Oliver used half a dozen different engine builders throughout the years but the one most commonly used was Waukesha. While Oliver advertised that this was of their own engines, it was more Waukesha than Oliver.

In the early 1900’s, two young men named Harry Horning and Fred Ahrens were under the employ of the Modern Steel Structural Company. They were given the task of keeping the company owner’s boat running on Pewaukee Lake. The two men were constantly tinkering with the engine to keep it running and soon realized that there had to be a better design out there. In 1906 the two left the company, picked up a third partner, and started to operate a garage in which they planned to manufacture gasoline engines.

Horning, Ahrens and James Remington set up business in the Blue Front Garage where they washed and repaired vehicles. Unsuspecting customers would drop off their car to be washed and tuned up. During the middle of the night, the threesome would completely take the engine apart to study its design and working capabilities. The engine would then be professionally put back together and tuned with their abilities. The customers were amazed at how well their vehicle ran, even after a simple wash job (or so they thought.) The news of the magnificent work done at the Blue Front Garage spread and they had more business than their small shop could hold.

When the threesome had learned all they could by dissecting engines, they made a huge investment and designed and built their own engine. That first design cost them $12,000. Engines at that time only cost $500. But their hard work, hours of research and investment paid off well. The engine started easy and ran well.

By now the business was incorporated as Waukesha Motors. The first engine was sold to a man who was a dealer in odd motors that he eventually sold. The company received their first from the Reliance Oil & Grease Company. However, Reliance wanted to pay for their order in grease. Although Waukesha hated to turn down the business, they just couldn’t see how they would ever have a use for that much grease.

The reputation of Waukesha Motors began to grow and soon orders were coming in for engines with payment being made with money and not grease. Marine engines seemed to be the bulk of their business but it soon evolved into truck engines.

By 1909 they had outgrown the Blue Front Garage and a new factory was built on St. Paul Ave., which is the current location of Waukesha today. The company had a goal of producing 2,000 engines per year at the new facility.

During the teens, the tractor industry made a turn to smaller model tractors. This is the same time that Hart-Parr designed their first small tractor – The Little Devil. Tractor builders started to approach Waukesha looking for a small, powerful and reliable engine. Some of the early tractors that used Waukeshas were Heider, Gray, Parrett, Bates and Dakota, just to name a few.

When the Oliver Chilled Plow Works began the development of the Chilled Plow Tractor, it used a Hercules engine. However, when Oliver and Hart-Parr merged and the Charles City design team took over, they chose Waukesha as the provider for their new Hart-Parr Oliver Tractor. The relationship was obviously a good one because they were soon putting Waukesha engines in the 18-27, 18-28, 28-44, then the 60, 80, 90 and 99. When the 70 tractor was developed, it used a Continental engine.

Look into the depths of Waukesha Motor Co. and Oliver in the latest issue of Oliver Heritage.