Citizens Historical Association

Indianapolis

February 2, 1942

The Buckeye Portable Tool Company

29 West Apple Street, Dayton, Ohio

The Buckeye Portable Tool Company was founded by William Weyman Price, who, in 1920 acquired patents on a rotary type air motor and began perfecting it, conducting his experimental work on the second floor of his barn in the rear of 15 Arnold Place, in Dayton, Ohio. Early in 1921, Mr. Price secured the assistance of Mort Bennett in the further development of his rotary air motor and its application to portable tools, and later in that year, sufficient progress having been made to warrant entering upon manufacturing and sales, a catalog was published under the name of The Buckeye Drilling Machine Co., offering a line of tools under the trade name, “Hercules.” The first tools, which were drills and grinders, were sold to The Worthington Pump & Machinery Corpn. for use in their Laidlaw plant in Cincinnati. At that time The Buckeye Drilling Machine Co. was operating one drill press, one lathe and a few hand tools, and was still occupying space in the Price barn. In Sept. 1921, Mr. Price engaged the services of William R. Gummere, and on Sept. 21, 1921, C. Ray Bennett, a brother of Mort Bennett, joined the company in the manufacturing end of its operations. In Jan. 1922, Harold O. Gummere became a salesman for the company and traveled throughout the State of Ohio. In the latter part of 1922 the business was moved to a small shop on Richard Street, in Dayton, and at that time the manufacturing facilities were increased to approx. 6 machines. Additional tools were added to the line but the company adhered to the original principle of the rotary air motor. With the moving of the shop to its new quarters the personnel was also increased, George P. Young becoming identified with the company to take charge of the manufacturing, and Charles W. Ripsch becoming engineer. The sales effort was broadened early in 1923, and representation was secured in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

On Aug. 18, 1924, the company was incorporated as The Buckeye Portable Tool Co., with William Weyman Price as pres., Abram Schachne as vice-pres., and E.S. Taliaferro as sec.-treas. About the same time the company was moved to 135 Wayne Avenue, in order that the manufacturing facilities might be further enlarged, and a sales expansion program was soon begun with sales being universally extended. The company’s expansion contd. and in 1926 George H. Michael joined the firm. On Jan. 25, 1928, the following officers and directors were elected: William Weyman Price, pres., treas. and a dir.; George H. Michael, sec. and a dir.; Charles W. Dale, a dir.; Albert G. Lauzon, a dir.; and A. W. Price, a dir.

In Mar. 1929, the company opened its first branch sales office in Detroit, under the management of Harold O. Gummere. Later in the same year a change was made in the grinder line, the construction being very much simplified and the efficiency increased. In the latter part of 1931 increased manufacturing and operating space became necessary and the company moved to its present address, 29 West Apple Street, in Dayton. Late in 1931 and early in 1932 the company developed a line of high frequency (180 cycle three-phase 220 volt) electric portable tools, and during 1933 and 1934 an extensive increase was made in the sales of these new tools.

William Weyman Price, founder and president of the company, died on May 27, 1933, and on July 12, 1933, the following officers and directors were elected: Homer R. Mitchell, pres. and a dir.; George H. Michael, treas. and a dir.; Charles W. Ripsch, sec. and a dir.; and Albert G. Lauzon, a dir. On Feb. 1, 1936, Charles W. Ripsch died, and on May 7, 1936, Albert G. Lauzon succeeded him as sec. of the company. Col. Melvorne J. McCombs joined the company as gen. mgr., July 1, 1936, and on Sept 22, 1936, following the resignation of George H. Michael, the following were elected officers and directors: Homer R. Mitchell, pres. and a dir.; Col. Melvorne J. McCombs, vice-pres., gen. mgr. and a dir.; and Albert G. Lauzon, sec.-tres. On July 1, 1937, Harold O. Gummere was transferred from the Detroit branch to Dayton, and was apptd. Gen. sales mgr., this step marking the first time anyone had been put in exclusive charge of sales. In the fall of 1937 the business depression caused a policy of retrenchment in the operations of the company to be instituted, which contd. until the fall of 1939, when the company began supplying its products to the European nations at war, as well as to the domestic manufacturers.

On Jan. 25, 1939, two additional officers were named, Harold O. Gummere becoming asst. treas., and Phil H. Sandel, who joined the company on Sept. 20, 1926, becoming asst. sec. On June 25, 1940, the official personnel was as follows: Homer R. Mitchell, pres.; Col. Melvorne J. McCombs, vice-pres. and gen. mgr.; Albert G. Lauzon, treas., in charge of the div. of finance; Harold O. Gummere, sec., in charge of the sales div.; and Phil H. Sandel, asst. sec. in charge of the production div. On Sept. 12, 1941, Homer R. Mitchell became chmn. of the board of directors, and Col. Melvorne J. McCombs was made pres. and gen. mrg. Soon after Col. McCombs became assoc. with the company, vital changes were made in the organization, and on Oct. 1, 1936, after a complete study of the company’s methods and operations, Col. McCombs instituted a far-reaching program. The company was organized into 3 divisions, each comprising several depts. as follows:

Finance Division:                                                                 Manufacturing Division:

(a) Exec. Dept.                                                                     (a) Engring. Dept.

(b) Accounting and Collection Dept.                               (b) Research Dept.

(c) Budget Dept.                                                                   (c) Screw Machine Dept.

(d) Purchasing Dept.                                                            (d) Lathe Dept.

                                                                                                (e) Stock Crib Dept.

Sales Division:                                                                      (f) Assembly Dept.

(a) Sales Dept.                                                                      (g) Inspection and Shipping Dept.

(b) Service and Maintenance Dept.

Each division is headed by a duly elected officer and each dept. is under a head known as dept. head or foreman. Each unit either of div. or dept. operates independently as a separate unit, but must co-operate with each div. and/or dept. The gen. mgr. is ex-officio head of all divisions and depts. In this reorganization work Col. McCombs changed all cost accounting methods and estab. his own unique system. He changed the policies and practices of the engring. dept., setting up a new system for all records, drawings, specifications and designs. He changed the purchasing methods, adding to the duties of that dept. inventory control and the policy of buying from the company itself materials only when it could compete favorably with outside concerns on such materials or items.

During 1936 many new policies were advanced and adopted. One radical policy is that the company does not recognize or employ experienced persons. To meet its rigid requirements of skill it is the policy of the company to develop its own employees and to promote them as opportunity affords. Another unique policy of the company is that which pertains especially to skilled machinists. The company requires all machine operators to learn to be all-around machinists, not single-purpose operators. Therefore all machine operators must operate proficiently at least five different machines. All new machine operators come in as apprentices, regardless of past experience. The company, however, does not follow the usual four-year apprentice training course, but each operator is upgraded as fast as his ability admits. In order to carry out this training program all foremen and the dept heads are given special training as instructors by Col. McCombs. This requires each and every foreman to serve not only in a supervisory capacity, but also as instructor and developer of the personal ability and citizenship of each employee under his supervision. The same policy of all-around development is followed in all other depts., even including clerical office help. Here, each employee is required to learn thoroughly every desk or job in the dept.

A unique pay schedule and system are in effect, as well. Each desk or job is rated as to value without respect to the employee occupant of that desk or job. Thus it follow that as employees are assigned to these prerated desks or jobs they are paid according to their ability to handle that work or job. Wage rates are adjusted every two months according to the volume of sales during the preceding two months, and in this way the company can permit all of its employees to share in its prosperity.