said to be the most up-to-date building in Indianapolis with the most modern equipment engaged in the manufacture of motor car accessories. Another new building was built, making it two new facilities and two old facilities. The new buildings were built of steel and reinforced concrete so there was no need of fire insurance required on the structures. Every department had sheet
- joe washroom.jpg (140.27 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Marble Wash Stand and Lavatory were found in each department.
steel lavatories and marble wash stands and metal lockers for all the workers. This was not a common thing for factories during this time period. There were also exhaust fans to draw off grinding, buffing dust, and ventilation devices to help in the comfort and health of the workmen. This was a very rare convenience for a factory to have for the employees in this time period. The factory was designed so production started at the foundry and machine shop department and then the progress of the carburetor moved from the rough metal state to the heating furnace, to the molding foundry to the machine shop, and to the buffing and polishing departments. Then the various parts were sent to the assembly room where they were put in the proper place in the carburetor.
The manufacturing started at the north end of the building and moved to the south and the finished products were shipped from the south end of the building. The design of the building and layout of the production for efficiency was marveled at by many people.
The furnace room was 20 feet wide by 48 feet long. It was the first step in the process of manufacturing and contained 14 furnaces, which were used to melt four and one half tons of aluminum and brass needed in the manufacturing of carburetors each day. A crane in this room was used to raise and lower the crucibles in and out of the furnaces. Opening into this room at one end was the metal room and beside it the fuel room for feeding the furnaces.
The foundry room was 135 feet long by 56 feet wide. It contained five of the largest reinforced concrete arches in the world in a building during this time period. These arches measured 44 feet in height and 56 feet from the base at one end to the other. Along the top center of the arches ran a monitor 12 feet high and 23 feet wide, which had continuous windows on each side for good light. Electric lights were installed for night work or for dark or cloudy days. Entirely encircling the room was a track for an electric crane to convey the molten metal to the molds. Thirty men worked in the foundry room.
- joe foundry.jpg (163.96 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Foundry
In the core room workmen made the cores for the castings. There were five ovens for baking the cores. Rolling steel doors facilitated the opening and closing of the ovens. With the molding machine one man could make 1000 parts in a day. It had to be very efficient because there were at least seven castings for each carburetor.
After the castings left the foundry they were sent to a room where the rough bits of metal were cut off. The parts were then placed in a 12 by 13-foot room where the castings were made smoother by sand blasting. After sand blasting the parts were sent to the machine room where 85 men worked. Some of the parts needed to be turned on a lathe and some went to a milling machine where threads were cut on them and some parts needed the edges milled or smoothed for joining. Workmen had rolling trays where they could place the finished part and another worker could roll it to the next station.
The next step was the buffing and polishing room. In this room all the grinders and buffers had an exhaust system to draw off all the grinding and buffing dust. A very work friendly atmosphere of this well planned facility.
There was also a room where the floats were made and treated with two baths of hot shellac. The next process was the assembly room. In this room 55 men put together all the parts for the completion of the carburetor. After this was completed it was sent to the shipping room, which had shelving for a maximum of 2,000 carburetors.
- joe 2000 carbs.jpg (235.88 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Two Thousand carburetors in shipping room.
The power for operating the machinery came from a 170 horsepower gas engine fed from a gas producer plant. The coal for the producer plant was handled without a man touching it. The water supply was held in a 1500-barrel concrete tank, which got its supply from a 420 foot deep well.
- joe gas engine.jpg (319.67 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Gas engine supplies power.
There were a total of 180 men working in different parts of the plant. The projected output of the Schebler carburetor was: 1904 500 units 1905 2,500 units 1906 30,000 units 1907 70,000 projected
In 1906 their goal was to have 25,000 carburetors on hand to make sure all orders would be filled within 24 hours.
I think from what I have related to you, you will have to agree that the plant was far superior in its design and way ahead of its time in 1907. It was designed with the safety and health and comfort of their employees foremost in their minds, which far exceeded the requirements of the time.” End of quote.
Original source unknown, this verbatim text and images from Pages 6-11, History of the Schebler Carburetor. Compiled by Joseph Greiwe, Batesville Indiana, circa 2009. Private publication and printing. No ISBN. Few sources identified. Some errors of fact. Author’s collection.
IMO the sentence “The manufacturing started at the north end of the building and moved to the south and the finished products were shipped from the south end of the building.” Only applies to Langsenkamp & Wheeler foundry operations.
