This vintage photo postcard features the West Bend Aluminum Company, located in West Bend, Wisconsin. In the closeup photo, note the old cars and the workers on property. Most of us associate Wisconsin with cheese, not aluminum cookware. However, in 1920, the state had 50% of the nation’s aluminum cookware market share. Bernhard C. Ziegler (1884-1946) started the company in 1911. The company’s first products were saucepans, a frying pan, and pie pans. Sears accounted for 90% of the company’s sales. In 1921, the company introduced a crockpot, one of their most successful products. In 1922, the company introduced a drip coffeemaker which didn’t require filter paper. During World War II the company transitioned to supplying war materials. The company was purchased by Rexall Drug and Chemical Company in 1968. The company was dissolved in 2002. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 