In 1862 George Challoner opened a foundry and machine shop in Omro, Wisconsin. The following year he made his first shingle-sawing machine. In 1865 he patented an improved shingle machine which became very successful. An 1871 fire destroyed the factory but it was quickly rebuilt. George patented further improvements to his shingle machine in 1871 and 1879.

Challoner's sons, Frank and John, both joined the business, Frank leaving engineering school before completing his final year to join the business and then finishing his degree in the evenings, graduating in 1876. In October 1880 George died, and the business was reorganized as George Challoner's Sons. In 1881 they had up to 35 employees and their product line consisted of shingle and sawmill machinery, plus steam engines and pumps. In 1884 John and his son, John William, patented additional improvements to the company's shingle machine; the following year, Frank obtained his own patent for an improved shingle machine.

By 1888 the company was also making patent barrel-head machinery. That year the company left Omro: their stone factory building was loaded onto barges and floated downriver to Oshkosh.

In 1899 Frank Challoner died of typhoid, and within a few years the company became the Challoner Co. By 1905 C. W. George Everhart had risen through the ranks of the company to become president, treasurer and general manager.

In 1905 John Challoner partnered with machine designer Theodore S. Wilkin and sawmill owner Charles W. Radford to create Wilkin-Challoner Co., whose mission was to manufacture the woodworking machinery that had been designed over the years by Wilkin and had heretofore been manufactured for Wilkin by a variety of contract manufacturers. The Wilkin-Challoner Company was, on paper, completely independent from the Challoner Co.

in 1911 Everhart invested in a spin-off business, the Giant Grip Horseshoe Co., to manufacture a product that had been developed by an employee of the Challoner Co. Later that year Everhart died unexpectedly from a fall in his home. Everhart's wife, who found herself the majority owner of the Challoner Co. and also the Giant Grip company, became president of both. It appears that the woodworking-related products of the Challoner Co. faded into the background as they dedicated their shared factory resources to creating the tire-traction product that was the mainstay of the Giant Grip company. In 1920 the two businesses were merged to create the Giant Grip Manufacturing Co.; so far as we can tell, this was the end of any woodworking-related products made by the former Challoner Co.

In 1945 the Wilkin-Challoner Co. was reorganized as C. K. L. Machinery Co., the name coming from the surnames of the five equal shareholders: Frank Challoner (president), Henry W. Kratsch (vice president), Arthur E. Kratsch, (vice president), Robert J. Lewis (treasurer), and Frank Challoner, Jr. (secretary). The capitalization of $50,000 suggests that by this time the company was a shadow of its former self.

In 1960, C. K. L. apparently was acquired by Frank Challoner and reorganized as Challoner Machinery Corp., and then shortly afterwards was acquired by J. M. Nash Co. and merged with Bell Machine Co. The three company's wares were marketed under the Nash Bell Challoner brand until 1967 when Medalist Industries, Inc. was created as an umbrella company, of which Nash-Bell-Challoner was a division. Meanwhile, Frank Challoner established Challoner Corp. offering machinery rebuilding and design consulting services. Frank died in 1963.

In 1992 Wisconsin Automated Machinery Corp. (WAMCO) acquired Medalist's Nash-Bell-Challoner Division. in 1999 WAMCO was acquired by Diehl Woodworking Machinery, Inc.

Information Sources

• 1865-1879 patents were granted to George Challoner of Omro, for shingle machines.
• Geo. Challoner is listed in the 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States, as an iron foundry.
• 1881 book, History of Northern Wisconsin.

  George Challoner's Sons foundry and machine-shop was established by George Challoner, father of Frank and John Challoner, present proprietors, in 1862. It was burned in 1871. George Challoner conducted it alone up the time of his death in 1880, when the firm became as above. From thirty to thirty-five men are employed. The product of the manufacture is $52,000 yearly, and its nature shingle and saw mill machinery, steam engines, pumps and general work.

