D.W. ONAN SONS

The Story of

and

American Freedom

American Production

THIS Booklet is dedicated to winning thewar, to encouragement of war bond purchases, to men of the Onan organization now fighting for freedom and to those present Onan men and women on production assembly lines.

OFFICIAL O.W.I. PHOTOS

NEARLY 25 years ago, D. W. Onan & Sons entered the industrialand manufacturing field and the subsequent building of light andpower generators. In a barn in the north section of Minneapolis,D. W. Onan assembled bits of equipment and machinery obtained bya small loan. It was a “one-man” shop. He solicited business withmeager success. Later he moved his shop to the basement of his homewhere his two sons, Bud and Bob, helped Dad produce at night theunits sold by day.

WITH the advent of A. C. radio sets, demand rose from ruralcommunities for electric generators of the portable, gasoline-driventype. Domestic use of Onan generators grew with rapidity. A smallfactory building was erected adjacent to the Onan frame house andproduction began in earnest.

MAGICALLY, Onan generators found their way to all parts ofthe planet, providing light and power in 49 foreign countries. TheUnited States defense program and requirements of Allied Nationsbrought heavy demands for the Onan portable generator. Withadvent of December 7, 1941, full production at expanded plantswas shifted to full war production for the United Nations. A peace-time commodity, used in normal pursuit of happiness in homes andon farms and in industrial concerns, the Onangenerator is now garbed in field dress for actionon war fronts and military centers. Sixty-five dif-ferent models are now produced for 41 branchesof the service for use on land, sea, and in the air.

THE MANUFACTURE of manytypes of mechanica l equipmentpreceeded the bui ld ing of e lec-t r ic generat ing set s by D. W.Onan & Sons . Shown above aresevera l automotive maintenancetools f i r s t bui l t by Onan. At le f t ,Dave Onan i s shown operat ing acrat ing room and contractors’saw, many of which are s t i l l inuse throughout the world. Beloware shown severa l ear ly modelsof Onan generat ing set s .

FirstAssemblyLine

FIRST ASSEMBLY LINES in Onan’s f i r s t fu l l - sca le product ion brought thelarge type generator into genera l use . Shipped mainly to South America , thesegenerators carr ied heavy loads on construct ion and communicat ion projects ofa l l k inds . High qual i ty generators has been the rule s ince incept ion of Onanunits . Expans ion brought fu l l speed ahead. Peace- t ime product ion changedovernight to war product ion to g ive power and l ight to our f ight ing men. Unitsnow produced range f rom 350 watts to 35,000 watts .

Dave OnanD.W. ONAN founded the firm on $100 borrowed capital. To-day he operates the world’s largest manufacturing concern build-ing gasoline engine-driven electric generating plants only. Daveis on duty seven days a week . . . can operate any one of thefactories’ machines, perform any single operation in Onan gen-erator production. One of the city’s leading civic organizationleaders, he has gained a full reservoir of Minneapolis good-will.

Bud

BobR. D. ONAN, young-er of the two sons.is personal directorand handles all mat-ters of public con-tact and promotion.He discharges manyof his father’s duties.

C. W. ONAN hasfull responsibility ofproduction for hisDad. His knowledgeof engines and gen-erators makes himone of the country’stop experts.

Key Men

G. H. KING is assistant to Bud Onan.   He answers the govern-ment’s questions . . . what do you have? . .  when can we get it?. . . how much does it cost?

PLANT ASSISTANT to Bob Onan is Harry Horsley who assistsworkers with all problems of personal or business nature.   Hiswork is important in maintenance of high morale.

FINANCIAL DETAILS and cost accounting is the responsibility of VerneAanenson who heads a staff of office employees in air-conditioned,sound-proof offices.

FIRST and only secretary of D. W. Onan is Mrs. Nell Tangen. Herresponsibilities are heavy and, as all good secretaries, knows her boss“like a book.”

PALMER STARK has grown up with the Onan family. Years agohe watched over Bud and Bob as youngsters.   Now he superintendsone of the plants.

ARTHUR RANDALL (above) isemployment manager.   He has add-ed nearly 100 men and women aweek to the Onan organization.

PURCHASING AGENT is Harry Jacobson (above).

