Enterprise Engine and Foundry Co.: Difference between revisions
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==Crucible steel== |
==Crucible steel== |
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In 1915 |
In 1915 the company acquired a [[crucible steel]] [[foundry]. Shortly after this purchase Martens and his partners branched out with the establishment of a [[brass]] and [[bronze]] foundry in [[Los Angeles]]. In 1917 the company constructed an [[electric furnace]] for use in its steel foundry. It was the only foundry of this type on the west coast, and ultimately replaced the old crucible steel process. In the same year a new engine department was created and a team of engineers were hired to design and manufacture various types of heavy-duty engines fueled by gas and distillates. |
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==Engines== |
==Engines== |
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Revision as of 19:54, 14 May 2014
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (July 2013) |
Enterprise Engine and Machinery Company was an American corporation founded in the 1880's in San Francisco, California. By the 1950's, it had grown to become a prominent maker of diesel engines. After a series of mergers and acquisitions, the company used the umbrella name Cameron International. The original name "Enterprise Engine and Machinery Company" became associated only with its engine line division.
Beginning
German immigrant Henry Martens moved to San Francisco, California in July, 1881. He selected the name "Enterprise" for his new company based on his belief that the United States was truly the “land of enterprise”.
In 1886 Martens and two business partners, James William Heaney and A. Anderson, supplied industrial equipment castings. Their primary focus was on gold mining machinery consisting mainly of compression cylinder castings for large engines. After the notorious 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the Enterprise Engine and Machinery Company played a role in the rebuilding of the city. Their recovery activities provided Martens and his partners additional opportunities and momentum for expanding their business.
Crucible steel
In 1915 the company acquired a crucible steel [[foundry]. Shortly after this purchase Martens and his partners branched out with the establishment of a brass and bronze foundry in Los Angeles. In 1917 the company constructed an electric furnace for use in its steel foundry. It was the only foundry of this type on the west coast, and ultimately replaced the old crucible steel process. In the same year a new engine department was created and a team of engineers were hired to design and manufacture various types of heavy-duty engines fueled by gas and distillates.
Engines
The first engines produced by the team were single-cylinder, rated at eight horsepower. The following engines were twin-cylinder, rated at 20 horsepower (15 kW). In a short time, designs were developed for engine models capable of producing up to 250 horsepower (190 kW).
Stemming from the success of their gas and distillate fuel engines, the engineers set out to create a line of diesel engines. At this time, the cost of operating a diesel engine was approximately 20 cents per hour, compared to the $2.75 for gasoline engines. This economical Enterprise Diesel engine became very popular in a number of industries which had previously utilized gas powered engines.
Merger with Western Machinery Company
In 1924, The Enterprise Engine and Machinery Company merged with the Western Machinery Company of Los Angeles. This merger made the new organization the premier manufacturer of internal combustion engines on the west coast. In an effort to diversify the range of products, the company began selling oil burners and food processing equipment.
World War II
During World War II, Enterprise built hundreds of diesel engines for the United States Navy for tugs, harbor craft, small vessels and auxiliary electric generators on larger ships. In addition, many Enterprise engines were sold to drive electric power generators in cities and towns across America.
Merger with Adel Precision Products Company
In the mid-1950s, after many decades of growth, Enterprise Engine & Foundry Company merged with Adel Precision Products Company of Burbank, part of the General Metals Corporation. This gave rise to a substantial increase of the company's engineering and production capacity and its testing and research capability. The Enterprise now had the necessary resources which allowed them to manufacture diesel engines ranging from 73 horsepower (54 kW) to 7,700 horsepower (5,700 kW). These are now being utilized in almost every conceivable type of prime-mover application from powering boats, pumping oil, to generating electricity. From its modest beginnings in 1886, Enterprise had become a huge division of a major American corporation.
Developments since 1960
Between 1960 and 1980, Enterprise Engine & Foundry Company changed ownership numerous times. These transitional decades were accompanied by a major downturn in domestic demand for large power engines. A strong US dollar and rising interest rates hurt Enterprise's export sales. In the late 1960s, Enterprise Engine & Foundry Company was purchased by Delaval Turbine. In the 1970s, Delaval Turbine was acquired by Transamerica Corporation. In 1987, Transamerica elected to spin off the Delaval operations to its shareholders in the form of a dividend. The name was changed to IMO Delaval. In 1988, IMO Delaval sold the Enterprise aftermarket services to Cooper Industries which, in turn, spun off its oil and gas related holdings to Cameron Corporation, previously known as Cooper Cameron Corporation, Cameron International Process and Compression Systems is the current original equipment manufacturer for Enterprise engines.