  FRANK CHALLONER, of the firm of Challoner's Sons, proprietors of a foundry and manufacturers of Challoner's Shingle and Saw-Mill Machinery, for cutting shingles, etc., established in 1862 by their father, George Challoner. They did work to the amount of $52,000 during the season of 1880–81, in one year; employ from thirty to thirty-five men, whose wages amount to from $10,000 to $12,000 per year. Sales extend over the whole United States and Canadas, where lumber is manufactured. He was born in Omro, Wis., July 6, in 1853, and worked for his father until he was twenty-seven years of age. His father died Oct. 4, 1880, since when himself and brother have operated the above. He was married in Omro, Sept. 27, 1876, to Miss Addie Hicks, who was born in the latter place; have two children, one of whom is named Grace, and the other an infant not yet named. Mr. C. is a member of the Knights of Honor, a beneficiary association.

• An 1888 barrel-head machine patent was assigned to the firm of "George Challoner's Sons".
• A lawsuit,Challoner v. Boyington, provides evidence that George Challoner's Sons was active in 1890, and provides a small window into their business.
• January 1900 The Reporter has this news item. "Kenosha, Wisc.—A quite monument has been placed in the Omro cemetery by the W. H., Morse Company, to the memory of the late Frank Challoner of Oshkosh. The name of Frank Challoner is cut on the face of the monument in facsimile of Mr. Challoner's autograph."
• 1900 book, The University of Wisconsin: Its History and Its Alumni.

  FRANK CHALLONER, B. Mech. E.—Born at Omro, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, July 6,1853. Fitted at the Omro high school: clerked in a drug store for several months, and learned the machinist's trade before entering the University of Wisconsin in 1873. Took the mechanical engineering course and graduated with the class of 1876, although he was obliged to leave college one year before graduation to attend to business, but was later granted the degree of B. Mech. E., having continued his studies in those branches at home. After their father's death, Mr. Challoner and his brother John continued under the firm name of George Challoner's Sons, the business of manufacturing shingle and saw-mill machinery at Omro. In 1888 they removed to Oshkosh, and later added refrigerating and other allied lines of manufacturing. In 1885-88 he was a member of the assembly; was twice a member of the University of Wisconsin board of regents (1887-92 and 1895-99), holding this office at the time of his death, January 10, 1899. He was a member of the committee of the board having charge of the erection of the new gymnasium and armory, and was also, at that time, one of the board of commissioners for erecting the State Historical Library building, at Madison. Mr. Challoner was an inventor, having obtained several patents on shingle machines. On September 27, 1876, he married Miss Addie Eliza Hicks, a graduate of the Omro high school, and has three children: Grace M. (U. W., '00), George (U. W., '03), and Agnes.

• July 1901 The Foundry. "Geo. Challoner's Sons Co., of Oshkosh. Wis., is building an addition to its foundry."
• September 1901 The Foundry.

  The George Challoner's Sons Co., Oshkosh, Wis., are making considerable improvements in their plant. The company make a specialty of the manufacture of ice making and refrigerating machinery, and also turn out saw mill machinery and build machinery to special designs. They have made an addition to the works, two stories high, 40 x 90 feet, the ground floor of which is mainly used as an erecting department. This is equipped with a 6-ton traveling crane and such tools as are essential in completing machines. The second floor will be used as a wood working department and will have a complete equipment of wood working machinery. The foundry has been considerably improved, the company manufacturing all their own castings.

• 1905-07-24 The Iron Age.

  The Wilkin-Challoner Company has been organized and incorporated at Oshkosh, Wis., with a capital stock of $100,000, by Theodore S. Wilkin of Milwaukee, Charles W. Radford and John Challoner of Oshkosh. The company has commenced the erection of a building, all equipment for which has been placed, and will build a full line of sawmill machinery, such as steam gangs, steam set works, gang edgers, steam neggers and the like. The machines were designed by Mr. Wilkin and have been on the market a number of years, having been made heretofore in other shops.

• 1905-07-27 The Iron Trade Review.

  The Wilkins-Challoner Co., Oshkosh, Wis, has been incorporated to manufacture machinery. The incorporators are: Theodore S. Wilkins, John Challoner and Chas. W. Radford. The capital stock is $100,000.

• March 1906 Wood Craft.

  The Wilkin-Challoner Co., Oshkosh, Wis., maker of sawmill equipment, is now operating its new plant and is prepared to manufacture anything needed for a sawmill. Some of its special products are to be band mills, belt gangs and steam gangs, which are to be of any desired size and capacity. The factory has a floor spice of 23,212 feet, and property has been purchased north and east of the present building so that enlargements can be made as soon as necessary. Chas. W. Radford of Radford Bros. & Co., manufacturers of lumber, sashes and doors, is president of the company, John Challoner is secretary and treasurer, and Theodore S. Wilkin is vice-president and general manager.