MACHINE SHOP and tool and die production is the responsi-bility of Steen Eklund (above).

OLDEST EMPLOYEE in service, Onan’sfirst office boy, is Julius (Dyke) Grabow(above).   Dyke produces all manuals,handbooks and catalogues.

J. C. HOIBY (above) is Chief ofEngineers.

NEW AND EXPANDED office space make up general offices at 43 Royalstonavenue.   New types of units keep drafting room (above) a whirl of activity.

COST ACCOUNTING OFFICE (above) keeps close tab on unit costs and expensesto give the government maximum of product efficiency for minimum cost.

PURCHASING AND BILLING departments (above) keep production rolling, seek outneeded materials and provides sufficient stocks to make unit deliveries per schedule.

FIRST general office (right) hasbeen remodeled to conform withstandards of recent expansions,

FULL-TIME plant photographer(below) keeps busy preparing iden-tification badges for all employees.

GUARDS at front

office reception

room interview

callers, make

quick appoint-

ments and issue

office passes.

ALL PLANT and front office workers are registered at entrancegates, guarded 24 hours a day.

Precision . .

DRILL PRESSES,crankshaft grinders andlathes of all descrip-tions and sizes grindtheir way ‘round theclock in Onan machineshops.   Precision fromstart to finish assureswar production prefec-tion.

Perfection . .

ExactnessBySkilledMachinists

DRILLING . . . TURNING. . . increasing the produc-tion tempo in the plants’machine shops. Onan elec-tric plants are of the highestquality.   Finished genera-tors are used for portable,stationary or emergencystand-by services.  Require-ments are heavy for waruse, performance must bedependable.

THE VAST QUANTITIES ofwar supplies turned out by Onanrate their high performancecommendations because of pre-cision manufacture and opera-tion.   Multiple drill presses savetime.   Castings, received fromthe nation’s top sub-contractors,are finished by and in Onan ma-chine shops.

PLANT SCHOOLS for tool and die makers turn out trained specialists for theOnan organization.   Work of an apprentice (above) is checked by a youthfulnight foreman.   Day shift foreman (lower left) works closely with early em-ployees and new tool and die makers alike.

TOOL AND DIEdepartment is con-stantly expandedto meet ever in-creasing needs ofproduction ma-chine installa-tions.

GRINDING ANDWELDING for pre-cision, accuracy, formaterials that willstand up under com-bat duty.  Onan gen-erators are light-weight, rugged, com-pact and heavy-duty.

ONE OF THE FIRST STEPSin production is machiningand perfection of generatorhousings for larger units.

PLANTS OF D. W. ONAN & SONSbuild generators from start to fin-ish.   Each unit is “born” in theOnan organization.  Each generatorpart is machined, every armatureand field is wound by Onan.   As-

sembly of parts to producethe final product is but onestep in generator production.Transformation of wire, steel,castings, etc., into generatorsis performed in the Onanplants.   Each Onan generatorcontains Onan workmanshipand materials from start tofinish.   The following pagesshow actual constructionmethods of unit parts.

PUNCH PRESS day and night fore-men (above right) operate theirdepartment at its peak to provideinitial process in production ofOnan generators.   Newest type, au-tomatic presses give this depart-ment its outstanding record ofkeeping ahead at all times.  Unique,practical safety guards result in100% safety.

NUMBER OF LAMINATIONS forarmature and field assemblies isre-checked by weight to insure full-balanced generating performance.No supervisor jobs for foremen . . .they work side-by-side with theirmen.

FROM ARMATUREASSEMBLIES andcopper wire come theunits which maketheir way along pro-duction lines to thefront lines.  Each arm-ature, before wiring,gets a series of basictests which make forefficiency of unit op-eration.

LINE PRODUCTION of genera-

tor field assemblies (above)

keeps abreast of over-all output

in other departments.   Working

hand-in-hand to avert schedule

interruptions are stock room and

production control foremen.

Engine assembly lines (below)

work on parallel schedules.

THE INTRICATE processes ofwinding armatures and fields iscarried on by generator productionforemen and workers alike.   Wireand generators are synonymous tobullets and guns.

NIMBLE FINGERS of

women have increased

armature windings produc-

tion as much as 50%.

