Beginning in about 1946 the Wisconsin Drill Head Co. manufactured a line of multi-spindle drill heads for drill presses. Their initial distributor was Strutz & Mead, Inc. and at least one article said that Strutz & Mead was the manufacturer—they weren't.

In 1952 Wisconsin Drill Head Co. relocated to larger premises in Butler, Wisconsin. In 1979 they acquired Northwest Tool and Engineering Co., which became the Simplex Tool Division of Wisconsin Drill Head Co. In December of that year the newly enlarged company relocated to a 90,000 square foot plant in West Allis.

Information Sources

• 1931-03-12 American Machinist, page 454f.

  Strutz & Mead, Inc., Milwaukee, has been incorporated by Walter F. Strutz, Ellis D. Mead, and Norman R. Klug to become tool manufacturers' agent.

• 1946 Production (vol. 18, page 150).

  Strutz and Mead, Inc., 1225 N. Water St., Milwaukee 2, Wis., is issuing a 4-page folder on the Wisconsin Quick-Change Adjustable Multiple Drill-Head manufactured by the Wisconsin Drill Head Company, Ltd. The unit is gear driven.

• New Equipment Digest, Vol. 13, No. 10, Oct. 1948, Pg. 4.
• 1948 Modern Machine Shop (vol. 21 p. 279). "1227 N. Water St., Milwaukee 2, Wis. Strutz & Mead, Inc. Distributors for Wisconsin Drill Head Co."
• 1950 Standard Metal Directory, vol. 12 p. 515, lists Wisconsin metal stamping plants, including "Strutz & Mead, Inc., 1225 N. 30th".
• March 1952 Western Machinery & Steel World, page 159.

  Drill Head Manufacturer Occupies New Plant

  The Wisconsin Drill Head Company, formerly located in Milwaukee, have recently moved into its new plant in suburban Butler, Wisconsin. Increased floor space for both the manufacturing and engineering departments, improved production facilities, and a modern office are the outstanding benefits of this expansion.

  They will be reflected in rapidly increasing production of Wisconsin's standard line of multiple adjustable drill heads, multiple fixed-spindle heads and a greater output of special drill heads of various types; also, special heads for a variety of boring, tapping and spot facing operations.

  The standard line of Wisconsin Multiple Adjustable Drill Heads is available in every required capacity, in 2 to 8 spindle models. Heads with more than 8 spindles, and other special heads, are built to customers' specifications.

  Same volume, page 142.

  Another expansion of Wetmore Tool Grinding Co., Los Angeles is its appointment by the Wisconsin Drill Head Co. as distributors in Calif. The complete line of multiple drill heads gives Wetmore Tool Grinding Co. a special production tool closely allied to the other segments of their business.

• 1963 Production (vol. 52, p. 154).

  Drillhead for Chuckers—A rotating drill head, which turns with the work, increases productivity on automatic chucking machines and turret lathes by eliminating secondary operations. The drill head consists of a housing that encloses the spindles, gearing, a driver and counterweight. The driving dog in the chucking machine spindle, for example, drives the drill head and establishes the relationship of the head, with its spindles, to the workpiece. Rotating drill heads are also available in tapping units for use on machines with reversing spindles - Wisconsin Drill Head Co.

• 1974 Conover-Mast Purchasing Directory lists "Wisconsin Drill Head Co., 4987 N. 124th St., Butler, WI".
• 1979 Chilton's Iron Age, vol. 222 p. 30.

  Wisconsin Drill Head—Wisconsin Drill Head Co., Butler, Wis., announced that two Milwaukee machine tool companies will be merged Oct. 1 to form a single corporation. Northwest Tool and Engineering Co. will become part of Wisconsin Drill Head Co. Simplex Tool Div. will continue as a separate division of W.D.H. The companies will move into a new 90,000 sq-ft plant at 445 S. Curtis Rd, West Allis, in December. Wisconsin Drill Head manufactures components such as multiple-spindle fixed and adjustable drill heads and tapping units.