The Haish–Sandwich Engine Overlap, 1912–1913
In 1912, the gasoline engine department of the Jacob Haish Company was described in regional newspapers as operating at full capacity. Orders were “phenomenal.” New machinery was being installed. Additions to Mill No. 3 were underway. Management announced plans to triple output.
Among its largest customers was the Sandwich Manufacturing Company.
Reports stated that Sandwich used gasoline engines “by the hundreds.” Railroad shipping delays proved too slow for demand, prompting Haish to purchase a five-ton motor truck to run directly between DeKalb and Sandwich. Engines could be telephoned for and delivered within the hour. The growth of the Haish gas engine department was directly tied to this expanding contract.
But while Haish was enlarging its facilities to meet Sandwich’s needs, Sandwich was expanding as well.
At the same time it was purchasing engines from DeKalb, Sandwich was constructing additional factory space and acquiring machinery necessary to begin producing gasoline engines independently. The transition was not abrupt. It was deliberate. Facilities were prepared. Equipment was installed. Market presence was established.
The overlap is further illustrated by the marketing of Chanticleer gasoline engines. Manufactured by Haish but sold under the Sandwich Manufacturing Company name, these engines were distributed through Sandwich branch offices in Kansas City and Peoria. Sandwich was building its identity in the gasoline engine market even before full in-house production began.
The turning point came in early 1913.
Arthur Parks, superintendent of the Haish gas engine department for seven years, resigned in February of that year. Within days it was announced that he would relocate to Sandwich to accept a responsible position with the Sandwich Manufacturing Company. Described as an expert machinist, designer, and draftsman, Parks’ work would involve improving factory processes and increasing production efficiency.
The sequence suggests intention rather than accident.
For a brief but significant period in 1912–1913, two Illinois factories expanded side by side, one supplying, the other preparing. Haish increased capacity to meet Sandwich’s demand. Sandwich strengthened its facilities and secured experienced personnel while still relying on Haish production.
Soon thereafter, Sandwich would manufacture its own gasoline engines and reduce its reliance on DeKalb supply.
The transition appears not to have been the result of catastrophe, fire, or sudden disruption, but of planned industrial development.
For a short but important moment, the growth of one plant helped finance and shape the growth of the other.
Industrial Significance
The Haish–Sandwich overlap illustrates a broader shift occurring in early twentieth century American manufacturing: vertical integration. Rather than remaining dependent upon outside suppliers, growing firms increasingly sought to internalize production of key components.
In this case, Sandwich Manufacturing did not abruptly sever its supplier relationship. Instead, it maintained engine purchases while constructing facilities, acquiring machinery, establishing branding, and recruiting technical expertise. The methodical nature of the transition reflects careful planning and financial strength.
The episode also demonstrates the interconnected nature of regional industry. During 1912–1913, DeKalb and Sandwich were economically linked through production, transportation, labor, and distribution networks. For a period, both communities benefited from a shared expansion cycle.
This documented sequence replaces long standing speculation with contemporary evidence and provides a clearer understanding of how Sandwich entered the gasoline engine field.
Sources
- The Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Illinois), May–September 1912, reports on expansion of the Haish gasoline engine department and identification of Sandwich Manufacturing Company as a principal customer.
- The Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Illinois), February 3, 1913, notice of resignation of Arthur Parks as superintendent of the Haish gas engine department.
- The Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Illinois), February 10, 1913, announcement of Arthur Parks accepting position with Sandwich Manufacturing Company.
- The True Republican (Sycamore, Illinois), May 11, 1910, report on Sandwich Manufacturing Company expansion and financial growth.
- Kansas Farmer, November 11, 1911, article on the growing use of gasoline engines in agricultural machinery.
- Sandwich Manufacturing Company catalog advertising Chanticleer gasoline engines (circa 1912).