Fred Anderson (left) of

personnel staff is shown

with Mrs. Harold Paukert,

first woman plant worker

in the Onan organization.

Mrs. Paukert has the

same job her husband,

now in U. S. Army, held

for two years.

WATCH-LIKE precision andaccuracy whether in armatureor carburetor assemblies re-sults in highest grade con-struction and attention to in-finite detail by hundreds ofwomen . . . housewives . . .sweethearts of servicemen.

DYNAMIC BAL-ANCING of genera-tor rotors insurefine performance,smooth running offinished Onan elec-tric generators.  Test-ing follows each pro-gressive phase ofmanufacture to sendtrouble-free, unin-terrupted service tofighting forces.

DIPPED in moisture proof-ing preparation, armaturesare baked in ovens to insurelong-time operations under allweather conditions, regard-less of humidity or tempera-ture extremes.

Onan University Plant

Onan Madison Plant

PRIOR TO FULL WAR production, Onan generators were manu-factured at the Royalston plant and shipped for peace-time useto 49 foreign countries.   From this plant, the Onan organizationspread, in quick succession, to five factory buildings.  All locatedin Minneapolis, each plant performs its cooperative duties.

Onan Arrowhead Plant

Onan Royalston Plant

Onan Highland Plant

There was no time to build a central, spacious, model plant.Full-scale production ahead necessitated acquisition of availablebuildings where assembly lines were constructed.   On the battlefronts today, Onan generators are providing the light and powerto help the Allied Nations restore peace.

SUB-ASSEMBLIES of brushes, coils, cable connections re-quire patience, accuracy. Finished products provide thepower to manipulate huge guns, tanks, planes, ships. Theymake life easier for our marines, soldiers, sailors . . . andmake it tough for the Axis.

MotorAssemblies . .GASOLINE MOTORS which drive thegenerators are built from start to finishin Onan plants. Forty types of internalcombustion engines are manufacturedand assembled by expert mechanics onOnan assembly lines. The motor units,combined with generators and controls,incorporate everything needed in a mod-ern power plant.

FROM THESE EVERYDAY OPERATIONS at plants of D. W. Onan & Sons come thelight and power for all branches of American and Allied Nations fighting forces. Theygive the light in field hospitals to enable surgeons to perform delicate operations, theyoperate X-ray machines. On every Allied war front, these units supply current for light,motors. They operate telephone and radio communication systems. The same peace-time Onan generators now are giving service on the front lines . . . clad in olive drab,otherwise the same.

SUB-ASSEMBLY and assembly lines entail specific knowledge ofproper fitting. Sixty-five different models come off these lines . . .from small portable units to the large mounted types for heavy duty.

ASSEMBLY of instrument panelsand spray painting in regulationcolors move generator units nearcompletion.

LARGE GENERATOR SETS move closer to the war frontlines with workmen putting together component parts onthe final assembly floors on Onan plants.

FINAL ASSEMBLYfloors occupy muchspace at Onan plants.Highly-skilled work-manship is importantto proper operation.

COORDINATION and close proximity of allassembly lines, including motor assemblies,sub-assemblies, armature winding and allphases of generator production, makes for full-speed production, eliminates bottle-necks.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTORStest for radio interference. X-raypower units are tested with ac-tual X-ray machines to makecertain that every Onan genera-tor leaving the test room isOnan’s “best unit.”

EVERY NUT AND BOLT for final assemblyis inspected by workers and foremen. Am-meters, voltmeters, and all visual instru-ments must be in perfect working order.

World’s Largest Test Room

EACH ONAN GENERATOR is operated for aspecified period before being sent to the field.Hundreds of large units are tested here dailyto insure trouble free, uninterrupted service.Master-control gasoline feeds and “gang” ex-hausts permit attachment of a full complimentof complete units for running tests.

INDIVIDUAL ATTEN-TION is given each unitin the World’s LargestTest Room. Full-outputoperation, plus meticu-lous inspection assuresefficient fieldperform-ance.

MAJOR AND MINORadjustments and accom-plished by top-notchforemen and govern-ment inspectors on allunits. Foremen com-pile test records and anaccurate tab is made oftest room unit opera-tions and all adjust-ments permanently set.

