The History of John J. Tokheim (cont'd)
J.J. Tokheim has devoted
most of his life to inventing, designing and manufacturing visible
measuring pumps, and liquid handling equipment, and safety devices for the
oil industry. While The Tokheim Company is a family proposition controlled
entirely by Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Tokheim and daughter, the gentleman is the
guiding genius, and all patents, inventions, the result of his engineering
mind. Mr. J.J. Tokheim has no connection with The Tokheim Oil Tank and
Pump Company of Ft. Wayne, IN.
As a follow up to the proceeding Tokheim historical information, I feel it
is important to explain the details concerning the change in ownership at
the original Tokheim Manufacturing Co. and its subsequent move from Cedar
Rapids, Iowa to Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
In 1910, Mr. Ralph F. Diserens, a Ft. Wayne banker, and Mr. M.B. Muxen, an
executive of the Wayne Pump and Tank Co., bought the outstanding stock of
the original Tokheim Mfg. Co. Now having a controlling interest in the
company, they traveled to Cedar Rapids, IA to reorganize the business. J.J.
Tokheim's two new "partners" proceeded to finance an expansion
of the company and at the same time force J.J. Tokheim out of his former
management position. J.J. Tokheim officially withdrew from the company in
1911. While J.J. Tokheim was the creative genius behind the former
company, he was forced to relinquish control of the company to Mr.
Diserens and Mr. Muxen. J.J. Tokheim immediately started a new company in
1911 known as The Vac Liquid Equipment Company. Mr. Diserens and Mr. Muxen
continued to operate The Tokheim Mfg. Co. from 1911 to 1918 when they sold
the company to a group of Ft. Wayne investors (retaining some ownership
for themselves) and moved the company to Ft. Wayne, IN. The Tokheim Mfg.
Co. was renamed The Tokheim Pump Co. and incorporated in June of 1918.
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