• 1908 book, History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

  ...Mr. George Challoner built a shingle mill in 1863... The machine shop of George Challoner was built in 1866. Mr. Challoner had invented a shingle mill which afterward became famous, and the leading machine in America for the manufacture of shingles. A number of years ago the shop which was built of stone, was moved on barges down river and set up in Oshkosh. The ten block shingle mills made by the Challoner Sons, became the leading mill used for the manufacture of shingles....
  Challoner Company, saw, lath and shingle mill machinery; president, Samuel B. Everhart; secretary, T. R. Frentz; treasurer, Floyd S. Everhart, Jr.
  Wilkin-Challoner Company, sawmill machinery; president, C. W. Radford; secretary and treasurer, John C. Challoner.

• May 1908 The Bulletin ("Published Monthly by the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo", a fraternal organization for lumber men, and is the oldest fraternal organization in the US).

  Obituary—Theodore S. Wilkin, senior member of the saw-mill machinery manufacturing firm of Wilkin-Challoner Company, of Oshkosh, Wisc., was found dead in bed at the Kentwood Hotel on the morning of April 26. Mr. Wilkin had been here for about three weeks superintending the remodeling of the Amos Kent Lumber & Brick Company plant, which is one of the Natalbany Lumber Company's group of mills. He was apparently in good health up to Saturday, but complained of not feeling very well on that day and did not go to the mill. He was around the hotel practically all day and at night retired as usual. Sunday morning Mr. Dean went into Mr. Wilkin's room to call him and discovered that he was dead. The coroner's jury investigated the death and returned a verdict of death from heart failure. The remains were shipped to Oshkosh Sunday evening.

  Mr. Wilkin was one of the most favorably known sawmill machinery men in the business and had a wide acquaintance through the South. He was born at Port Allegheny, Pa., June 3, 1850, and was consequently 57 years of age. He was a well known inventor of saw-mill machinery, the most notable product of his genius in this respect being the Hoo-Hoo Nigger. Mr. Wilkin was for three years manager of the Kirby Lumber Company and designed many of their important plants. The concern of which he was the Senior member was formed about four years ago and has been quite successful. Prior to that time Mr. Wilkin managed the manufacture of his own inventions and had considerable work in superintending the construction of new mills.

  Mr. Wilkin was an old Hoo-Hoo (No. 1284), having been initiated into the order in 1894 at Saginaw, Mich. He served as Viceregent for the state of Wisconsin in 1904. He was a most likeable gentleman and his sudden death causes genuine sorrow among a large circle of friends.

• May 1908 Packages has a more lengthy obituary of Theodore C. Wilkins.
• 1909-11-15 The Lumber World has a brief illustrated article on the birthday of Judge Samuel B. Everhart, vice president of the Challoner Co., and father of C. W. George Everhart, president of Challoner Co.
• 1911-09-01 The Lumber World, Obituaries.

  C. W. George Everhart—Death came suddenly to C. W. George Everhart, president of the Challoner Company, of Oshkosh, Wis., who passed away at his home in that city on Thursday, August 17. Two weeks previously, on August 2, he had an attack of ptomaine poisoning, which developed into peritonitis. On Sunday, August 12, he had so far recovered that the nurse who had attended him was discharged, and for several days he was able to be about the house. Thursday afternooon,at about 4 o'clock, and shortly before his death, he called up the office of the Challoner Company and informed Manager J. F. Kern that he would be able to go to his office in a day or two. At 5:30 o'clock, as he was leaving the bathroom for his bedroom, he slipped and fell, striking his head on the floor with great force. Evidently the fall stunned him, as when found his head was wedged in between the bathtub and the wall, with the result that he died or suffocation.

