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The Charles Abresch Company was a carriage and wagon factory and an automotive, commercial vehicle and body manufacturer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [1] Brand names were Abresch and, for trucks, the Abresch-Cramer Auto Truck Company. [2]
The company was founded in 1871 by Charles Abresch, a German immigrant who initially specialized in building beer wagons. [3]
In 1884 it was reorganized as a public company. [4] Charles Abresch continued to lead, Andrew Hofherr, a cigar manufacturer, became Vice President and Harry P. Ellis became CFO and Secretary. [4] Louis Schneller and H. Paul were active business partners in the company. [5]
In 1892 Abresch invested US $35,000 in the expansion of the plant. A change of name to Charles Abresch Company, Incorporated took place circa 1893, [6] but it is unclear whether the entry in the commercial register was made at that time or earlier and was now replenished. By 1894 the company had over 800 employees. [7]
The company later transitioned to build car and truck bodies, beginning in 1899. [2] [3] [8] This business grew quickly as customers switched from horse-drawn wagons to motor vehicles.
In the mid 1960s, the company ended its manufacturing activities after losing its contract with Harley-Davidson, which involved a partnership in which the company manufactured motorcycle sidecars. [9] After this, the company exclusively performed auto body work. [9]
The Charles Abresch House is a 2+1⁄2-story Queen Anne home with 3-story tower, designed by Frederick Velguth and built in 1890. [10] It is located at 2126 W. Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [10]
![]() | You can help expand this article with text translated from
the corresponding article in German. (February 2019) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
The Charles Abresch Company was a carriage and wagon factory and an automotive, commercial vehicle and body manufacturer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [1] Brand names were Abresch and, for trucks, the Abresch-Cramer Auto Truck Company. [2]
The company was founded in 1871 by Charles Abresch, a German immigrant who initially specialized in building beer wagons. [3]
In 1884 it was reorganized as a public company. [4] Charles Abresch continued to lead, Andrew Hofherr, a cigar manufacturer, became Vice President and Harry P. Ellis became CFO and Secretary. [4] Louis Schneller and H. Paul were active business partners in the company. [5]
In 1892 Abresch invested US $35,000 in the expansion of the plant. A change of name to Charles Abresch Company, Incorporated took place circa 1893, [6] but it is unclear whether the entry in the commercial register was made at that time or earlier and was now replenished. By 1894 the company had over 800 employees. [7]
The company later transitioned to build car and truck bodies, beginning in 1899. [2] [3] [8] This business grew quickly as customers switched from horse-drawn wagons to motor vehicles.
In the mid 1960s, the company ended its manufacturing activities after losing its contract with Harley-Davidson, which involved a partnership in which the company manufactured motorcycle sidecars. [9] After this, the company exclusively performed auto body work. [9]
The Charles Abresch House is a 2+1⁄2-story Queen Anne home with 3-story tower, designed by Frederick Velguth and built in 1890. [10] It is located at 2126 W. Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [10]