This firm was established by Gustave Zschech and Frederick Ruschaupt in 1873 to build railroad machinery, especially circular sawmills and steam engines. The firm grew to 700 employees. The name changed in 1874, possibly as a result of some financial crisis, to Atlas Works and again in 1878 to Atlas Engine Works, which continued to make sawmills for a while but specialized in Corliss steam engines, and later, gas engines.

There was an apparently unrelated Indianapolis Car Works that was established in 1881 to build railroad cars.

Information Sources

• Annual report of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture for 1873 lists the "Premiums awarded at the Indiana State Fair and Exposition, 1873", including the following:
  • Best stationary steam engine, Indianapolis Car Works Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Silver Medal
  • Best portable steam engine, Indianapolis Car Works Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Silver Medal
  • Best tubular boiler, Indianapolis Car Works Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Silver Medal
  • Best shaft coupling, Indianapolis Car Works Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Diploma
  • Sawyer's valve for saw mills, Indianapolis Car Works. Diploma
• Twenty-Third Annual Report of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, 1873, including the results of the 1873 Indiana State Fair and Exposition in Indianapolis: Sawyer's valve for saw mills, Indianapolis Car Works: Diploma.
• 1881 issues of Railway World had the following news items.
  • May 14: "The Indianapolis Car Works company has purchased grounds and made contracts for the completion of works by July 1st, when it expects to have 400 men employed. The cash capital is $200,000. Mr. Riley McKeen, of the Vandalia Line, is president. Mr. Charles Milliard, of Terre Haute, will be general superintendent."
  • June 4: "The fourth building of the Indianapolis Car Works is going up. The ground perfectly bare four weeks ago is now covered with 600 feet of buildings 150 feet deep, and two more, 550x60, are to come."
  • September 10: "The fourth building of the Indianapolis Car Works is going up. The ground perfectly bare four weeks ago is now covered with 600 feet of buildings 150 feet deep, and two more, 550x60, are to come."
  • November 12: "It is reported that the Terre Haute Car Company and the Indianapolis Car Works are about to consolidate, the former removing to Indianapolis."
  • December 3: "The Indianapolis Car Works have taken a contract to build 200 hopper-bottom coal cars for the Terre Haute and Indianapolis road."