Founded in the early 1900s by Charlie and Andy Rasmussen as the Wisconsin Machine Co. in Racine, WI. The company manufactured power hacksaw machines which were sold and distributed by Peerless Machine Co. It appears that the Wisconsin Machine Co. became the Rasmussen Machine Co. in about 1941. We have seen a power hacksaw with the Rasmussen Machine Co. name cast into the base, which is how we learned of that name. The Rasmussen Machine Co. seems to have disappeared shortly after the end of the war and it seems that it was likely merged into the Peerless Machine Co.
In 1961, Peerless moved from Racine, WI, to newer and larger facilities in Oshkosh, WI, when the company was merged into Medalist Industries. In 1992, Peerless was purchased by Wisconsin Automated Machinery Co. In 2002, Peerless was acquired by its current owners and renamed Peerless Industrial Equipment Corp.
Advertisement from the 1919-11-06 "Canadian Machinery"
Information Sources
- Much of the history information was obtained from the Peerless History page on the company web site.
- Data points on Rasmussen Machine Co. span 1941 through '46.