The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03
WILLIAM RlNKER
Did the Repair Work on the First
Auto Ever Repaired In
ST. Paul


There is one concern in this city that
is an excellent example of what hard
work, push and honest business meth
DDS will do for a man seeking to make
his mark in the world. When William
Rinker came to this city in. 1874 he
early commenced to learn the trade Of
machinist, and twas not many years
before his enterprising nature prompt
ed him to go into business for himself,
making his knowledge of the machin-
lists trade of greater profit to him.
1t was in 1884 that he began work at
his trade, and in 1897 that he opened a
business for himself This was gem
eral repairing shop, devoted princi-
pally to the repairing Of bicycles and
automobiles, and was located on st.
Anthony hill, on st. Adams street.
1t is matter of pride to Mr. Rinker,
and of interest to almost every reader
and certainly to every automobiliSt,
that he repaired the first automobile
that was ever repaired in the city of
st. Paul.
He had not been engaged in BUSH
ness long. before he found that new
and larger quarters would be necessary
to carry on his ever-increasing trade
properly, so he moved down town, into
the New York Life building These
quarters, likewise, soon proved made
auate, and change was made to 372
Minnesota street. This was in 1892
The next move was made advisable
three years later, and was to "a East
Fifth street, where the business re-
NAMED until the present roomy quar-
tiers were secured at 324 Wabasha
street, near the corner Of Fourth
street.
Mr.. Rinker is at the present time do
ing general repair business as in the
beginning, but he has also added
line OF automobiles, and is engaged in
the manufacture of bicycles wheel
that is giving excellent satisfaction,
and which he has named after himself
the 'Rinker." The automobiles handled
are of standard makes.
The store and shop at 324 Wabasha
street occupies all of the first floor and
the basement. 1t may be safely as
serted that the machine shop, which
occupies the basement, is one of the
most complete in the city. 1t is very
well equipped with Iathes for all pur-
poses, milling machines, drill and
stamping presses, grinders, etc. giving
it facilities for doing almost any kind
OF job that a, machine shop can do
Mr.. Rinker's business at the present
time requires the services of ten hands.
And in the beginning Mr.. Rinker alone
did all the work that came to his mod
est shop on St Adams street.
He was born in Keokuk, Iowa. in
I 1866, and came to this city with his
parents in 1872. Soon after leaving
/ school he began at the machine trade,
being employed in various shops at
[ different times, and for some time he
I was engaged as stationary engineer
The last position which he held before
/ taking matters into his own hands and
/ embarkfng in business for himself was
In the shops of the Great Western rail-
/ road.
| This has given him fully twenty
years of practfcaE experience In his line
| of business, which, in measure ac-
counts for the success with. which he
I has met from the start. Being prac-
teal machinfst, acquainted with nearly
every form and line Of all that the term
covers. his work naturally covers a
wide field. Besides being the manu-
facturer of a bicycle made after his
own plans, he has taken out several
| patents for hardware specialties, which
| have proved successful and practical
| Some of these he is now manufacture
| ing himself in his own plant. But the
greatest of all his efforts is yet to come,
| the manufacture Of a twenty horse
| power automobile after plans which he
has already perfected, and is waiting
for more capital to take up In earnest
| st. Paul should be glad to have a ma
| chine manufacturer here, especially
| one born in the mind of man of the
| experience Of Mr.. Rinker, almost as
| surfing its success, and it is to be hoped
I that he may before long see his hopes
4 roatizpi