Industrialist. A 1908 graduate of M.I.T., Rockwell worked in various engineering jobs following his graduation, including a World War I civilian job where he helped to develop standard mobile equipment for the Army, particularly military truck axles and five-ton rear axle drives. He simultaneously served in the Quartermaster Corps as a major in the Army reserve. Following the war, Rockwell went to work managing the engineering department for Torbensen Gear & Axle Co., where he designed a double-reduction axle, which was rejected by the company. As a result, in 1919 he created the Wisconsin Parts Co. in Oshkosh, WI, becomes President of the company and launches it into the production of worm drives and double-reduction axles, supplying parts and engineering services to the automobile industry. In 1925 Rockwell assumed the presidency of Pittsburgh’s Equitable Meter and Manufacturing Co., while retaining his position at Wisconsin Parts Co., which had become the Wisconsin Axle Co. Equitable would later become Rockwell Manufacturing Co. In 1929 Timken Detroit Axle Co. acquired Wisconsin Axle and in 1933 Rockwell became President of Timken. He acquired Standard Steel and Spring Co. and in 1953 Rockwell merged Wisconsin Parts, Standard Steel and Spring and Timken to form the Rockwell Spring and Axle Co. In 1958 the company was renamed Rockwell Standard Corp., and by the mid-sixties it was the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive parts. In 1966, Rockwell oversaw the merger of Rockwell-Standard with North American Aviation, creating the North American Rockwell Corp., now known as Rockwell International.
Industrialist. A 1908 graduate of M.I.T., Rockwell worked in various engineering jobs following his graduation, including a World War I civilian job where he helped to develop standard mobile equipment for the Army, particularly military truck axles and five-ton rear axle drives. He simultaneously served in the Quartermaster Corps as a major in the Army reserve. Following the war, Rockwell went to work managing the engineering department for Torbensen Gear & Axle Co., where he designed a double-reduction axle, which was rejected by the company. As a result, in 1919 he created the Wisconsin Parts Co. in Oshkosh, WI, becomes President of the company and launches it into the production of worm drives and double-reduction axles, supplying parts and engineering services to the automobile industry. In 1925 Rockwell assumed the presidency of Pittsburgh’s Equitable Meter and Manufacturing Co., while retaining his position at Wisconsin Parts Co., which had become the Wisconsin Axle Co. Equitable would later become Rockwell Manufacturing Co. In 1929 Timken Detroit Axle Co. acquired Wisconsin Axle and in 1933 Rockwell became President of Timken. He acquired Standard Steel and Spring Co. and in 1953 Rockwell merged Wisconsin Parts, Standard Steel and Spring and Timken to form the Rockwell Spring and Axle Co. In 1958 the company was renamed Rockwell Standard Corp., and by the mid-sixties it was the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive parts. In 1966, Rockwell oversaw the merger of Rockwell-Standard with North American Aviation, creating the North American Rockwell Corp., now known as Rockwell International.
Bio by: Craig Johnson
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