The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-02-19
WONDROUS
STRIDES BY
0. k. COMPANY
How Otto knoezer Started in
Business Which Developed
Amazingly Sounds Like
Fairy Tale.

Hammond now boasts Or the Chsm-
pion Corporation.
The Champion Potato Machinery Co
which for years has been one ot th-
city's most substantial industries, is
reached 4 point in its deveiopmen
where the management feels the nee
essity of a name which viii cover the
other industries which have been in
cIuded with the manufacture OF potato
machinery.
With the change in name comes al
increase in capitalization and the an
nouncement Of innovations intended
70 benefit the employees OF the com
pany. At the reorganization meeting
all of the old officers were reelected
as follows: President and general man
sger. Otto knoerser; secretary, Leonard
Knoerzer; treasurer, A. II Taper. The
following with the officers complete
the board of directors: A. u. Turner.
J. J. Rur. Joseph VETS and BOYD
schrum. The personnel is the same as
when first organized in 1905
The capital stock was increased from
$4,000 to 100000. the increase goinr
to the present stockholders in pro-
portion to their old holdings with the
exception OF block which has been
set aside for distribution among faith
full employees who have been with the
firm for 8 number OF years. Thes@
men viii become stockholders without
paying a dollar. VIII be given an op-
portunity to help manage the business
and at the same time will be assured
a handsome dividend income in future
years.
The growth Of this industry has been
l.
OF the success of one man. Otto knoer-
zer. From the small investment Of 81
he has built up business which ia
the fifteen years of its organization has
paid stockholders $4,000 in cash divid-
ends and SIS. 5000 in stock dividends
for every $1,000 originally invested
Speaking of the growth at the stock
holders meeting Mr.. Knoerzer said one
of the happiest days Of his business life
was when he was able to pay his stock
holders a fat dividend and the othee
vas when he made his first business
investment thirty-two years ago.
The scene OF this investment vas
Hammond, a village OF sand waste ana
sloughs in summer and mudholes it,
winter Mr.. Knoerzer heard that
village blacksmith was disgusted with
his business and called upon him
Il understand you want to sell out..,
he said.
YES replied the smith. 4 want 10
set out OF this God forsaken sand
hole"
How much do YOU want?"
Give me 81 for what have here
When can take possession?"
As soon as you hand over the mo
ney"
Mr.. Knoerzer did still better: he
gave the man ST and announced that
he was boss of the place. In less than
sixty days he had q new shop standing
on the ground where the Hammond
building now stands His business grew
steadily and so did the town and Its
surroundings. IN 1898 Mr.. Knoerzer
conceived the idea of making machin-
cry for planting and digging potatoes.
For four years he worked steadily at
his anvil from early in the morning
until late at night fashioninR the
parts until a last he believed he hsd
produced machines which he believed
would give the grower more and bet
ter service than he could get else where
for his money.
Then came the idea Of ranufactur-
ing these on larger scale TIE
Champion Potato Machinery Co. was
the result Hammond business men
came to his aid and in January. 1909
the company was incorporated at s20.-
0oo. On Mr.. Knoerzer's reputation and
his explanation the stock was quickly
sold and manufacturing was begun.
The product met with instant APPROX
al and within a few years the stock
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