1. Raw materials delivered to T shaped yard seen just beneath the isolated pink carburetor building at top right of 1908 Biast plan above.
2. Metal ingots placed in metal store.
3. As required, metal ingots moved to crucible room* and melted. *just above Moulding room seen on 1915 Sanborn plan above.
4. Crucibles full of molten metal moved to moulding room/hall*, metal poured into moulds. * seen on 1915 Sanborn plan above.
5. “After the castings left the foundry they were sent to a room where the rough bits of metal were cut off.” (Probably “Cleaning 1st” floor at left, beneath moulding room seen on 1915 Sanborn plan above.
6. “The parts were then placed in a 12 by 13-foot room where the castings were made smoother by sand blasting.” At centre beneath moulding room seen on 1915 Sanborn plan above.
7. “After sand blasting the parts were sent to the machine room where 85 men worked.” Bottom/Southernmost Machine Shop 1st & 2nd floors, beneath moulding room seen on 1915 Sanborn plan above.
8. After foundry & machine shop manufacture of all cast component parts, apparently they were transferred to top/Northernmost “Carburetor Manufactury” 2 buildings at Sanders street on 1908 Biast plan above,.for final manufacture/assembly of carburetors.
Judged by the phrase “In 1906 their goal was to have 25,000 carburetors on hand”, together with the building interior images and detail paraphrased by Joe, I suspect a yet to be identified circa 1907 promotional document showcasing the new for mid 1907 Shelby Street factory complex. Entirely possible that the new foundry construction came on line before mid 1907 Shebler move. The fact that the name Langsenkamp is not mentioned at all in Joe’s entire book, suggests to me that this unidentified source was a Wheeler-Schebler promotional document. Frank Wheeler appears to have been the dominant partner of both W-S and L-W, One has to wonder what the Langsenkamp family felt about this exclusion?
NOTE: In no way do I wish to denigrate Joseph Greiwe for his not mentioning Langsenkamp. Joe approached his history of George Schebler from the perspective of Joe’s own early life association with George. From all of the foregoing it is now obvious that the Langsenkamp’s intimate connection to Wheeler-Schebler has been severely down-played. Whereas I approached this history from another direction, with the knowledge that Schebler and Linkert were somehow connected and by association, so were the Langsenkamp family. Thus primarily, I was actively looking for hidden connections, which I knew existed and ultimately found.
NOTE by July 1906 the actual production figures for financial/fiscal years 1904-05 and 1905-06 would have been known and perhaps included the desired 25,000 carburetor inventory? The only projected output should have been 1906-07. Of course salesman Wheeler may have massaged the fiscal year figures into calendar years? unclear-ambiguous.
NOTE Re image “Wheeler Shebler’s office”. I strongly suspect that this office was upstairs in building with flagpole and doors to Shelby street. IMO office view is looking North, trees on Shelby street can be seen through window at right/East (trees as in 1907 Bass photo see below). Not verified, more data required. See below and Sanborn Maps. At left, seated, facing camera, I suspect is George Schebler. At right, seated, facing to left, I suspect is Frank Wheeler. Not verified, more data required.
NOTE Re image “Marble Wash Stand and Lavatory etc”. and associated text. Judged by what appears to be a cart full of carburetor components in washroom at left foreground, apparently despite vast expansion, factory floorspace was still limited. Indicative of rapid growth. Joseph Greiwe states “Workmen had rolling trays where they could place the finished part and another worker could roll it to the next station”. Apparently one of these rolling trays was parked in washroom when photo taken.
NOTE Re image “Foundry” and associated text. Judged by the visible arch roof, the sunlight coming in at top from monitor windows, the sunlight coming in at East facing, high, arched windows (sunlight over-exposing original photograph), and steel girders of gantry crane at left and right. This is obviously an Eastward looking interior shot of Shelby street building, see Shelby street facade below, 3rd building from left, see Biast 1908 Lot 6 above and below and see also Sanborn Maps where this building is described as “Moulding Room” i.e. where prepared moulds were filled with molten metal.
NOTE Re image “Two Thousand carburetors in shipping room” and associated text. I strongly suspect that this Shipping Room was on 1st/ground floor of building with flagpole and doors to Shelby street. Not verified, more data required. see Biast 1908 Lot 6 above and below and also Sanborn Maps which show Shipping Room in this location. Whilst clearly not efficient, it makes sense to me that completed carburetors were re-transferred from assembly at Sanders street, back to Shipping room below main office. Final inspection, correlation of original customer order to product, accounting/billing, packing and finally shipping. Much would again change after additional new buildings were constructed, see 1911, 1919 & 1920.
