Lincoln Industrial
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Lubrication systems, industrial pumping equipment |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Founder | Frank Barks, Clarence L. Howard, Edward H. Barstow |
| Headquarters | St. Louis , United States |
Area served | Automotive service and industrial sectors |
Key people | Frank Barks (founder, former president), Alex P. Fox (former president) |
| Products | Automated lubrication systems, manual lubrication tools, industrial pumping equipment |
| Parent | Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB (SKF) |
Lincoln Industrial Corporation (commonly known as Lincoln) specializes in producing automated lubrication systems, manual lubrication tools, and industrial pumping equipment. It operates as a subsidiary under Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB (SKF). Established in 1910, Lincoln introduced numerous innovations that significantly influenced contemporary lubrication techniques within automotive service and industrial sectors.
Early history
Frank Barks spent five years working for the Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska before joining Commonwealth Steel Company located in Granite City, Illinois, where his cousin Clarence L. Howard served as president. In January 1910, Barks, Howard, and Edward H. Barstow founded the Steel Roof Truss Company in Valley Park, Missouri. Initially focused on manufacturing tubular steel roof trusses, the company experienced a $3,000 loss during its first year. Subsequently, most shareholders sold their stakes to Barks, Howard, and Barstow. By October 1912, the enterprise was renamed Barks and Barstow Manufacturing Company and broadened its product line to include prefabricated steel buildings, barns, and cotton gin structures. At this time, Alex P. Fox was brought on board as a draftsman.
After severe flooding damaged the Valley Park facility in August 1915, the company purchased four acres at Goodfellow and Natural Bridge in north St. Louis at a price of $2,500 per acre. Fox advanced to assistant treasurer and eventually vice president. When Clarence Howard resigned in 1916, Frank Barks assumed the presidency. The firm relocated to 5701 Natural Bridge and adopted the name Lincoln Steel and Forge Company in honor of President Lincoln.
One of Lincoln’s earliest significant products was coal mine car frames equipped with axles utilizing anti-friction bearings supplied by Hyatt Roller Bearing Company. This innovation set new industry benchmarks and facilitated broad market acceptance.
Targeting increased efficiency in mining operations, Lincoln created the first commercially available automatic power-driven grease gun designed specifically for lubricating mine cars. Launched in 1923 as the Lincoln Lubrigun, this device incorporated a 400-pound pressurized grease reservoir connected to hoses and valves that automatically dispensed precise amounts of lubricant while mounted on mine car trucks.
The Age of The Automobile
By 1917, with approximately five million automobiles on U.S. roads, there was a rapid expansion in demand for service stations. Lincoln responded by adapting its mine car lubricator for automotive applications, releasing the P-25 Airline Lubrigun in 1925. This product line included eight variations tailored for automotive use and sold more than 65,000 units between 1926 and 1931.
Despite economic challenges during the Great Depression, Lincoln established a nationwide sales network in 1931 that concentrated on lubrication products distributed through intermediaries known as jobbers. Between 1931 and 1933, Frank Barks secured several patents related to lubrication technologies.
In 1934, Stewart-Warner Corp. initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Lincoln (then operating as Lincoln Engineering Co.). After extensive legal proceedings culminating at the U.S. Supreme Court in 1938, the ruling favored Lincoln. Justice Owen J. Roberts’ decision restricted Stewart-Warner’s patent scope, allowing Lincoln to introduce its Kleenseal range of fittings, grease guns, and related accessories.
During this era, Lincoln developed pioneering products including the first drum pump designed for transferring lubricants from refinery containers, a portable oil drain system, and quick-release air couplers. These innovations supported service stations and dealerships by enhancing lubrication service offerings. The company also introduced white sleeves for drum containers to serve branding purposes.
In 1936, Lincoln launched the Island Battery system featuring white-sleeved pump drums mounted on platforms. Subsequently, they created full lubrication cabinets and merchandising units aimed at assisting dealerships and service stations with promoting these services effectively. Cabinets incorporated floor-mounted reels for convenient dispensing of crankcase oil.
Following Frank Barks’ death in March 1941, Alex P. Fox succeeded him as president and led Lincoln until 1957.
The War years
During World War II, Lincoln's expertise in lubrication played a vital role by producing grease guns, fittings for the Quartermaster Corps, and tooling for small-caliber ammunition. The company also manufactured 20 mm high-explosive shells for fighter aircraft and ignition boosters for 155 and 105 mm artillery pieces—essential components for large-caliber weaponry.
