From August 1913 Machinery.

Lutter & Gies Co. was established in 1889 by Herman Lutter and Ernest A. Gies. Beginning in 1905 or early '06 they began making a wet grinder. O. L. Packard Machinery Co. was a distributor. At about the same time they began making a metal shaper sold as the "Milwaukee" shaper. In 1916 the shaper business line, which was quite successful, was sold off to a new business established for that purpose, the Milwaukee Shaper Co.; Messers Lutter and Gies were apparently not involved in that business. In 1926 the Lutter & Gies Co. was acquired by Milwaukee Press & Machine Co., who apparently discontinued Lutter & Gies' business and used the space for its own business.

Information Sources

• 1916-06-01 The Automobile.

  The Milwaukee shaper, a popular machine tool in motor car and parts factories of this country, will henceforth be manufactured by the Milwaukee Shaper & Transmission Appliance Co., Milwaukee, organized with a capital stock of $75,000 by A. J. Schmitz, Robert Wild and E. J. Gross, First National Bank Building. The new company takes over the entire shaper business of the Lutter & Gies Co., 258 Lake Street, which has manufactured the tool for many years. The shaper business has grown so extensive that it was deemed advisable to organize a separate concern to handle it. The new company has leased the former plant of the Stegeman Motor Car Co. at 1148-1152 Holton Street, and is already operating. The tool will not be changed in design or name.

• The 1921-1922 Polk's Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory lists Lutter & Gies Co. at 129 to 135 Ferry Street and 258 to 260 Lake Street.
• From a 1926 issue of The Iron Trade Review.

  ANNOUNCEMENT is made of the sale of the Lutter & Gies Co., Milwaukee, one of the oldest machine shops in the northwest, to the Milwaukee Press & Machine Co., of which Anson Eldred is president. The Milwaukee company has been in need of more room for some time past and being unable to expand in its present location at 339 First avenue, took advantage of an opportunity to acquire the Lutter-Gies plant and business, at 258-262 Lake street, where it will continue its business in a 2-story building, 60 x 120 feet, with additional room for future expansion. Herman Lutter and Ernest A. Gies founded the Lutter & Gies CO. in 1889 and later Michael P. Davern became associated in the business.