  Mr. Everhart was for many years a resident of Grand Rapids, Mich., where he first attained a reputation in mechanical lines, for which he early developed an unusual aptitude. He was born at Berlin, Mich., on October 29, 1863. After leaving school he secured employment with the Phoenix Furniture Company, of Grand Rapids, and later became buyer for a grocery house of that city, but ill-health compelled him to abandon business for a time and he went to California. Being restored to health, in 1883 he returned to Grand Rapids and took a position in the office of Perkins & Co., machinery manufacturers, and for a number of years he was general manager of this firm. In 1901, he secured an interest in the Challoner shingle machinery concern at Oshkosh and removed to that city. In 1905 he bought the interests of John Challoner and William Ruckman in the plant and became practically sole owner. At the time of his death he was the president of the company, his father, Samuel B. Everhart, of Berlin, Mich., was vice-president, Phil H. Sawyer, of Oshkosh, was secretary, and the son of the deceased, Floyd S. Everhart, was treasurer. In September, 1909, he was elected president of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce...

  A few months ago Mr. Everhart became interested in two new companies in Oshkosh, the Giant Grip Horseshoe Company and the Everhart-Delaney Company. The plant of the former concern was erected on ground immediately adjoining that of the Challoner Company and was started only a few months ago...

• 1919-20 Polk's Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory lists the following:
  • Challoner Company The, Lillian B. Everhart Pres. Elmer C. Hole V-Pres, Arthur B Rieb Sec, Louis B. Schrieber Treas, Wendell H Phelps Genl Mgr. Mfrs of Giant Grip Pdocuts 29 Osceola.
  • Wilkin-Challoner Co, C W Radford pres, John Challoner sec, saw mill machinery 160 Harrison
• June 1917 The Accessory and Garage Journal

  The Challoner Co., Oshkosh, Wis., has taken a contract to manufacture the Giant grip anti-skid device for commercial cars, designed by William H. Krug, a member of the Challoner staff and its subsidiary, the Giant Grip Co., organized to manufacture the new grip, which consists of sets of clamps fastened permanently to the spokes of wheels equipped with solid tires. The clamps support chains going around the tire. The chains are removable and any number may be used.

• October 1917 The Wood-Worker has an ad from Wayne Machinery Co., stating that they have Wilkin-Challoner double-end tenoners for sale.
• 1918 Penton's Foundry List lists Wilkin-Challoner Co., as providers of grey iron castings, plus machine shop and pattern shop services.
• 1920-01-08 The Iron Age.

  MRS. LILLIAN EVERHART, president Challoner Co., Oshkosh, Wis., died suddenly at the home of her daughter in Milwaukee on Dec. 29. She was the widow of George C. W. Everhart, founder of Challoner Co., who died in 1911, since which time Mrs. Everhart was president and active manager of the business. The company manufactures horseshoes, calks, non-skid devices for motor trucks, and also makes wood and metal cutting machines.

• 1920-05-01 Automobile Trade Journal.

  The Challoner Co. and the Giant Grip Horse Shoe Co. are now combined and will do business under the name of the Giant Grip Mfg. Co., at Oshkosh, Wis. H. B. Osgood is manager.

• 1922-05-13 American Lumberman, in their "Business Changes" section.

  WISCONSIN, Oshkosh—Charles W. Radford sold interest in Wilkin-Challoner Co. to John C. Challoner and his sons, George C. and Frank Challoner, and will devote his time to interests of Radford & Wright Co., of which he is president.

• 1945-09-22 Oshkosh Northwestern.

  NEW COMPANY TO OPERATE PLANT—Decision to liquidate the affairs of the Wilkin-Challoner Company and form a new corporation which is necessary to handle the increased order file of the firm was announced today by Frank Challoner, president. A new corporation has been chartered, known as the C. K. L. Machinery Company, to continue the manufacture of Challoner woodworking machinery to the company's plant on Harrison street. Operations will be started formally on Monday morning. While continuing the same service to its customers, the company expects to expand payrolls and facilities, probably increasing employment from an average of between 40 and 50 to a maximum of 75 within the next year, it was announced. Officers of the new company will be Frank Challoner, president; Henry W. Kratsch, vice president; Arthur E. Kratsch, vice president; Robert J. Lewis, treasurer; and Miss Leora Challoner, secretary. The latter's office will be filled by Pvt. Frank Challoner Jr., now stationed at Camp Campbell, Ky., upon his return from military service. Officers said the new company was capitalized at $50,000 with the shares held equally by the five stockholders. The old Wilkin-Challoner Company was formed in 1905 by the late Charles W. Radford, Theodore S. Wilkin and John Challoner, father of Frank Challoner. The business has been continued without interruption since.