The military valued Lincoln’s innovative "surface check" grease fitting, engineered to prevent dirt infiltration. This fitting, including the Bullneck variant, continues to be extensively utilized within the industry. Lincoln’s robust defense contracts were supported by relationships with a former employee who became a Pentagon procurement official.
Lincoln was honored five times with the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award for excellence, producing gasoline-powered grease guns and steel cases containing both manual and powered lubrication devices used on tanks and military vehicles. Due to its crucial war production efforts, the government exempted Lincoln’s workforce of approximately 1,000 from the draft, while female employment at the company increased significantly during this era.
A distinct facility known as "Geraldine" operated under the U.S. Army St. Louis Ordnance Plant, specializing in manufacturing artillery boosters.
Automatic Lubrication
In 1937, Lincoln introduced the Centro-Matic system—the pioneering single-line, positive-displacement industrial lubrication system—which offered a more economical alternative to conventional two-line systems. Created by Chief Engineer Lutwin Rotter, it utilized a pump to deliver precise lubricant quantities through injectors timed to each pump cycle. Initially hand-cranked, later models incorporated air-driven pumps and mechanical timing devices colloquially called "Chicken House Timers" for automated operation.
By providing frequent small doses of lubricant, Centro-Matic significantly extended bearing lifespan and reduced maintenance expenses across various manufacturing industries, notably mining. Its initial application was at a coal mine in Indiana on a Marian shovel; subsequently, leading mining equipment manufacturers adopted it as standard on haul trucks, shovels, draglines, and mills.
Centro-Matic grew to become Lincoln’s premier industrial product line, evolving to supply hundreds of lubrication points directly from refinery containers.
The Lincoln 815 Air Coupler
Commonly referred to as Flex-O-Matic, Long Nose, Lincoln Series, or Type L/Style L Air-Line Fittings, the 815 air coupler replaced the cumbersome push-twist-lock mechanism with a straightforward push-on/pull-off sleeve design that simplified hose attachment.
Released on April 7, 1942, the Lincoln 815 Air Coupler remains the industry-standard air hose connector across numerous sectors. Before its discontinuation, Lincoln sold over 50 million units. Rudy Schneller remarked, "They haven't made a single change since the original," underscoring its enduring market dominance.
The Flex-O-Matic design was even adapted for prosthetic limb applications to facilitate easier shoe changes.
Lincoln's Series 20 and PowerMaster Pumps
Lincoln pioneered lubrication pump technology with an air motor featuring a full-stroke valve mechanism invented in 1940 by Victor Klein. This design operated solely on compressed air without relying on springs.
In 1946, Lutwin Rotter improved this reciprocating engine by simplifying its components and enhancing efficiency. The resulting Series 20 lubricant pumps have remained widely utilized in automotive and industrial sectors with minimal modifications since their introduction.
Subsequently, Schneller developed the PowerMaster concept by separating the air motor from the pump tube. This modular approach enabled precise adjustment of pump ratios through various motor-pump combinations, increasing operational versatility.
As lubricant viscosities rose to meet higher engine RPM requirements, traditional pumps experienced seal failures that allowed leaks into air motors. The separated air motor design reduced this issue by isolating leaks outside the motor housing and simplifying maintenance amid evolving lubricant formulations.
This advancement led to the creation of the PileDriver pump series, which employs larger capacity pump tubes paired with existing air motors to manage heavy materials such as mastics, adhesives, and sealants. Today, PileDriver pumps are utilized across multiple industries including appliance manufacturing, automotive assembly lines, and high-volume printing presses requiring substantial ink distribution.
Adopting the 55-U.S. Gallon Drum as an Industry Standard
The challenges faced in designing pumps for refinery lubricant containers underscored the problems caused by non-uniform container dimensions across the industry. In correspondence with the National Lubrication Grease Institute (N.L.G.I.), company founder Rotter highlighted how discrepancies in pail and drum sizes complicated pump tube lengths, drum lid compatibility, and pressure primer configurations, leading to operational inefficiencies.
Rotter championed the need for uniformity, emphasizing advantages such as streamlined inventory management and cost reductions benefiting both lubricant producers and end users. His appeal for cooperation among N.L.G.I., petroleum organizations, the American Standards Association, and the National Bureau of Standards culminated in the establishment of the 55-gallon drum as a standardized container. This specification continues to play a vital role in the company’s supply chain and broader industry practices.
The Fisher Lincoln Automatic Turntable
By 1950, advancements in automotive engineering had decreased the number of grease fittings per vehicle from 24 to 12, which negatively affected Lincoln’s sales of lubrication fittings. Utilizing strong leadership and engineering innovation, Lincoln expanded its product range by creating a vacuum-powered record changer.
