History
The Beginning
Thomas Fawick, founder of the Fawick Airflex Corporation, was born in 1889. In 1906, at the age of 17, Tom Fawick went into business for himself, designing and building automobiles. In all, five Fawick Flyers were built and sold in and around Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His cars were one of the first to have four doors. Fawick realized he did not have the capital to expand the business and compete with other car manufacturers. In 1914, he moved to Waterloo, Iowa to do design work for a friend who manufactured farm equipment. Within a short period of time, they designed a superior tractor and received a contract for 800 units. In 1916, he moved to Chicago to design and build a heavy-duty clutch for tractors.
After spending a year perfecting the clutch, he approached numerous tractor manufacturing companies, attempting to convince them to use his device on their machines. One plant superintendent was so enthusiastic about the new clutch, he offered to invest, and persuade others to invest, capital in a plant for its manufacture. Fawick was made President and General Manager. The company, located in Racine, Wisconsin, was named The Twin Disc Clutch Company and incorporated in 1918. In the mid-1970's, Twin Disc had grown to 2,300 employees with six plants in the United States and four plants in foreign countries. They manufacture heavy-duty power transmission components, including clutches, marine gears, power shift transmissions, and axles.
Tom Fawick remained as President of the Twin Disc Clutch Company for ten years. In 1928, he sold his shares in the company and pursued his interests involving new applications of rubber and allied products.
A New Venture
Mr. Fawick's interest in rubber and its products led him to the rubber capital of the world - Akron, Ohio. He had earlier sold his rubber engine mount to Walter Chrysler, and it was adapted to the Chrysler automobiles. In the summer of 1936, development work on a new style of coupling and clutch was begun. Mr. Fawick was joined in his efforts by a major NAVY gear producer, and the General Tire and Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio. Their work resulted in the Airflex design. The gear designer's efforts dealt with functional development and application, while General Tire and Rubber concerned themselves with manufacturing techniques of the coupling and clutch.
In 1938, Airflex clutches made it possible to reverse the propeller of a towboat from full ahead to full astern in three seconds. This application and other successful marine installation proved to be very important in Airflex's history. The application laid the cornerstone for future development of Airflex drives in thousands of NAVY vessels during World War II.
In December, 1938, the Fawick Company was formed. The Fawick Company and General Rubber and Tire Co. then concerned themselves with developing industrial clutch applications. In April, 1939, The Fawick Company changed its name to Fawick General Company. The main development work on the coupling was concluded, and the Airflex coupling was placed on the market as a standard product in May, 1940.
The Age of Innovation
In the summer of 1941, a new marine reverse gear was designed in cooperation with the Farrel Birmingham Co. of Buffalo, New York, and the General Motors Corp. The design permitted a rapid propeller reversal without having to slow down, stop, or reverse the driving engine. the design and tests of the pilot model were approved by the NAVY Department. In the fall of 1941, the Fawick General Company changed its name to the Fawick Airflex Company. The General Tire and Rubber Co. now concerned itself with the production and further development of the Airflex coupling. The Fawick Airflex Company was left to develop the industrial clutch market. This development phase came to an abrupt end with the entry of the United States into World War II, and the concentration of the company's activities on war production.
The Fawick Airflex Company's war effort was centered around the production of the newly designed reverse gear that had been approved by the NAVY department. The Navy Department established a shipbuilding program built around the use of non-reversible, two-cycle diesel engines driving propellers through the reverse gear. Airflex's present plant was selected, equipped, and put into operation.
The reverse gears were installed throughout the war on various types of landing craft, tugs, and service ships. These vessels were hailed for their maneuverability and relatively maintenance-free performance. Through the war, more than $46 million worth of clutch and gear units were sold to General Motors. After the war, the Fawick Airflex Company was awarded the ARMY-NAVY "E" Award for contributions to the nation's war effort.
Work done before and during World War II in developing industrial applications for the Airflex clutch began to reap its rewards once the war was over. The Airflex design met with instant success on oil drilling rigs, power shovels, and draglines.
The Emergence of Golf Pride
n the early 1940's, Thomas Fawick developed a rubber grip for golf clubs. After the war, the increasing popularity of golf created a large demand for the grip. The "Golf Pride" Grip became world known. This market, and the increasing sales of the Airflex clutch, enabled Mr. Fawick to establish the Fawick Flexi-Grip Co. in 1948. Today, the Golf Pride Victory grip is the #1 selling golf grip in the world.
Airflex Joins Eaton
Fawick Corporation's record of excellent performance had made it a highly desirable company for acquisition. Throughout the years, several bids were received, and refused, from those wishing to buy the Fawick Corporation. Eventually, Mr. Fawick, then in his 70's, decided it was time to turn over the reins of the Fawick Corporation to another company having the necessary experience to successfully operate it. On December 14, 1967, Mr. Fawick accepted a purchase offer from Eaton Yale & Towne Inc., which was approved by Fawick shareholders on March 26, 1968. The Fawick Airflex Division then became a part of the newly-established Power Transmission Systems Group of Eaton Yale & Towne Inc.
In 1971, Eaton Yale & Towne Inc. changed its name to Eaton Corporation. At the same time, the Power Transmission Systems Division was restructured and renamed the Industrial Drives Division. The Fawick Airflex Division was renamed Eaton's Airflex Plant.
Today, Eaton's Airflex business is still, and always will be, the Original Fawick Clutch.
