IS SUCCESSFUL MANUFACTURER

Faustin Prinz Invented Dust Collector and Built Up Big Business

HAS A HIGH REPUTATION

Learned His Trade in Germany and His Machinery is Used All Over World

Faustin Prinz, president of the Prinz & Rau Manufacturing company, is the head of a Milwaukee manufacturing enterprise which has sprung into prominence in the past fifteen years, and owes its success to his business capacity and persistent endeavors. Mr. Prinz, personally, is one of the most popular men in mill machinery trade, and the Prinz machinery has attained a high reputation in the market since from small beginnings the business has been built up to its present condition.  The completion of a large new factory two years ago, in place of the two story frame in which the Prinz & Rau establishment began operations in 1888, is substantial evidence of progress and success. To show that the Prinz machinery is of just as much interest to the cereal milling as it is to the  flour milling trade, the fact may be mentioned that in past year the company furnished a large large piece of specially built machinery for the great plant of the Pillsbury- Washburn Flour Mill company at Minneapolis, Minn.

Mr. Prinz Prominent in Business Circles.

Mr Prinz, whose influence in conducting the affairs of the company has been predominate, is widely know in social and business circles. He is a member of the Milwaukee chamber of commerce, and can be found on ' change every day during business hours. He is a member of the milwaukee Merchants and Manufacturers' association. The Deutscher club and the Millioki club claim Mr. Prinz as a member, and he is one of the patrons and constant attendants at the German theater.

Mr. Prinz was born in Tyrol, Austria, Feb. 10 , 1851. His farther was a miller, and in early youth he acquired a taste for mechanics which has led to his distinguished career as an inventor. In 1864 he began an apprenticeship of two years at a machine and millwright shop in Oberunsburg, Germany. For a number of years after completing his apprenticeship he worked at different shops identified with building mills and special milling machinery at manufacturing centers in Germany and Switzerland, advancing to the position of foeman of a large  mill building house in Rarsbach, Switzerland. In 1873 he opened a shop at Zurich, Switzerland, for the manufacture of milling machinery, devoting himself particularly to the manufacture of a purifier for middlings and west cleaner of his own invention. In 1878 he went to Paris to attend the exposition, where his attention was called to the explosion in the Washburn mil of Minneapolis.

Saw Possibilities in America

Investigation revealed the immense possibilities in business offered in America, and he immediately closed out his Zurich business and came to this country, landing in New York in September, 1878. He made  his home in Milwaukee in 1880 ... a complete... invented by himself for the Dundas roller mills, at Dundas. Minn., this being his first work in the United States. In 1883 he removed to Milwaukee and for some time devoted hiss attention entirely to the perfection of a number  of his inventions, At that time the Milwaukee Dust Collector company was organized for the manufacture of the Prinz dust collector. In 1886 he began business for himself at 659 East Water  street, and in 1888 organized  the Prinz & Rau Manufacturing company with H.C. Rau.

The life of Mr. Prinz is so closely connected with the enterprise that bears his name that this sketch would be incomplete with out a short history of the company.

Company Established in 1888

It was established in 1888,the factory and site being purchased from Congressman Henry Smith. Special flour machinery was manufactured, of which the leaders were the Iron Prince scourer, the Prinz Cockle machines, and barley separators, and graders. A change was made in 1895, Mr. Rau selling his interest to Mr. Prinz, the style of the firm, however, remaining  unchanged. It was about this time that the firm added to its line of machinery by placing on the market the Perfection dust collector, which took a place at once in the front rank of popularity with millers and has maintained it ever since. The demand for various special machines having outgrown the capacity of the plant, the company decided to rebuild, and March, 1901, ground was broken for the present building, which was completed the following December. The new building is a brick structure and occupies ninety feet on East Water and 180 feet on Knapp street, with a height of four stories. On the lower floor is the office, machine shop, engine and boiler rooms The second floor is devoted to the woodworking department, and here the Perfection dust collectors are put together, as also the receiving and milling separators. The entire third floor is given over to the building of the Iron Prince scourers, while the top floor is used as a storage room for lumber and patterns and also as a stockroom.

Mr. Prinz is president and treasurer of the company, Adam Leidgen vice president and superintendent, and Charles H. Vollmar secretary.

Built New Factory Over Old One.

" We built our new factory over and around our old one." said Mr Prinz, "and in that way were...that the building was in progress. I believe we did not lose a day. We employed from 80 to 100 men. The firm is represented by capable salesmen in the principal markets. Our goods are used all over Europe and America. A machine was shipped to Australia yesterday. Our Machinery is in use in Russia, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, and many other countries of Europe."

Mr. Prinz expressed the opinion that American milling interests were ahead of European. " Twenty-five years ago it was a different story and European mills were superior," said he, "but now I believe America leads the world in milling machinery. I regard Milwaukee as one of the most eligible manufacturing and residence cities in the country. Its progress in the last few years in every way is a source of pride to its citizens."

Mr. Prinz was married in Zurich,  Switzerland, in 1873, to Catherine Gozenbach and had a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. One daughter is Mrs. W.E. Sweet and another is Mrs. L. Ramsthal of this city. Carl Prinz, another son, is employed in the office with his father.

In politics Mr. Prinz is an independent republican. He has never sought office, but has kept close track of public affairs. Mr. Prinz, beside his other extensive interests, is treasurer of the Bonesho-Shaidnagle company and principal stockholder in the concern.   

This is an article from the Milwaukee Sentinel, August 9, 1903

    Faustin Prinz was one of the original investors in the A.O. Smith Company. Once A.O. Smith was established he was asked if he wanted to keep his money invested or if he wanted to take it out. He replied that he had his own business to run and took his money out.

    At around this time he was approached by another person looking to have him invest in their company. These people brought a motorcycle to Faustin who had one of his men take it for a ride. The rider crashed the motorcycle on the dirt street and hurt his arm. Faustin declined to invest in the company and said that he thought that this new product was going to hurt a lot of young men. This company is now known as Harley-Davidson.

Faustin also founded the Home Savings Bank and served as it’s first president. The family owned a controlling interest in the bank. Faustin put his sons to work in many of his businesses. Carl ran the Prinz and Rau Manufacturing Company before Emil took control of the company. Carl and Alfred ran the Bonesho-Shaidnagle company which was actually a silk store. Ernest’s wife, Hazel also worked there for a time. Alfred traded his Prinz and Rau stock to Carl for Carl’s  Bonesho-Shaidnagle stock to then have controlling interest. Son Alfred worked in the family bank.