IN FRIGID ZONES, generatorsmust give the same efficient opera-tion as in warmer climates. Wher-ever our forces may be advancing,from equatorial to arctic zones,temperature extremes have littleeffect on proper operation of Onanunits. This “freezer room” (above)reduces temperatures to as low as65 degrees below zero . . . 97 de-grees below the freezing point!

THE SEARCH FOR IMPROVEMENTS, new manufacturemethods and means of stepping up efficiency of operationcontinues on full shift by specialists in Experimental Engi-neering. Modern engineering and precision workmanshipof Onan units is constantly improved, day by day and weekby week, to guarantee that our fighting forces are suppliedwith the world’s finest and most modern electric generators.

INTERCHANGE of unit assemblies by truck between the five Onan

plants and quick shipment is accomplished without delay at this

loading platform (above), one of the latest additions to Onan opera-

tion efficiency.

SHIPS AT SEA, planes, tanks are

quickly supplied with completed elec-

tric generators. Packing and shipping

start units direct to destination points

here and abroad. No delay, no piling

up of orders, no bottle-neck.

LT. GEN. WILLIAMS. KNUDSEN (abovewith D. W. Onan),War department’sproduction chief, in-spects operations.

DUTY ON THE HOME FRONT was emphasizedwhen this flagship of D. W. Onan & Sons war bondfleet (above) set the pace for utilization of motortrucks to spur bond sales in the Northwest. Shownat right at truck’s “V” is Bud Onan (left), Bob Onan(right).

ONAN EMPLOYEES invest at least10 per cent of earnings in warbonds. Here is presentation of10% Minute Man award with U. S.Treasury, Federal Reserve bank,city, military and civic officials par-ticipating.

“. . . you are settling thepace on the home front aswell.” . . . A. J. REYN-OLDS, state administratorof war savings staff.

“You are instrumental inhelping Minneapolis main-tain its high national rat-ing in war bond purchases.”. . . MARINER CLARK,Federal Reserve bank.

“You are 100% in produc-tion and 100% in the in-vestment in the future ofour country.” . . . LT. J. A.ZURFLEU, naval ordnanceexecutive officer.

“You of the Onan organiza-tion are doing more thanyour share. . . . Minne-apolis is proud of you.”. . . MAYOR MARVIN L.KLINE.

ELECTRICITY generated by stream-lined,Minneapolis-made Onan generators hasmade life easier in the Virgin Islands, inJava before the Japs came, in Alaska, inmany far-off places. They have accom-panied exploring and mining expeditionsto every continent.From the largest units units of 35,000 watts(above) to the smallest 350 watt units(right), in popular use in Mexico, thesegenerators, before Pearl Harbor, turneddarkness into light in 49 different countries,producing power for equipment rangingfrom lawn mowers to homes, hospitals,trucks, telephone systems, dental clinics,theatresóthe list is almost endless. Nowthese olive drab and navy gray units haveturned their generated power into fightingthe Axis.The vanguard of civilization along theBurma road, in deep Asia, the Siberiansteppes, in Australian mining fields beforeDecember 7, 1941, Onan generators haveturned to help the defeat of barbarism andthe enemies of earthly civilization.

MINNEAPOLIS’ BIGGESTHALL . . . the Municipalauditorium . . . was the sceneof Onan’s 1942 Christmasparty where all workersbrought wives, husbands orguests. Thousands of North-west radio listeners heardbroadcasts of festivities, re-broadcast later via short-waveto soldiers in the Pacific.

THERE ARE NO BOSSES in the Onan organization.Workers have always taken advantage of the oppor-tunity to increase their own income by means of theproduction savings program which returns to employeesan added percentage over their total wage. This is paidfrom funds created by lowering of production costs byworkers through their efficiency and experience andthe combined effort and cooperative spirit of the manyassociates. These added amounts account for manycompletely-owned homes, high credit standings of theworkers, and the contented atmosphere which is alwaysfound here.

D.W. ONAN &Its’ Sub-ContractorsFIFTY-ONE SUB-CONTRACTORS and 350 other firms manu-facture and supply innumerable items of equipment for Onangenerators. Without the excellent quality materials, quick deliveryand common understanding of war production requirements,schedules could not be maintained by Onan and high qualitygenerators could not be pushing their way through assembly linesfor ultimate war purposes.

