Monarch

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Dornfeld-Kunert Co

Dornfeld Iron Works

The Monarch Co

821 S First

Watertown Street Dept Bldg

810 S Second

1906

01 31 Few in this city are aware of the extent of the business done by The Dornfeld-Kunert Company. Its works cover a large area of ground and a large force of men are employed in both the foundry and machine shop in turning out the large orders received from distant points. The company is shipping 300 tons of structural steel to Lockport, Ill., for the Illinois River Drainage canal, and they still have other orders to be filled to say nothing of other orders booked for future delivery. It is one of the permanent manufacturing industries in the city and is a local enterprise, having grown to its present size from a small beginning in the years past. WL

1906

04 19 The Dornfeld-Kunert company desires a small spot of ground near its shops upon which to erect an office building which will be constructed of structural steel and brick and be absolutely fire proof. The city should sell it to the company for a nominal price. Why? Because it is an industry owned entirely by Watertown people, employs about 85 hands and its pay roll amounts to about $1,000 per week, which is spent in this city to add to its prosperity and growth. Our business men are contributing thousands of dollars to induce industrial enterprises to locate here, and it seems strange that the city should withhold from a home concern the small favor asked for. As far as endangering city property its concern, there is nothing in the claim, for the building contemplated will be some distance from the water works plant and will be fireproof. It is a matter in which all are interested and each citizen should give expression especially to the aldermen of his ward . . . WL

1909

06 04 Amoskeag fire engine owned by city of Columbus, Dornfeld-Kunert secured contract for new boiler on WG

06 18 Line shaft of Dornfeld-Kunert shop attached by belt to a “Nash Gas Engine WG

09 03 Overhauling Waterloo’s Silsby steamer WG

1910

04 29 The "Long George" Will Make the "Fire Fly"

Several days ago the Dornfeldt-Kunert Co.'s employees backed another fire engine from Fort Atkinson into their shop for a new boiler and other repairs, similar to the work done for Columbus on their "prize winner." The Fort Atkinson engine was built by Cole Bros, fully forty years ago. Pawtucket, Rhode Island, mechanics produced this steamer that bears, on a brass plate, the following . . . WG

1911

01 26 Gas Producers

The gas producers manufactured by the Dornfeld-Kunert Co. of this city are meeting with general favor wherever introduced, and present indications are that this Watertown industry will grow to great importance here.

There are hundreds of bakers, candy manufacturers, grocers, etc. in this country using city gas for fuel and paying anywhere from 60 cents to $1.50 per 1000 cubic feet for the same. Such was the case at the Bowen Grocery, Allentown, Pa., until recently, when they installed their own gas making plant, which is used for supplying for the following purposes:

To run a 30 H.P. gas engine, which is used for furnishing light and power, to supply bakers' ovens, a coffee roaster, which is used also for roasting peanuts, a kitchen range, candy stoves and other appliances. This gas-making plant was installed by the Dornfeld Co. of Watertown, Wis., and the following letter lately received from Mr. James Bowen of the Bowen Grocery Co. shows the saving effected:

Gentlemen:

"We have just completed the installation of one of your sixty H. P. Economic Gas Producers. As our plant is a very complicated one, after persistent efforts, we are accomplishing all that the plant was intended for. With our sixty H. P. Producer we are furnishing enough gas to run our thirty H. P. engine, which supplies all the electric light current we need in the building, besides furnishing power for our elevator, coffee mills and refrigerating plant; also furnishing gas for our confectionery stoves, coffee urns, our kitchen range and bake ovens.

Our power heretofore has cost us not less than Three Thousand ($3000.00) dollars a year, with gas at ninety cents per thousand and electric current at .026 per K. W. This same amount of power with the gas producer will cost us no more than from eight hundred ($800.00) to one thousand ($1000.00) dollars a year, with coal at four dollars ($4.00) per ton.

We feel confident that the gas producer will be the coming medium for furnishing economic power and heat."

Yours very truly,

John Bowen.

The gas producer plant consists of a gas generator and a gas cooling and cleaning tower, together with a gas booster, the whole occupying a space of 9x17 feet. The plant is filled with coal every three hours and the ashes removed once in twenty-four hours. The plant is in continuous operation day and night and there it always sufficient gas to meet the requirements. WG

1912

Dec Mr. Cyril J. Atkinson, the inventor of the Atkinson gas producer, has severed his connection with the Dornfeld-Kunert Company of Watertown, Wis. Mr. Atkinson's services and the use of all his patents have been secured by Fairbanks. Morse & Company, of Chicago, and a number of Mr. Atkinson's inventions will be incorporated at once in the FairbanksMorse gas producers. Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering, December 1912, p 824.

