Posts by FOMMCO

Mrs. Grace Albers French assumed the role of company President, with the support of General Manager Charles B. Upton, following her husband’s unfortunate passing. AWF Sr. tragically passed away on a business trip in Los Angeles, California due to an automobile accident. AWF Jr. transitioned to full-time involvement in the company following his graduation from…

The Company began producing hydraulic presses for steel, die sinking, rubber, and bakelite (plastic) molding.

AWF Sr. and his wife, Grace Albers French, traveled around the world on a business trip to Hawaii, China, the Philippines, Java, India, Egypt (pictured) and Europe. General manager C. B. Upton oversaw the Company’s daily business.

FOMMCO began exporting equipment to Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Norway. By 1919 FOMMCO equipment had been exported to every continent except Antarctica.

FOMMCO constructed its own factory building at the west end of Ash Street. The structure was a brick plant 55 feet by 100 feet. By 1909 The growing company added another building and a brick foundry to enable the Company to create, cast and assemble all of its own products.  

The French Oil Mill Machinery Company (FOMMCO) was incorporated on May 25 by AWF Sr., William Cook Rogers, and Myron E. Barber in Piqua, Ohio. Barber and Rogers were the owners and principal officers of the Piqua Handle Manufacturing Company. Two assemblers were hired and the Company sold $12,000 worth of equipment in the first…

Alfred Willard French Sr. patented an automatic (revolving) cake-cutting machine to trim off the high oil bearing ends and sides of linseed oil cake so they could be recycled to yield more oil.