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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

From Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Klauer Manufacturing began in this building on Iowa Street. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY. Klauer Manufacturing Company was founded by Peter KLAUER and incorporated in 1904. In 1870 the company began operations from a small frame building at 1236 Iowa Street.

Klauer Manufacturing operated in this building (being renovated in 2011) after moving from Iowa Street. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

While a new brick building was being constructed in 1885, the company temporarily set up operations in the DUBUQUE CITY HALL, occupying 75 percent of the first floor facing Central Avenue.

1900s catalog for steel ceilings

The company entered the business of manufacturing for the jobbing trade in 1896 making metal rain-carrying equipment including eave trough and rain pipe. By 1906 the company began the production of metal roofing and siding, conductor pipe, and eaves.

In 1911 the company was supplying metal flume to some of the largest irrigation projects in the nation. The company added such products as metal fireproof window frames and sash, roof ornaments, skylights, steel ceilings, solder, asbestos paper and roof cement. The company was then the world's largest manufacturer of conductor pipe.

SNOGO advertisement
Letterhead. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Since the 1920s, when the family bought the patent, the Klauer Company revolutionized snow removal with the development of a rotary snow remover named the "Snogo." A specially designed snowplow for heavy road equipment, Snogos were named through a nation-wide contest. Four hundred horsepower motors enabled the machine to remove 2,400 tons of snow per hour. They have seen service at Denver's Stapleton Airport and Chicago's busy O'Hare Airport. During terrible snowstorms in the eastern United States during 1978-1979, four Snogos were loaded aboard jumbo C-5A transports in Cedar Rapids for quick shipment.

In October 1981, Klauer Manufacturing announced its plans to move the manufacturing plant to the INDUSTRIAL PARKS from Ninth and Washington STREETS. The route of relocated U.S. 61 would have claimed one of the buildings Klauer occupied. In 1991 Klauer Manufacturing occupied one plant on Washington Street and the other along Roosevelt Street Extension in the Industrial Park. The Klauer Manufacturing Company was inducted into the DUBUQUE BUSINESS HALL OF FAME in 1984.

Advertising ash tray.
World War II business envelope.

See: KLAUER & HENNEY

The 1915 Dubuque City Directory listed 8th and Washington as the address.

The 1937 Dubuque Consurvey Directory listed the corner of 9th and Washington for the address.

The 1957 through 1977 Dubuque City Directory listed 301 E. 9th and the Sno-Go Division at 300 E. 26th.

The 1987 Dubuque City Directory listed 1185 Roosevelt Extension and the Sno-Go Division at 2600 Washington.

The 1989 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 1185 Roosevelt Extension.

See: PATENTS