NOTE Re image “Gas engine supplies power” Precise circa 1907 location of this engine unknown, possibly at Western end of Moulding Room. Not verified, more data required. By 1913 there were several “gas” engines and they literally ran on gas extracted on site from coal. See Sanborn 1913 & 1915 maps.
- art render Schebler and brass works.jpg (59.46 KiB) Viewed 300 times
This image sourced from https://monthly.mecum.com/search/wheeler+schebler/ no origin, or further details known to author, at this location, or elsewhere. Historical value diminished without date and original source. More data required.
I suspect this image is a circa 1905-06, pre-construction, artist’s rendering of what the new Shelby street additions to Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works were going to look like, when completed.
The 1908 Biast map shows Wheeler-Schebler carburetor factory was all adjacent to Sanders street. i.e. In this rendering the pre-existing building at far right with lowest façade (corner of Sanders & Shelby) and more buildings obscured in this rendering. (Artist’s primary objective was to illustrate new construction)
The new construction building 3rd from left is described by Joseph Greiwe, reinforced concrete arch roof etc and the “Foundry” image provided by Greiwe shows the high arched windows, arch roof and gantry crane.
Judged by its more modern, utilitarian, appearance and L shape of new construction building at left. Together with lower height of building with flagpole and doors to Shelby street. I strongly suspect this building with entrance doors was pre-existing and was surrounded by 1906-07 new construction. Not verified, more data required.
If, in fact, D. A. Bohlen & Son, and or, Herbert Lawrence Bass, were also the architects for this 1906-07 construction, this image possibly originates from the preparation of those plans? Not verified, more data required.
Such “Birdseye view”, engravings for printing were readily available from the likes of Stafford Engraving Co, Indianapolis, see 1904 Polk directory, 8-page Stafford supplement inserted between pages 1244-1245. https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... ew=theater
View looking approx North-West, the combined LANGSENKAMP & WHEELER BRASS WORKS and WHEELER-SCHEBLER CARBURETOR COMPANY buildings, Shelby Street bottom-centre to right-centre, Sanders Street out of view runs from far right, parallel with alley at left. Barth Ave runs from far left to Sanders. Smokestack at left close to Barth. Smokestack at centre is likely at Western end of crucible room. Impressively wide street at left was in real life a somewhat less grandiose, un-named, 13ft wide alley. Likewise, pre-existing mature trees on Shelby sidewalk have been deleted to improve “view”, such is the power of illustrative artists. However the 3 main buildings left to right are fairly accurately portrayed and as at Feb 2023, this is the best, currently known illustrative source available.
The three foreground facades left to right, are the same as Bass 1907 foundry photo below. Obviously different architecture for each, however all 3 were reinforced concrete and rated as fireproof construction. See Sanborn maps
The very distinctive building 3rd from left was the moulding room/hall, this is where the molten metal was poured into the moulds. To handle the moulds and crucibles there was an overhead gantry crane. The crucible handling and metal pouring dictated this building’s clear-span, high and ventilated roof, according to sanborn maps the reinforced concrete arch roof was 42ft high to top of raised concrete monitor, which had 8ft high windows. The East-West eaves were 22ft high and floor was brick, frontage onto Shelby, but no access doors there. Tall, arched windows at Shelby caught the morning sun. According to Joseph Greiwe the moulding/foundry room “was 135 feet long by 56 feet wide. It contained five of the largest reinforced concrete arches in the world in a building during this time period. These arches measured 44 feet in height and 56 feet from the base at one end to the other. Along the top center of the arches ran a monitor 12 feet high and 23 feet wide, which had continuous windows on each side for good light. Electric lights were installed for night work or for dark or cloudy days. Entirely encircling the room was a track for an electric crane to convey the molten metal to the molds. Thirty men worked in the foundry room.” Being a foundry building it was likely a Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works building, but the individual assets of intimately connected BRASS WORKS and CARBURETOR companies are difficult to definitively ascertain.
The centre building of these 3, was 2 story with flagpole and the only one with doors to Shelby. Circa 1907-1911, at frontage was carburetor Shipping on first/ground floor, and apparently combined Executive Office of both companies on second floor. Internal access stairway separated foundry processes deeper in building. Likely office partially warmed by heat from adjacent molten metal pouring. I strongly suspect this centre building was pre-existing and not part of new construction 1906-1907.
