Busch-Sulzer

Busch-Sulzer was an American diesel-engine manufacturing company formed in 1911 by Adolphus Busch, the Anheuser-Busch brewing entrepreneur, and Sulzer Brothers of Switzerland. It grew out of an earlier effort to establish diesel-engine production in the United States. In 1897, Busch acquired American rights to build diesel engines and worked with inventor Rudolf Diesel as a consultant. The initial business created from that initiative was the Diesel Motor Company of New York, which operated from 1898 to 1902. It was followed by the American Diesel Engine Company, established in 1902 and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. Busch-Sulzer succeeded that company in 1911. The joint venture gave Busch access to Sulzer engine designs and was intended to provide an American manufacturing base for diesel technology. In practice, however, Busch-Sulzer favored developing and producing its own designs rather than simply reproducing Sulzer products. Its business centered on large diesel engines for military, marine, locomotive, and other industrial applications. The company became particularly significant as a supplier to the United States Navy and other American customers during the first half of the twentieth century. Among the company's notable applications were submarine engines. The United States L-class submarines L-5 through L-8, designed by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company and launched in 1916 and 1917, were the first submarines identified with Busch-Sulzer engines. This connection placed the company within the early development of American diesel-powered naval vessels. Busch-Sulzer also supplied engines for locomotives and continued serving military and nonmilitary customers through the Second World War. The company attracted the attention of Chester W. Nimitz, then a United States Navy lieutenant, who studied diesel engines in Germany in 1913. Busch-Sulzer attempted to recruit him, but he declined. Nimitz later became a fleet admiral, making the episode a notable association in the company's history, although he was not a Busch-Sulzer executive. Busch-Sulzer remained active in diesel-engine production until 1946. After the Second World War, its assets were sold to Nordberg Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The sale marked the end of Busch-Sulzer as an independent operating company and brand. Because the business was absorbed after 1946 and no current corporate activity is identified in the supplied reference material, Busch-Sulzer is classified as defunct.

Busch-Sulzer's history began with Adolphus Busch's effort to introduce diesel-engine technology into the United States. In 1897, Busch acquired rights to build diesel engines in America and associated with Rudolf Diesel as a consultant. The first company arising from this program was the Diesel Motor Company, based in New York City and active from 1898 to 1902. That enterprise was succeeded by the American Diesel Engine Company in 1902. The successor later moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908, creating the industrial base from which Busch-Sulzer emerged. In 1911, Busch and Sulzer Brothers of Switzerland established the Busch-Sulzer Bros. Diesel Engine Company as a joint venture. The arrangement allowed the American company to use Sulzer design rights, but the business did not limit itself to manufacturing standard Sulzer engines. Its American operation preferred its own designs and developed engines for domestic customers whose requirements differed from those of the Swiss parent company's markets. Busch-Sulzer's products were directed toward demanding applications requiring large, reliable diesel engines. The company supplied the United States Navy and other customers, and its engines were used in marine and locomotive contexts. Its early naval importance is illustrated by the L-class submarines L-5 through L-8. Built to designs from the Lake Torpedo Boat Company and launched in 1916 and 1917, these vessels were the first submarines associated with Busch-Sulzer engines. The company subsequently continued producing engines for the Navy and for nonmilitary users through the First World War era, the interwar period, and the Second World War. The company also intersected with the career of Chester W. Nimitz. While serving as a United States Navy lieutenant, Nimitz studied diesel engines in Germany in 1913. Busch-Sulzer sought to hire him, but he rejected the offer and remained in naval service. He later became a senior United States naval commander and fleet admiral. His contact with Busch-Sulzer reflects the importance of diesel expertise to the Navy at the time, rather than an executive role at the company. Busch-Sulzer manufactured diesel engines until 1946. Following the Second World War, its assets were sold to Nordberg Manufacturing Company, a Milwaukee-based industrial manufacturer. The transaction ended Busch-Sulzer's independent existence. The available historical material does not establish a continuing Busch-Sulzer brand, successor product line, or current corporate operation after the asset sale.

• 1946

  Production ends and assets are sold

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  Busch-Sulzer ceased diesel-engine production, and its assets were sold to Nordberg Manufacturing Company.

• 1916

  L-class submarine engine applications begin

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  The first Busch-Sulzer-powered L-class submarines began launching, including L-5 and subsequent vessels in the identified group.

• 1913

  Busch-Sulzer seeks to recruit Chester W. Nimitz

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  After studying diesel engines in Germany, United States Navy Lieutenant Chester W. Nimitz was approached about joining Busch-Sulzer but declined.

• 1911

  Busch-Sulzer is founded

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  Adolphus Busch and Sulzer Brothers formed the Busch-Sulzer Bros. Diesel Engine Company as an American-Swiss joint venture.

• 1908

  American Diesel Engine Company relocates to St. Louis

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  The American Diesel Engine Company moved from New York to St. Louis, Missouri, before being succeeded by Busch-Sulzer.

• 1902

  American Diesel Engine Company succeeds the earlier venture

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  The American Diesel Engine Company replaced the Diesel Motor Company and continued the effort to manufacture diesel engines in the United States.

• 1898

  Diesel Motor Company begins operations

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  The Diesel Motor Company was established in New York as the first company associated with Busch's American diesel-engine initiative.

• 1897

  Adolphus Busch acquires American diesel-engine rights

  [1]Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org

  Adolphus Busch acquired rights to build diesel engines in the United States and worked with Rudolf Diesel as a consultant.

An early American diesel-engine manufacturer focused on heavy-duty engines for naval, marine, locomotive, military, and industrial customers.

• Diesel engines · 1911

  Busch-Sulzer diesel engines

  Busch-Sulzer manufactured heavy-duty diesel engines for military, naval, marine, locomotive, and other industrial users. Although the company had access to Sulzer design rights through its founding joint venture, the American operation favored its own designs. Its engines were used by the United States Navy and other customers through the Second World War, with production continuing until 1946.

• Submarine propulsion · 1916

  L-class submarine engines

  Busch-Sulzer engines powered United States L-class submarines L-5 through L-8. These submarines were designed by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company and launched in 1916 and 1917. They are identified as the first submarines to use Busch-Sulzer engines and represent the company's documented contribution to early American diesel-powered naval vessels.

1. 1Busch-Sulzeren.wikipedia.org