Thomas Fawick, founder of the Fawick Airflex Corporation, was born in 1889. In 1906, at the age of 17, Tom Fawick went into business for himself, designing and building automobiles. In all, five Fawick Flyers were built and sold in and around Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His cars were one of the first to have four doors. Fawick realized he did not have the capital to expand the business and compete with other car manufacturers. In 1914, he moved to Waterloo, Iowa to do design work for a friend who manufactured farm equipment. Within a short period of time, they designed a superior tractor and received a contract for 800 units. In 1916, he moved to Chicago to design and build a heavy-duty clutch for tractors.
After spending a year perfecting the clutch, he approached numerous tractor manufacturing companies, attempting to convince them to use his device on their machines. One plant superintendent was so enthusiastic about the new clutch, he offered to invest, and persuade others to invest, capital in a plant for its manufacture. Fawick was made President and General Manager. The company, located in Racine, Wisconsin, was named The Twin Disc Clutch Company and incorporated in 1918. In the mid-1970's, Twin Disc had grown to 2,300 employees with six plants in the United States and four plants in foreign countries. They manufacture heavy-duty power transmission components, including clutches, marine gears, power shift transmissions, and axles.
Tom Fawick remained as President of the Twin Disc Clutch Company for ten years. In 1928, he sold his shares in the company and pursued his interests involving new applications of rubber and allied products.
A New Venture
Mr. Fawick's interest in rubber and its products led him to the rubber capital of the world - Akron, Ohio. He had earlier sold his rubber engine mount to Walter Chrysler, and it was adapted to the Chrysler automobiles. In the summer of 1936, development work on a new style of coupling and clutch was begun. Mr. Fawick was joined in his efforts by a major NAVY gear producer, and the General Tire and Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio. Their work resulted in the Airflex design. The gear designer's efforts dealt with functional development and application, while General Tire and Rubber concerned themselves with manufacturing techniques of the coupling and clutch.
In 1938, Airflex clutches made it possible to reverse the propeller of a towboat from full ahead to full astern in three seconds. This application and other successful marine installation proved to be very important in Airflex's history. The application laid the cornerstone for future development of Airflex drives in thousands of NAVY vessels during World War II.
In December, 1938, the Fawick Company was formed. The Fawick Company and General Rubber and Tire Co. then concerned themselves with developing industrial clutch applications. In April, 1939, The Fawick Company changed its name to Fawick General Company. The main development work on the coupling was concluded, and the Airflex coupling was placed on the market as a standard product in May, 1940.
The Age of Innovation
In the summer of 1941, a new marine reverse gear was designed in cooperation with the Farrel Birmingham Co. of Buffalo, New York, and the General Motors Corp. The design permitted a rapid propeller reversal without having to slow down, stop, or reverse the driving engine. the design and tests of the pilot model were approved by the NAVY Department. In the fall of 1941, the Fawick General Company changed its name to the Fawick Airflex Company. The General Tire and Rubber Co. now concerned itself with the production and further development of the Airflex coupling. The Fawick Airflex Company was left to develop the industrial clutch market. This development phase came to an abrupt end with the entry of the United States into World War II, and the concentration of the company's activities on war production.
The Fawick Airflex Company's war effort was centered around the production of the newly designed reverse gear that had been approved by the NAVY department. The Navy Department established a shipbuilding program built around the use of non-reversible, two-cycle diesel engines driving propellers through the reverse gear. Airflex's present plant was selected, equipped, and put into operation.
The reverse gears were installed throughout the war on various types of landing craft, tugs, and service ships. These vessels were hailed for their maneuverability and relatively maintenance-free performance. Through the war, more than $46 million worth of clutch and gear units were sold to General Motors. After the war, the Fawick Airflex Company was awarded the ARMY-NAVY "E" Award for contributions to the nation's war effort.
Work done before and during World War II in developing industrial applications for the Airflex clutch began to reap its rewards once the war was over. The Airflex design met with instant success on oil drilling rigs, power shovels, and draglines.
The Emergence of Golf Pride
n the early 1940's, Thomas Fawick developed a rubber grip for golf clubs. After the war, the increasing popularity of golf created a large demand for the grip. The "Golf Pride" Grip became world known. This market, and the increasing sales of the Airflex clutch, enabled Mr. Fawick to establish the Fawick Flexi-Grip Co. in 1948. Today, the Golf Pride Victory grip is the #1 selling golf grip in the world.
Airflex Joins Eaton
Fawick Corporation's record of excellent performance had made it a highly desirable company for acquisition. Throughout the years, several bids were received, and refused, from those wishing to buy the Fawick Corporation. Eventually, Mr. Fawick, then in his 70's, decided it was time to turn over the reins of the Fawick Corporation to another company having the necessary experience to successfully operate it. On December 14, 1967, Mr. Fawick accepted a purchase offer from Eaton Yale & Towne Inc., which was approved by Fawick shareholders on March 26, 1968. The Fawick Airflex Division then became a part of the newly-established Power Transmission Systems Group of Eaton Yale & Towne Inc.
In 1971, Eaton Yale & Towne Inc. changed its name to Eaton Corporation. At the same time, the Power Transmission Systems Division was restructured and renamed the Industrial Drives Division. The Fawick Airflex Division was renamed Eaton's Airflex Plant.
Today, Eaton's Airflex business is still, and always will be, the Original Fawick Clutch.