American Farm Machinery Co.st. paul, minn.

Armature Rewinding Co.minneapolis, minn.

Atlas Manufacturing Co.st. paul, minn.

Automatic Electric Mfg. Co.mankato, minn.

American Welding & Mfg. Co.warren, ohio

Anaconda Wire & Cable Co.muskegon, mich.

Wm. Bros Boiler Mfg. Co.minneapolis, minn.

Cedarberg Manufacturing Co.minneapolis, minn.

Central Body Co.minneapolis, minn.

Continental Motor Co.muskegon, mich.

Donaldson Co., Inc.st. paul, minn.

Earll Manufacturing Co.minneapolis, minn.

Excel Auto-Radiator Co.minneapolis, minn.

Foley Manufacturing Co.minneapolis, minn.

Gilbert Manufacturing Co.stillwater, minn.

Gregg Manufacturing Co.st. paul, minn.

Gross-Given Manufacturing Co.st. paul, minn.

Hamilton Manufacturing Co.two rivers, wis.

Highway Safety Appliance, Inc.minneapolis, minn.

Hart Carter Co.minneapolis, minn.

R. C. Hitchcock & Sonsminneapolis, minn.

C. J. Hoigaard Companyminneapolis, minn.

Hartman Electrical Mfg. Co.mansfield, ohio

M.A.C. Companyminneapolis, minn.

Millerbernd Bros.winsted, minn.

Milwaukee Lace Paper Co.milwaukee, wis.

SONSIts’ “Kinfolk”

NEARLY 4,500 EMPLOYEES of sub-contractors work full timeat their separate factories in production of items for shipment toD. W. Onan & Sons. Although these workers are not membersof the Onan organization, D. W. Onan & Sons considers themas “kinfolk” . . . as much interested in producing the world’sbest generators for our government as the Onan organizationitself.

Minneapolis Electrical Steelminneapolis, minn.

Minneapolis-Moline Power Co.minneapolis and hopkins, minn.

Modern Die & Drop Forge Co.blue island, ill.

North Star Specialty Mfg. Co.minneapolis, minn.

Northwest Automatic Productsminneapolis, minn.

Northwest Plastic, Inc.st. paul, minn.

Newton Manufacturing Co.newton, iowa

Perfex Corp.milwaukee, wis.

Pierce Governor Co.anderson, ind.

Powell Muffler Co.utica, n. y.

Paul Pufal & Sons Foundryst. paul, minn.

Queen Stove Worksalbert lea, minn.

Rao Manufacturing Co.minneapolis, minn.

Salisbury Satterlee Co.minneapolis, minn.

H. J. Shotwell Companyminneapolis, minn.

Smith System Heating Co.minneapolis, minn.

Stanley Iron Worksminneapolis, minn.

States Electric Co.minneapolis, minn.

Stremel Bros. Mfg. Co.minneapolis, minn.

Standard Iron & Wire Worksminneapolis, minn.

Toledo Standard Commutator Co. toledo, ohio

Toro Manufacturing Co.minneapolis, minn.

Universal Foundry Co.oshkosh, wis.

Western Spring Mfg. Co.minneapolis, minn.

Zenith Carburetor Co.detroit, mich.

Salutes . .

Printed in U.S.A.

Serving With United States Armed Forces

Joe WarholRobert JohnsenRussell A1vestadWarren ChristensenLee FretIandGilbert WedinJack ClemmerLeRoy AndersonNels (Herb) OlsonAugust BloomWarren JorgensonRobert KolstadNorbert W. PaulDuane CadyJack FeyderDaniel WebsterWilliam DonbroskiDelvin OrstadScott W. KlineWillard SampsonLester BuccholzGordon DollHerbert OrstadKenneth NelsonLaurence LundHarvard SchaeferThomas CremersMilton HoughWalter TschidaHaroldBohmCharles Olh’erCarroll IrishRichard GagnonRobert TombersDon RogersMelvin OvertonRobert HempelLeonard DutillyDonald C. JohnstonJames GormanCarl RobertsonNorbert PaulMerlin GroenkeRoy SchmidtRussell JohnsonBen AkinRussell AmundsonJohn CarlsenWilliam ChermakDarwin FlattenRussell GleasonVirgil GilbertsonRichard HubrigPaul GrafslandBernard HuntRussell KearnCasimir KulageJames LoneyHamilton LufkinThomas Randall