I strongly suspect that circa 1907-1911, the foreground 2 story, L shaped building at left with SCHEBLER CARBURETOR COMPANY sign on roof, was Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works machine shop. According to Joseph Greiwe “After sand blasting the parts were sent to the machine room where 85 men worked. Some of the parts needed to be turned on a lathe and some went to a milling machine where threads were cut on them and some parts needed the edges milled or smoothed for joining. Workmen had rolling trays where they could place the finished part and another worker could roll it to the next station.” The square structure on roof of L shaped building likely contained the winding gear for freight elevator in this location, marked E on 1915 plan above. There are also 2 chimney-like uptakes which may have been associated with “the grinders and buffers had an exhaust system to draw off all the grinding and buffing dust”
Whether the signage on roof at left alignment, actually existed, or merely added by artist, is unknown. Usage of SCHEBLER CARBURETOR COMPANY name on roof sign corresponds with name in 1906 -1908 Polk’s listings. By 1913 this machine shop building, plus addition of similar architecture extension through to Barth Ave, was all machine shop of LANGSENKAMP & WHEELER BRASS WORKS.
These 3 buildings L to R survived until at least the 1950’s, see 1956 and 1961 later in this chronology.
Note that at far left this rendering shows a vacant lot with possibly parked cars. Ditto in 1907 photo below, directly to left i.e. behind the foreground South East corner building, there is no similar building. This vacant lot is shown on 1908 Biast plan see 1908, but was built over sometime between 1908 and 1913. See 1913 map
Circa 1911-1912 the WHEELER-SCHEBLER CARBURETOR COMPANY moved carburetor manufacture to another new purpose-built building, not yet constructed in this rendering (surviving building, see 1911).
- Langsenkamp foundry 1907.jpg (62.25 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Indiana Historical Society, Bass Photo Co Collection, Indiana Historical Society.
folder169_doc49.jpg https://images.indianahistory.org/digit ... 2715/rec/2
Precise image date currently unknown, awaiting reply with further data from Indiana Historical Society. Although the closest building does not appear “new” I suspect it was recently constructed, airborne pollution from coal-fired factories and households, combined with winter low sunlight, result in a less than sharp photo. Judged by the bare trees, low light conditions and probable snow, I suspect photo taken late 1907
Shelby Street left to right, looking approx North-West, un-named 13 feet wide alley runs alongside first Industrial building i.e. this is South-East corner of what would later be the entire city block filled with Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works.
Note 1 By 1913 the 2 story building at extreme right was office space on first floor (probably day to day Brass Works “operations” office?) and second floor was pattern shop. May be same building, or at least shares its footprint with the old United States Wire and Nail building of 1877, on corner of Sanders street.
Note 2 At far left this 1907 photo shows a vacant lot. Ditto vacant in rendering above. i.e. behind the foreground South East corner building, there is no similar building. This vacant lot was later built over. I strongly suspect that the foreground building was occupied by Machine Shop of Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works. Not Verified? More data required. These 3 buildings L to R survived until at least 1950’s, see 1956 and 1961 later in this chronology.
Note 3 In same year as both BRASS WORKS and CARBURETOR companies began operations on this site, photographer Bass described this image as Langsenkamp Foundry. See top left of photo. I strongly suspect this description is fairly accurate, apart from flag-pole & doors building with shipping room and shared executive offices, and building at far right, everything prominently visible was all new-construction. Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works. Not Verified? More data required. See 1908 Biast map.
Note 4 One unverified source* suggests that photographer William Bass was closely related to architect Herbert Lawrence Bass. If verified, this may explain why photographer Bass recorded the Lansenkamp Foundry buildings in 1907, 1930 and 1961 (at least)? Not Verified? More data required.
*Google architect Herbert Lawrence Bass, go to facebook link. For reasons unknown to me, I can’t put any kind of Facebbook link only in this website article. I even tried converting link to plain text and pasting it in, supposedly everything stripped out except letters & numerals, but no, wasted hours on work-arounds, the irrelevant to this article image etc is automatically recognised and dumped into this website article. Another reason to hate facebook.
……………………………….
1908
- langs copper polk 1908 pg 13 crop.jpg (63.58 KiB) Viewed 300 times
The long established William Langsenkamp Coppersmith business remained at 130-138 East Georgia street. Only the Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works moved to Shelby street. (plus of course, Wheeler Schebler from Alabama street)
- 1908 langs copper 1908 Sanborn 130-144 Georgia.jpg (79.78 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1908 extract from Indianapolis Baist Atlas Plan # 3, 1908, image source
https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.or ... 268/rec/25
At bottom, 130-144 Georgia street, corner Delaware street. Unidentified brass finishing, machine shop & pattern making shop. Presumed William Langsenkamp & Son and after his retirement Frank H. Langsenkamp coppersmith shop.
