AUSTIN-WESTERN Division of BLH - Brief history:

[hankadam]

1859 - Austin Manufacturing Co. (Harvey, IL)
1877 - Western Wheeled Scraper Company (Mount Pleasant, IA)
1901 - Austin-Western Road Machinery Company (Chicago, IL)
formed to sell the products of both companies.
1903 - Western Wheeled Scraper Company purchased the Austin
Manufacturing Company.
1934 - Western-Austin company (The two companies were
consolidated at Aurora, IL).
1944 - Austin-Western Company.
1951 - Austin Western Division of BLH.
1965 - Subsidiary of Armour and Company.
1970 - Greyhound Corporation.
1971 - Clark Equipment Company (Austin-Western Division.
I can copy and will mail a five page narrative history (too lengthy for here) to anyone who asks and sends me a mail address. All the best, Hank Rentschler

[rfederle]

Hello Henry,

I would like a copy and if you would contact me at my email address I will send you my mailing info.

[email protected]

This caught my eye as we used to have an Austin Wetern Crane aboard ship. It was used as a stores crane (loading and unloading supplies and groceries, light use only). I took the manual home after it was removed from the vessel.

Being from Hamilton Ohio I am always interested in the B-L-H line.

Thanks Henry and have a good evening.

Robert Federle

[Dwan]

I can copy and will mail a five page narrative history (too lengthy for here) to anyone who asks and sends me a mail address. All the best, Hank Rentschler

I would like a copy as I am restoring a 1963 AW Super 300.
Pictures are avalable @ [url]http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/For ... php?t=2015[/url



Thanks

Dwan Hall
9217 Long Run Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801

[email protected]

[marilyn]

Hank,
I would like to receive a copy of the 5 page narrative history of Austin-Western. A library patron of ours is interested in making a model of the RG 147 R horse drawn road grader. So any company information will also be of interest to him.
Please send to
Stewart Library
c/o Marilyn Kennett
PO BOX 390
Grinnell, IA 50112

Thank you very much.

[mcculp]

I purchased a steel wheeled road grader with a name plate that says - Western Scraper Company Aurora IL.

Questions:
Is this company still in business?
This there anyone who can help me with pictures or other information so I can restore the grader.

I am told that it was used in Frankenmuth MI and pulled by horses.
Any help you could give would be apreicated.
Mary

[locomotive112]

Hank,

Do you have any info or suggestions for me to help investigate the maintenance of way rolling stock that Autin Western built?

I am not sure if what I am looking for is Austin Westin or Austin Western, but one of those companies built 3' gauge bottom dump cars for US gypsum RR in Southern California and the cars were really clean and very well built.
I would like to find the builders drawings for them but so far its difficult to investigate since I live in Texas.

Does that sound like Austin Western to you?

If anyone gets copies of the records that Hank donated, please contact me and I will pay you for them. I would like to donate a set to the Degolyer (transportation library on the campus of SMU in Dallas, they need a set of those, and I would like to make that happen.

Thanks for saving what you could Hank, I do the same with what I can find,
David

[Mike Roque]

I got an email on this...

Tell Mary, or mcculp to type in Western wheeled road scraper and it should take her to a site through the National Museum of American History which shows an 1892 scraper in the Smithsonian and will give her some colors and details. That’s all that I’ve ever been able to find on our scraper.
J. Waters

[ledoge1]

Hello there;
I have a roadgrader with serial #K36412660 and the BLH/AUSTIN-WESTERN markings. Could someone please identify what year/model I have and is there a shop manual that can be purchased.
thanks don

[hankadam]

All the Austin-Western (including BLH) drawings are at the University of Tennessee (Chattanooga). They have no corporate records. It has been years since I talked to them, but note they are an academic institution and not equipped to handle commercial requests, or do research for individuals. Several earlier posts are also looking for drawings, and other data, so give it a try, but don't be disappointed if you get no response. I can no longer help. All the best, Hank Rentschler

[ledoge1]

Thanks for that info Hank.We'll give it a try.
cheers don

[eberthelette]

Hello Henry,

I would like a copy and if you would contact me at my email address I will send you my mailing info.

[email protected]

Thanks for the detailed information on the Austin-Western company. I have an Austin 147 R that I need to research. You mentioned in the e-mail string that U of Tenn now has the original road grader drawings. What department should I contact to get more inforamtion or possibly visit?

Thanks,
Emile Berthelette

[hankadam]

See posting above - - - printed cc no longer available. Regards, HAR

[hankadam]

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

[farmerstone]

Hank, I was wondering if you would still mail the 5 page history of the Austin Western Co. I have a super 300 from 1962 or 1963. I will gladly send my mailing address in an email. you can email me at [email protected]

[bobj21]

Dear Henry,
Please mail me a copy of your 5-page brochure. I am researching a gas operated roller mfg'd by the Austin Mfg Co in the late 1800's.
Bob Jensen
1808 Burr Street
Maplewood, MN 55117