• Ad for Challoner Co. in 1955-56 Hitchcock's Wood-Workers Digest Directory.
• A 1963 Wood & Wood Products.

  DEATHS—Frank Challoner, former president of the Challoner Machinery Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., died May 22. He was 68. He had been associated with the firm — known successively as the Wilkin-Challoner Co., C. K. L. Machinery Co., and Challoner Machinery Corp.—since 1918, following service in World War I. At the time, the firm, founded by his grandfather was headed by his father.

  He worked in all phases of the business and was named president in 1942. He was especially well known in the sash and door industry and was noted for his uncanny faculty of anticipating this industry's machinery needs. When his firm was purchased by J. M. Nash Co. in 1961, he continued to work...

• 1963 issue of National Hardwood Magazine.

  Challoner Machinery Corp. actually dates back to 1866, the heyday of heavy logging operations in Wisconsin. Operations were moved to Oshkosh, Wisc., in 1887. Manufacture of sawmill machinery was discontinued in the early 1900's as development took place on double-end tenoners and automatic machinery for the sash and door manufacturers with Challoner Machinery Corp. becoming dominant in this field.

  He worked in the plant while receiving his education and in 1918, after serving in World War I, joined the firm, which was then operated by his father. He worked in all phases of the business and became president in 1942. He was especially well known in thte sash and door industry and had the uncanny faculty of anticipating the machinery required by the industry. The line of Challoner enjoys a high reputation, justifying the vision of Frank Challoner. In November, 1961, Challoner Machinery Corp. was bought by the J. M. Nash Co., Inc., and he then devoted his time to the Challoner Corp. for consulting, designing and rebuilding machinery, being associated with Arthur M. Howarth and Rober Lewis, former officers of the Challoner Machinery Corp.

  It can truly be said that Frank Challoner not only enjoyed his work, but lived for it and up until a week before his death was actively engaged in his new line of endeavor, the Challoner Corporation.

• 1967-06-24 Oshkosh Northwestern.

  OSHKOSH MANAGER INSPECTS SYMBOL—J. M. Nash president Norman J. Fischer, left, shows the proposed new corporate symbol for the J. M. Nash Company to Robert E. Greene, general manager of the company's Nash-Bell-Challoner division in Oshkosh. The new name—Medalist—will be voted on by stockholders at a special meeting next week.

• 2004 report by Steve R. Langkau, Former Oshkosh Industrial Firms. "The CKL concern, which derives its name from the initials of three of its officers, was organized in 1945 when it took over the Wilkin Challoner firm. The latter organization was formed in July, 1905, although even before that, back as far as 1866. In fact, the Challoner name was an important one in the Oshkosh woodworking machinery industry. In 1908, three years after the Wilkin Challoner Company was started, its officers, according to the Oshkosh city directory of that year, included C. W. Radford, president; Theodore S. Wilkin, Vice president and manager, and John Challoner, secretary and treasurer. By 1910, again according the city directory, Rush C. Brown had succeeded Mr. Wilkin as vice president and Frank Challoner became president. ...
• Patent records confirm the general timing of the appearance of Challoner Co.. The date is also given in a company history on a previous version of the WAMCO website.
• An Oshkosh Public Museum page on Giant Grip Manufacturing Co. has the following.

  ...Giant Grip Manufacturing Company was supposedly founded in Oshkosh, WI in 1863 by C. W. George Everhart. However, his name does not appear in the Oshkosh City Directory until 1903 when he is listed as vice-president of George Challoner's Sons Company. By 1905 he was president, treasurer, and general manager of Challoner Company. He died in 1911 and his widow and sons took over Challoner Company. In 1916 Challoner advertised as the makers of Giant Grip Horseshoes. In 1919 the Everhart family sold control of Challoner [maybe true] and the company became Wilkins-Challoner [not true]. That same year Giant Grip Manufacturing Company was formed by two Milwaukee partners and Louis Schreiber of Oshkosh and was located in the old Challoner building on Osceola.

• Wikipedia biography for Frank Challoner.