Exact same location as Langsenkamp Brothers Brass Works, 1906 and earlier, but in 1908 this location is now exclusively William Langsenkamp & Son coppersmith.
1908 precise date unknown, Wilhelm/William Langsenkamp Snr retired from his coppersmith business aged 71. Youngest son, Frank Herbert Langsenkamp carried on coppersmith operation at Delaware & Georgia streets. Source obituary, William Senior https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7377013 ... 80-german/
Source obituary, Frank Herbert Langsenkamp, The Indianapolis News (newspaper) Mar 16, 1953, Mon Page 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2306863 ... amp-death/
From 1908 Frank Herbert Langsenkamp will go on to build the coppersmith business, change its name and direction into manufacture of industrial preserving and canning machinery. F. H. Langsenkamp business now more or less completely separate from Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works.
- langs brass polks1908 pg1478 crop.jpg (57.14 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1908 precise date unknown, Langsenkamp & Wheeler Brass Works classified ad , original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1908 Directory, pg 1478. Image source
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... 8/mode/2up
1208-1220 Shelby, telephones New-9786. Old-Prospect 25.
- carbs polks 1908 pg1481 crop.jpg (9.56 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1908 precise date unknown, classified ad, Marvel Carburetor Co, 15-1/2 Virginia Avenue (same as Pierce residential address). original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1908 Directory, pg 1481. Image source https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... 0/mode/2up
Earliest known Polk’s appearance for Marvel Manufacturing Co, 15-1/2 Virginia Avenue.
- wheel polk 1908 pg1361 crop.jpg (5.92 KiB) Viewed 300 times
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... 0/mode/2up
- pierce violin polk 1908 pg1040 crop.jpg (3.8 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1908 precise date unknown, Burt N. Pierce, violin maker, 15-1/2 Virginia Avenue. original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1908 Directory, pg 1040. Image source
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... 0/mode/2up
Same address as Marvel Manufacturing Co, from which I deduce Pierce was making, or perhaps at least assembling Marvel carburetors at his home.
- scheb polk 1908 pg1144 crop.jpg (9.81 KiB) Viewed 300 times
1908 precise date unknown, George M. Schebler (Wheeler & Schebler) h 4. 234 North Delaware (residence) original source Polk’s Indianapolis 1908 Directory, pg 1144. Image source
https://archive.org/details/polksindian ... 4/mode/2up
- 1908 heart of auto.jpg (10.38 KiB) Viewed 300 times
NOTE 1 Above carb illustration within heart shows a Schebler Model D. Bottom fuel feed with signature hinged float pivot and bottom angled mixture screw/adjustable main jet. As previously described, see 1905.
NOTE 2 The Model H in contents listed by seller was introduced late 1907 for 1908 model year and was Schebler’s first motorcycle-specific carburetor. Unfortunately it was also influenced by Krebs and thus is an auxiliary air valve type.
NOTE 3 Undated cover bears the earlier circa 1905 “WHEELER & SCHEBLER MANUFACTURERS” name, as does at least the 1911 edition of booklet. Likely booklet covers lagged behind corporate name changes.
- early mod H cover.jpg (155.75 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Precise date unknown, original source unknown, early Model H, Schebler booklet cover, sidedraft only, pipethread.
- scheb early H parts list.jpg (25.26 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Early Model H Schebler parts list , Historical value diminished without date and original source. More data required. image source both https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/16558614576 ... SkQAvD_BwE
Item V Flusher, aka tickler, aka primer, which was used to depress float and thus create a rich condition for cold starting (deleted from later H carbs).
- Early scheb H ex Bonhams.jpg (35.26 KiB) Viewed 254 times
Early Schebler Model H, sidedraft with female thread manifold attachment at top. Primary air intake via air bend at lower left, auxiliary air intake at lower right. Cam and lever for needle lift can be seen near needle knob. On this adjustable mixture needle side, bulged area of body marked Schebler (raised script). Image source ex Bonhams, Las Vegas 12 Jan 2012. https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19679/l ... arburetor/
NOTE: "That particular example has a unique control attachment, and I have no idea what the bizarre float pivot bearing screw might be. (Otherwise, it looks in marvelous condition, and probably could have been conserved to its original patinated nickel.)