Patented on June 24, 1952, this device accommodated various record types (78s, 33⅓ rpm, 16 speed, and 45 rpm) and incorporated a vacuum-driven mechanism that halted operation upon record jams to avoid damage—a notable improvement over traditional mechanical changers. Initially marketed as the Linco-Matic (Model 50) and later renamed the Lincoln Fisher Record Changer (Model 65), roughly 3,500 units were sold, including to prominent customers such as Bing Crosby.
Although key contributors like Victor Klein and engineer Rudy Schneller—who received a substantial bonus for his efforts—played pivotal roles in its innovative design, the product’s high price point and manufacturing complexity limited widespread adoption. By 1965, Lincoln discontinued its record changer line to concentrate on its primary lubrication equipment offerings.
The device’s function depended entirely on a precisely controlled vacuum generated by a pump and regulated through several cam-activated valves—a sophisticated system that proved challenging to manufacture reliably at scale. This initiative exemplifies Lincoln’s strategic adaptability amid evolving market demands while also illustrating difficulties encountered when diversifying beyond core areas of expertise.
Multi-Luber
Originally created for automotive applications and subsequently modified for agricultural machinery, the Multi-Luber served as an onboard system delivering grease to essential bearings during operation. By the early 1960s, it had become a standard inclusion in farm equipment and commercial trucks. Ford offered the Multi-Luber as a factory-installed option on its 1955 Lincoln and Mercury vehicles under the name "Dashboard Lubrication." Operators could lubricate most bearings simply by pressing a button every 50 miles. Additionally, retrofit kits were available for other Ford and Chevrolet models. The system continues to be utilized by certain manufacturers of agricultural machinery today.
The Lever-Action Grease Gun
Lincoln secured a patent for the pioneering full-stroke lever grease gun, known as Model 1242, which could produce pressures reaching 10,000 lbf/in² (70 MPa). This breakthrough enabled users to effectively lubricate clogged fittings and operate within confined areas. The predecessor, Model 1042, launched during World War II, achieved such widespread success that it prompted the adoption of standardized 400 g (14 oz) grease cartridges compatible with this tool.
Concentration on Lubrication Solutions
Although Lincoln once manufactured a wide range of automotive equipment—including wheel balancers, timing tools, spark plug analyzers, battery testers, vehicle lifts, compressors, and fuel injection systems—these lines have since been phased out. By the early 1950s, the company had streamlined its product lineup to emphasize advancements in lubrication technology. Despite undergoing several ownership changes after its acquisition in 1953, lubrication products continue to define Lincoln’s core market presence.
SKF’s Acquisition of Lincoln Industrial
In October 2010, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB (SKF), an internationally recognized leader in bearings and sealing technologies headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, acquired Lincoln Industrial. Established in 1907, SKF offers an extensive range of products including lubricants, maintenance solutions, mechatronic systems, and power transmission equipment on a global scale.
Lincoln Flex-O-Matic
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZmMXqgRXKUoJ:www.oandplibrary.org/op/pdf/1978_01_032.pdf+lincoln+flex-o-matic+pdf&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjPEiHv8KtYquUlXKBBsvGA5mU5U7tF25NNYDZCxVOykJXlwMBnZwcvMhqnN9QcLsseAEXFrRJFwFB_rTLo9FfkN1zWWXmP40wdOz7kPsTfK5nBQ0WHXIVgnJ8msKZK3xNymE5U&sig=AHIEtbRzlavJUdvJMS0Fzu-LRTlnQ3DtIA
- http://www.oandplibrary.org/op/1978_01_032.asp
- Featured in The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) journal. Orthotics and Prosthetics Vol.32, No.1, pp. 32–35, March 1978
Bibliography
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; "Case Study for Interior Flood Damage Reduction Measures, Valley Park Missouri". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Publication Number ETL 1110-2-367. March 31, 1995
- Cerwinski, Mike. Personal interview. November 12, 2001
- Fox, Alex P., A Brief History of the Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis. 1949
- Godier, Gary, The History of Lincoln, St. Louis. 2001
- Grove, Jim. Telephone interview, November 12, 2001
- Inventions Near the End of the 19th century, University of New Mexico
- Lotspeich, Roy. Personal interview, November 14, 2001
- Redenbaugh, Robert. Telephone interview. November 13, 2001
- Schneller, Rudy. Personal interview by Susan McDonald and Paul Conley. June 3, 2001