HISTORY OF
KUSEL EQUIPMENT CO.
1849 - PRESENT

When Daniel Kusel, Sr. immigrated to the United States from Grabow, Germany in 1849, one would wonder if he had any idea that the small tinsmith business he began would continue to be a thriving corporation over 150 years later.

Daniel Kusel, Sr. served his tinsmith apprenticeship in Germany, Denmark, and Russia before establishing a business in Germany in 1836 as a "manufacturer of tin and brass goods." Because of the 1848 Revolution in Germany, in 1849, one year after Wisconsin was admitted into the Union, Kusel came to the United States with his wife and four children, bringing $3,000 in gold with him.

Kusel reestablished himself in the tinware business upon his arrival in Watertown, Wisconsin, later including the manufacture of copper and sheet-iron products. Kusel also entered the hardware business almost immediately.

At one point in his first years in the city, Kusel considered moving to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, but was persuaded to stay in Watertown by his friend, Carl Schurz. Kusel was involved in community activities, as well as being instrumental in establishing Northwestern College (presently Luther Preparatory School) in Watertown.

In 1864 two of Daniel Kusel, Sr.'s sons, Frederick and Daniel H. renamed the company as "D & F Kusel", becoming incorporated in 1897.

The hardware business and the manufacturing business separated into two entities in 1938. The hardware store continued at 108 W. Main Street, Watertown, while the dairy equipment business moved to 100 W. Milwaukee Street, Watertown.Kusel Hardware was the oldest continuous operating hardware store in Wisconsin.This business was sold to Frank and Sue Witt in 1972 and closed in May, 1985

On October 31, 1973 Robert J. Elfline and Gary R. Smith purchased the assets of Kusel Dairy Equipment Co. from the Kusel family.Clark Derleth, former president of Kusel, came out of retirement to join the new owners for three years. Gary R. Smith became president in 1976. Gary Smith and his wife, Jan, acquired 100% ownership in 1977. Having outgrown its facility at 100 W. Milwaukee Street, Kusel moved to its present location of 820 West Street, Watertown, WI in 1978.

Dairy equipment has long been the backbone of Kusel. The 1960's marked the beginning of diversification in product lines. Diversification began with material handling equipment used to palletize and depalletize cans, cases, bottles, and bags.

In 1984 Kusel added stainless steel floor drains to their product line. Because of their sanitary design, these drains are used in the dairy, meat, wine, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food processing industries.

A 1994 addition to Kusel Equipment Co. has been food processing equipment, through the acquisition of select assets of Starr, Inc. of Hustisford. The product line includes waterless peelers/scrubbers, water vapor cookers, conveyors, and size graders.

The most recent addition has been the 2003 acquisition of select assets of Vorton, Inc. of Beloit, WI. Vortron is a leading manufacturing of smokehouses used in the meat industry.