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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 4400 W NATIONAL AVENUE |
|---|---|
| County | Milwaukee |
| City/Village | Milwaukee |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1905 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 2012 |
| Historic Use | industrial bldg/manufacturing facility |
| Architectural Style | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | Henry Harnischfeger and Alonzo Pawling founded the Pawling & Harnischfeger Machine and Pattern Shop in 1884. In its early days, P&H built carving machines, brick-making machines and a special device called the poppet valve governor, designed for use on slide valve steam engines by Bruno Nordberg (who later founded the Nordberg Manufacturing Company). Another future industrial giant, the E.P. Allis Company – later Allis-Chalmers – asked Pawling and Harnischfeger to building the first electric traveling crane in 1887. The result was so successful that P&H became permanently associated with the crane industry. In 1903, the company established itself at the subject location with its plant designed for the manufacture of electric traveling cranes and other heavy machinery. In 1911, ill-health forced Pawling to dissolve the partnership and the name of the firm was changed to Harnischfeger Corporation, although the P&H trademark was retained. In 1915, P&H built a mechanized trencher using conveyor buckets and boom & wheel type excavators soon followed. Harnischfeger’s product line ultimately developed to include three categories: construction equipment, mining & electrical equipment, and material handling equipment and systems. |
| Bibliographic References | Harry H. Anderson and Frederick I. Olson, Milwaukee: At the Gathering of the Waters (1981), page 193 |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Not Listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | |
| State Register Listing Date | |
| Contributing |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
P&H Standard Type "AN" Hoist in Machine Shop
1910
A standard Pawling & Harnischfeger type "AN" hoist crane in the Nordberg Erecting shop. Many parts are sitting on the shop floor.
P&H 20-Ton Traveling Crane in Machine Shop
circa 1900-1909
Elevated view of shop floor of an early Pawling and Harnischfeger 20-ton type "N" dial controlled cab-operated traveling crane. The crane is in machine shop bay no. 1 at Nordberg Manufacturing Co. ...
P&H Traveling Electric Monorail Hoist
circa 1900-1909
Pawling and Harnischfeger traveling electric monorail hoist carrying a piece of equipment at the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. There's an operator in the cab, as well as two other men on the flo...
Early P&H 5-Ton Traveling Crane
1910
Interior view of an early Pawling and Harnischfeger crane design with cab-operated dial controls. The stencil on the crane says "Pawling and Harnischfeger Builders, Milwaukee, Wis." and "Capacity 1...
Two P&H Type "A" Outdoor Yard Cranes
circa 1900-1909
Two Pawling & Harnischfeger type "A" outdoor yard cranes at the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. Stamped on the crane are the words "Pawling & Harnischfeger Builders, Milwaukee, Wis, Capacity 80,00...
P&H 5-Ton Wall Crane Type "AN" Bridge Crane
circa 1900-1909
Pawling & Harnischfeger 5-ton special wall crane carrying a metal ladle below a type "AN" bridge crane with a suspended operators cab. The cranes are at the West Allis Foundry. Both cranes are bein...
