Falk Corporation - History

History

The company was founded by Franz Falk, who was from Germany and worked at a brewery. In 1848, he left Germany to find work in the United States. In a partnership with Frederick Goes, Falk bought a piece of land in 1856 in the Menomonee Valley on the outskirts of Milwaukee and built "The Bavaria Brewery". Falk died in 1882, and his sons Louis, Frank, Otto, and Herman took over the business. The brewery was destroyed in 1889 by a fire but was rebuilt in 1892. Subsequently, it was destroyed again by fire. Eventually, the sons would sell the brewery to Frederick Pabst.

Herman Falk started his own business with his share of brewery money. With an interest in mechanics, Falk began producing wagon axles. That business would fail, and Herman began a general purpose machine shop next to a building of the Pabst Brewing Company, where he had worked years before. Falk occasionally assisted Pabst, making stage machinery for Milwaukee's Pabst Theater.

In 1888 Falk began focusing on electric street railways. He developed a portable cast welding machine on wheels that would earn his share of work in the rail industry. His invention helped him incorporate "Falk Manufacturing Company" on May 23, 1895. Herman Falk then broadened his work, opening gear shops. The company name was shortened to the "Falk Company" and eventually expanded worldwide. In 2005 the company was bought by Rexnord.