Chester SandLowell StaffordRichard WachterRay ZelenakJohn CruitKenneth DentSpencer MillerMelvin PearsonChester OliverJohn KlingEverett ValentySamuel ThompsonFred RichmondRoy ZaneEiner HauganDon SchulenbergMelvin PopeRussell HughesClarence HerouxBernard EricksonKen MoretterWilliam A. WhiteFrederick GauGlenn CodnerKenneth AustinDonald BenedictGeorge E. RamsteadLloyd DischerClifford FredricksonJohn Harold LelandWilliam McCauleyThomas J. McDonaldWilliam P. McGrathBernard B. MurphyJohn W. MursuWalter E. NelsonJerome L. NetzingerHeming NiemiWarren H. OxberryHarold PaukertChester Seymour RankHarry PrestegardPaul J. RimarcikWallace L. RuschClarence SalineClifford A. SandersonWilliam SemmerJohn J. SheaFrank SherickPaul Cyril SicoraJames R. SigmanJohn A. SkeivgHerbert SognesandDouglas SpladyArthur H. SuhlRobert SwensonWilliam D. ThomasDavid A. VraspirWilliam J. WallaceGeo. Sam Werner

Raynard E. WernerF. Neil WickSven S. GudemestadMerlin C. AndersonOliver AndersonRufus BiggerstaffRaymond BohnenstingelPhillip E. BoxrudRobert W. BraumJohn L. BrownRoy BusseAdrian R. ClarkDonald CruikshankOliver L. DahlenWilliam L. DanielsL. Herbert DeckerEarl R. DrebenstedtDavid EmerickHarold W. EngerCurtis Dean GowardHoward G. HammerotHarvey W. HanschenSigurd HansenWillis J. HarvieuxRobert Douglas HauserRandolph HewesTheodore B. HovdeGeorge JaroscakParlin N. JensonByron L. JohnsonDonald C. JohnsonPaul J. JuettenMartin JurichkoDonald KardongRobert T. KennedyClaire KrieselJohKuchtaWillfred L. LangLawrence P. LarsenHarry John MagnusonRichard LarsonJohannes S. MagdalEdmond NovickiLeslie BartonWallace PetersonGlen JohnsonEinar JohnsonHarry SuperGalen OdomsBryson McHardyEllsworth HougHarlan JacobsonRichard S. LarsonDesmond AustinIvan RichmondKenneth MixJames AllroggenDonald HonnoldElias DanielsGeorge Ramstead

James WorrellPeter SemankoJohn BlanchardNels WestmanRoy GilmanLloyd FlagelDalbert MahnFloyd M. CarterJames V. P. O’RieleyLeonard CarlsonRichard MallaneyChas. ConnersHarrison JohnsonBerl JohnsonVincent RobertsonCarl JornbergWilliam RileyNorman TooleyNorbert PaulRussell JamesForrest HansonJack DelaneyDonald R. LarsonRichard Dick PetersonDonald FraserPaul A. MayesWilliam RoseHarold PetersonGrant S. BoydPaul B. JohnsenKenneth LindburgRobert LaDukeMarvin J. GottliebRichard D. RyanWilliam MillsJack DanielsEugene (Bud) DaggettWilliam BrazilVernon NaasJames E. CaseyByron L. PageAlbert AlstadtGeorge FosterJohn KernanFranklin K. HillestadErnest BirdF. OdomsFrank RekuckiHelmer “Butch” HouseWallace LofstrandOwen MooreGardner HutchinsAlfred SchleithDonald E. SaleckJoe HallLawrence MillerLyle RobertsEdwin MartinsonStanley DotsethGeo. Schoen

’ROUND THE PLANET OF EARTH Onan generators provide light and power.

D . W . O N A N & S O N SG E N E R A L O F F I C E S : 4 3 R O Y A L S T O N A V E N U E

M I N N E A P O L I S , M I N N . , U . S . A .