Minster Firsts | Historic Gallery | Products & Places

The original Minster Machine Company sign in 1896.

The Minster Machine Company -- From Plow Shares to Presses

From its humble beginnings as a blacksmith shop, grinding plowshares and repairing oil drilling machinery, the Minster Machine Company has evolved into a world class machine tool builder, with manufacturing plants in Minster, Ohio and Beaufort, S.C., and sales facilities in Brazil, Germany, Belgium and Japan.

The company is headquartered in the West Central Ohio village of Minster at the same location where Anton Herkenhoff and Joseph Dues began a partnership more than 115 years ago. In May of 1896, the two men opened the Dues and Herkenhoff Machine Works, but by November Dues had sold his share of the partnership and Anton renamed the business “The Minster Machine Company.”

An oil boom in Western Ohio at the turn of the century provided the company with much of its early business, including one of its first products -- Fields Pumping Power. The mechanism allowed for the drilling of up to 30 oil wells at the same time.

Many of the shallow oil wells that were being drilled in the area suffered from failed clutches, and as they were brought to Minster Machine for repair, Anton Herkenhoff studied the faults and invented an improved friction clutch, which was patented in 1905.

Founder Anton Herkenhoff (far right) and early Minster employees.

For the next decade the company specialized in large and small clutches for gasoline engines, along with a variety of pulleys and power transmission equipment.

In 1916, Minster entered the machine tool industry with the introduction of its “Hi Duty Drill Press.” The rugged machines were built in a variety of sizes and used for heavy drilling applications, but with the explosive growth in the automobile and appliance industries, Anton Herkenhoff made a decision to enter the rapidly expanding metal stamping industry.

Minster sold its drill press line, and in 1926, built its first mechanical power press -- a 45-ton open back inclinable. By 1930 the company was offering a complete line of power presses in a variety of sizes and capacities.

First Minster Striaghtside Press -- 1927.

Anton Herkenhoff passed away in 1928, but his son John Herkenhoff began working for the company in 1927, becoming the general manager in 1935 and the president in 1939.

Minster weathered the Great Depression with a decade of innovations and a solid commitment to quality. In the 1930s Minster was the first press company to use a separate friction clutch and brake on the same shaft; built the world’s first transfer press; offered the first box crown and press construction; and began use of the patented Air Operated Friction Clutch and Brake Unit.

By the end of the decade Minster was building presses for arsenals, aircraft companies and shipyards as the United States’ effort to become the “arsenal for democracy” transformed the country into an industrial giant.

The first Minster P2 Press was introduced in 1948.
The first Minster E2 Press was introduced in 1959.

Minster expanded its facilities in the 1950s, and it continued to stay one step ahead in productivity and technology with the introduction of its progressive die P2 Piece-Maker press. There were more innovations to come, including the quick die change Die-Namic Process in 1965 and the world’s first totally automated “Stamping Center” in 1970.

In 1973, John Herkenhoff retired as president, giving way to his son-in-law Harold Winch, who oversaw the opening of the world’s most modern metal casting facility. The 75,000 square foot facility, built just north of Minster’s main plant, was constructed with state of the art air cleaning and manufacturing systems.

Growth continued into the next decade as Minster opened a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Beaufort. S.C. for the production of material handling equipment. Minster also introduced its ultra high speed Pulsar press line in 1980, with speeds of up to 2,000 strokes per minute.

In 1991 John Winch assumed the presidency from his father and launched a renewed commitment toward quality with his “Quest For Excellence” program. Today, Minster has solidified its reputation as a world leader in the material forming industry with the constant evolution of products and services that remain on the cutting edge of technology.