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Wayne Pump Company in World War Two
Fort Wayne, IN
1891- 1968
1968 - 2016 as part of the Dresser-Wayne Company
2016 - Present as part of Dover Fueling Solutions in Austin, TX
This page updated 1-15-2023.
Wayne Oil Pump Company designed its first oil
pump in 1891. At the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the company
won a gold medal for the best self-measuring pump. With the introduction of the gasoline powered
automobile in the early 20th Century, the company produced its first
gasoline pump in 1907. In 1918 it introduced the visible pump, so
the customer could verify he was getting the correct amount of fuel.
This 1918-era Wayne Pump Company gasoline
pump is on display at the Fort Wayne Historical Society. This is
the oldest pump by the company I have found to date. Author's
photo added 1-15-2023.
The Wayne pump was located along with an
early Tokheim gas pump on the left in this photo and a S.F. Bowser & Co.
pump in the on the right. Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
This early 20th Century service station is
part of the many displays at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, OH.
Author's photo.
The pump on the left is a Wayne Pump Company
visible gasoline pump. In the center is a motor oil dispenser
pump. This was before the time when motor oil was purchased in
quart containers. The oil was pumped into the driver's own oil
container. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
The data plate on the pump indicates it has
a ten
gallon capacity. Author's photo.
This view of the data plate shows that this
is serial number 50189. Author's photo.
The gallon markers can be easily seen in
the visible section of the pump. Author's photo.
This early Pure Oil gas pump is on display
at the National Automobile and Truck Museum in Auburn, IN.
Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
This Model 851 which was introduced in 1937 is on display at the National
Automobile and Truck Museum in Auburn, IN. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
This generic Wayne Pump Company gas pump is
also on display at the National Automobile and Truck Museum in Auburn,
IN. Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
This Wayne Pump Company-built Texaco
Fire-Chief pump is on display at the World War Two Experience Museum in
Gettysburg, PA. Author's photo added 12-3-2022.
Wayne Pump Company's World War Two
Products: During World War Two the company had $26,097,000 in
major contracts with the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army.
Included in the major contracts was one contract from a foreign country,
most likely Great Britain.
The U.S. Navy was the company's largest
customer during World War Two with $13,146,000 in contracts for 20mm projectiles and
air compressors. The U.S. Army was second with $12,023,000 for
shot, 75mm and 90mm anti-tank projectiles, air compressors, and pumps.
Table 1 - Wayne Pump Company's
Major World War Two Contracts
The information below
comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply
Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was
published by the Civilian Production Administration,
Industrial Statistics Division. |
|
Product |
Contract Amount |
Contract Awarded
|
Completion
Date |
| Shells - Foreign |
$860,000 |
1-1941 |
6-1942 |
| Shells Tracer -
Navy |
$651,000 |
5-1941 |
2-1942 |
| Ordnance Material
- Navy |
$672,000 |
6-1941 |
6-1942 |
| Shot - Army |
$1,604,000 |
10-1941 |
6-1942 |
| Ordnance Material
- Navy |
$225,000 |
10-1941 |
6-1942 |
| Shot - Army |
$169,000 |
2-1942 |
9-1942 |
| Projectiles -
Navy |
$456,000 |
2-1942 |
3-1942 |
| Ordnance Material
- Navy |
$1,896,000 |
3-1942 |
9-1942 |
| Shot - Army |
$1,128,000 |
3-1942 |
12-1942 |
| Air Compressor
Material - Army |
$52,000 |
4-1942 |
7-1942 |
| Projectiles -
Navy |
$5,730,000 |
6-1942 |
12-1943 |
| Projectiles -
Army |
$2,337,000 |
8-1942 |
4-1943 |
| Compressors Air -
Army |
$103,000 |
11-1942 |
4-1943 |
| Compressors Air -
Navy |
$59,000 |
2-1943 |
4-1943 |
| Projectiles -
Army |
$1,219,000 |
3-1943 |
2-1944 |
| Shot - 75mm APC -
Army |
$2,338,000 |
7-1943 |
7-1944 |
| Projectiles -
20mm - Navy |
$3,457,000 |
9-1943 |
5-1945 |
| Projectiles M62A1
- Army |
$832,000 |
5-1944 |
10-1044 |
| Air Compressors -
Army |
$68,000 |
5-1944 |
7-1944 |
| Centrifugal Pumps
- Army |
$88,000 |
5-1944 |
6-1945 |
| Projectiles M62A1
- Army |
$416,000 |
6-1944 |
12-1944 |
| Air Compressors -
Army |
$73,000 |
6-1944 |
7-1945 |
| Projectile Pts
M82 - Army |
$1,626,000 |
11-1944 |
3-1946 |
| Pumps - Treasury |
$68,000 |
11-1944 |
6-1945 |
| Air Compressors -
Army |
$70,000 |
4-1945 |
11-1945 |
| Total |
$26,097,000 |
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Wayne made armor piercing shot for the 75mm
shells used in Sherman tanks armed with 75mm main guns. Author's
photo.
This M4A3 Sherman tank is armed with a 75mm
main gun that used ammunition with the armor piercing projectiles made
by Wayne Pump Company. Author's photo.
This M4A3 Sherman tank is armed with the
76mm main gun that used Wayne-produced M62A1 armor piercing projectiles.
Author's photo.
The M18 Hellcat tank destroyer also was
armed with a 76mm main gun that used Wayne-produced M62A1 armor piercing
projectiles. Author's photo.
In November 1944 Wayne Pump Company was
issued a $1,626,000 Army contract for 90mm M82 anti-tank projectiles.
This was for the new M26 Pershing heavy tank that saw limited combat at
the end of the war in Europe. Author's photo.
This is an example of a 20mm projectile just
like ones made at Wayne Pump Company in Fort Wayne, IN. Billions of these were
produced by a multitude of suppliers. Wayne no doubt made millions
of these for the U.S. Navy during World war Two. Author's photo taken at the
Michigan Technical and Historical Society.
This diagram shows that there was a
considerable amount of machining required for the various types of 20mm
projectiles. Wayne only built the projectiles which were then
shipped to a Navy Ordnance plant were the explosives, fuzes, and tracer
material were added.
This is a photo of the complete 20mm
projectile, fuze, and shell casing. Author's photo.
The 20mm Oerlikon started appearing on U.S.
Navy ships in early 1942. By the end of the war, every Navy and
U.S. Merchant Marine ship was armed with the 20mm Oerlikon for close-in
defense against air attack. Wayne was a significant contributor
to keeping these weapons firing and protecting American ships and
sailors. Author's photo.
The Wayne Pump Company Plant:
This photo is now part of the collection of
the National Car and Truck Museum in Auburn, IN and is located in the
Museum's library. This photo shows the factory complex at its peak
along the Maumee River in Fort Wayne, IN. Author's photo added
1-15-2023.
This current Google Maps satellite view
shows that most of the factory complex has been razed. However,
several of the former Wayne Pump Company factory buildings still stand
and have been re-purposed. Author's photo added 1-15-2023.
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