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Theodore Trecker (1868-1955)

Trecker was born in Peru, Illinois, where his parents had moved when they came from Germany in 1851. When he was 18, he moved to Milwaukee and entered apprenticeship at the Wilkin Manufacturing Co. which produced saw-mill machinery. After his three-year apprenticeship, he went to work for the Kempsmith Manufacturing Co. in Milwaukee, a pioneer builderof milling machines. At Kempsmith,he met E.J. Kearney, and, in 1898, the two men started Kearney & Trecker, concentrating entirely on milling machines.

Among the firm's early technical innovations were the replacement of the belt drive via cone pulleys with a geared feed box (and later a geared spindle drive), flood lubrication, and power rapid traverse. Kearney, who was secretary-treasurer, died in 1934, but Theodore Trecker ran the company until July 1947.

Elected 1988

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Machine Tool

Hall of Fame

Abraham B. Landis (1851-1923)

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Associations

	Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance
	New England Museum Association
	American Association for State and Local History
	Vermont Attractions Association
	Windsor/MT. Ascutney Chamber of Commerce
	Claremont NH Chamber of Commerce
	Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce

Don't Miss...

9th Annual Model Engineering Show

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Visit with New England's finest model engineers and see demonstrations throughout the day. Admission fee includes the show at the Windsor Community Center and the museum.