Dornfeld to Continue Business

Dornfeld Iron Works

All Work Given This New Firm Will be Handled

Promptly By Skilled Workmen

1915

05 27 Some weeks ago the Structural Steel and Iron Works, Foundry and Machine Shop of the Dornfeld-Kunert Co. of this city were purchased by J. F. Dornfeld, who will conduct the business in a manner as before, doing all kinds of structural iron work for buildings and allied trades. In this connection we will furnish all kinds and sizes of boilers and do boiler repairing of any and all kinds.

We shall be prepared to furnish repairs for boiler fronts, fire boxes and the like and in most cases will no doubt have pattern for same. With the aid of a light auto truck we can get to most such work quite promptly. Light or heavy smoke stacks will be made and tools for erection can be furnished.

Special attention will be given to the foundry; and all castings that may be wanted will be made first class and at reasonable prices. We have patterns on hand in the foundry for almost anything required. All these patterns are properly numbered, booked and shelved so that customers can readily get a duplicate casting by referring to a number on the casting. Patterns belonging to customers and left here will be treated in the same way. It will be a principal object to provide first class tools in addition to those on hand in the machine shop and have good mechanics who will understand and can do any work that we may be favored with.

We will have shafting, pulleys, hangers, etc., in stock and will furnish anything in that line at market prices.

Any repairing of automobiles or auto trucks will be done by expert mechanics.

We will employ great accuracy and promptness in line of machinery work, whether it is new or repair work.

We will endeavor to keep in stock, as much as possible, repairs, castings, etc., for any machinery that may be called for. It is our intention to be fair in all deals in that we want your trade and cooperation. Watertown Gazette

06 24 The plant of the defunct Dornfeld Kunert Company Watertown, Wis. is now being operated In all departments by John F Dornfeld who purchased the property at auction He is specializing in fabrication and erection boilers stacks and operating the foundry on custom work. The Iron Age, June 24 1915, p 1433.

08 26 Dornfeld Making Engine—J. F. Dornfeld, president of the defunct Dornfeld-Kunert Iron Works, Watertown, Wis., has purchased the assets and organized as the Dornfeld Iron Works. The company will make a specialty of extras and repairs on automobiles and has established a well-equipped department for this purpose. A foundry and machine shop is being conducted and the concern is manufacturing gas engines and gas producers. The Automobile, August 26 1915, p 403.

1916

The Monarch Tractor Company was incorporated September 6, 1916. Shortly thereafter, the Company purchased the Dornfeld-Kunert plant at the foot of First Street, Watertown [plant was between First and Second streets]. This plant was remodeled to include an enlarged foundry with a capacity of thirty-five to forty thousand pounds per day and a modern machine and erecting shop with all necessary machine tool equipment, overhead traveling crane, and other mechanical devices.

The first work undertaken by the new Company in its plant was the building of the early models of the well known Luce Sugar Cane Harvester, which in its latest development is now performing remarkable work in the Cuban cane fields.

Prior to the organization of the Monarch Tractor Company, its incorporators had been working for several years on the development of a crawler type of tractor modeled somewhat after the military tanks. This work was continued in the new company and resulted finally in the completion of the Monarch Tractor as a commercial product.

These tractors are now working successfully in every state in the Union and in many foreign countries. During the war the Company employed about 200 men and turned out six completed tractors per day. Large numbers of these tractors were shipped to France and there took part in operations in connection with the Great War.

The Company has always aimed to support local institutions, and to develop a business which would be of benefit to the community in which it is so fortunately located, and to make the city of Watertown well and favorably known wherever Monarch Tractors may go. Watertown High School Orbit, 1921

1919 1919, Advertisement

1920

08 12 Improvements at Monarch Tractor Co. plant WG

1920, Fold-out pamphlet, similar to the Caterpillar Tractor

2008

05 08 Demolition of the former Watertown Street Department building on South Second Street began on May 8, 2007, as part of an effort to make way for the construction of the city's new public works building at the site. Presently relocated to the former Applied Molding Products building, the street department plans to move into the new facility early next year. The building being razed was formerly the location of a pair of local industries, the Dornfeld-Kunert Co. and the Monarch Tractor Co.

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