Few if any that crossed my benches were model stamped. . Many had only inspection stamps, occasionally a U." (Tom Cotten, personal comment to author 03 Mar 2023)
- 12POPEL.jpg (52.97 KiB) Viewed 246 times
Apparently flusher/tickler deleted circa 3 bolt flange H.
- 12Ex 3.JPG (302.63 KiB) Viewed 246 times
- OPPOSED1.jpg (141.99 KiB) Viewed 246 times
- sch H color.jpg (139.58 KiB) Viewed 300 times
However this color illustration is late H which has 3 bolt motorcycle type flange mount and is sans “flusher/tickler/primer”
Original source: Schebler Motorcycle Service Station Manual 1928 page 23, author’s collection. Also http://www.hydra-glide.net/phpBB3/knowl ... cle?k=1103
This image source and model H restoration tips at. http://www.geocities.ws/pravgeusau/schebler.htm
NOTE: The primary air intake is via “air bend” with oval & flared air entry at bottom of bowl, which could be swivelled on thread and screw-locked in position to draw heated air from near cylinder. Engine vacuum opens Krebs inspired auxiliary air valve against light spring. As throttle opened, cam & lever proportionally lift needle to admit more fuel and auxiliary valve also opens to admit more air. Auxiliary air valve can also be locked closed, for starting, to ensure all air only enters carb via primary air bend.
Many H carbs have no stamped model numbers. HX147 for the 1920-24 Indian PowerPlus is the earliest Tom Cotten has recorded. There are many poorly documented variations of Schebler Model H. (pers comm Mar 2023). For an auxiliary air valve, cam controlled single jet, carburetor, the model H, for its time, was about as sophisticated, as one could get, suffered from abuse due to ignorance and wear of the moving parts.
1908: According to one modern “history”, the Marvel Carburetor Company was formed and J. R. Francis backed Pierce’s design. This design was used heavily by General Motors, also formed in 1908 https://msacarbs.com/ No sources identified. J. R. Francis is confirmed as an early backer of Pierce/Marvel. The stated heavy usage of Marvel carbs is unconfirmed?. Buick and Oldsmobile are confirmed as early users of Marvel carburetors, but apparently not in 1908? See 1911, Schebler D used by Buick
For clarity, summary of Marvel establishment:
The currently known evidence suggests that J. Richard Francis was an established and well know apothecarist/pharmacist/chemist/druggist from Indiananapolis; J. Richard Francis had a son, Dean D. Francis; J. Richard Francis bought into Pierce’s pre-existing one-man, small-time carburetor business; circa 1907 Marvel Carburetor Co started in Indianapolis; at different times Marvel operated from at least 2 different Indianapolis addresses.
End of summary
Also, as an Apothecarist/Chemist, it is likely that in the early days, J. Richard Francis was a go-to guy to obtain gasoline, and that he was experienced with laboratory apparatus, had knowledge of behavior of gases & liquids, effects of vacuum etc. Such scientific knowledge would have been valuable to caburetor design, but currently nothing to this effect has been found.
- pleasure marvel 1908 fandom.jpg (52.52 KiB) Viewed 300 times
Source The Automobile Trade Directory Jan 1908, precise date and page unknown. Image source https://mycompanies.fandom.com/wiki/Mar ... or_Company Historical value diminished without date and original source. More data required.
1908 As seen here, the Marvel Manufacturing Company were selling float type carbs with unmistakable Schebler design float arrangement & bowl. Simultaneously, no evidence of founder Pierce’s 1907 patent floatless carburetor. Indianapolis Box address. This is currently the earliest known Marvel advertisement.
By reversing the bolted on adaptor at left, above Marvel carb could be converted from sidedraft shown, to updraft. Intake at right could be swivelled. Flow direction not reversible due to throttle butterfly in main body. Appears to be single jet carb with fuel adjuster at bottom.
Marvel approximate equivalent to 1904 Schebler. Apparently the only model offered by Marvel at this time. Just like the Schebler D, this Marvel carb would likely have poor throttle response/control, ok at the time for boats and primitive cars.
1908 late: Schebler carburetor business good enough for Frank H. Wheeler and his future neighbour, Carl G. Fisher, along with James Allison, and Arthur C. Newby, to co-found the INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (I.M.S.) source?
End of Part 4
Still some holes in knowledge of events, but lots more detail to come. Additional data very welcome, watch this space.
Nifty