The Hercules and Servel Legacy
With the October 17, 2022, fire that destroyed the Morton Avenue Warehouse in Evansville, it is interesting to look at some of the artifacts in the Museum’s collection produced by Hercules and later Servel in their facilities that included this building in an area bounded by Morton Avenue, Franklin Street, and Kentucky Avenue—north of today’s Lloyd Expressway. From 1902-1957 both Hercules and Servel were major employers in Evansville as they produced significant products, including horse-drawn buggies, gas engines, refrigerators, and wings for P-47 fighter planes during World War II. Later, through 1975, the Whirlpool Corporation utilized portions of the former Hercules and Servel facilities.
Hercules Buggy
The Hercules Buggy Company of Evansville built this vehicle. A successor to a company founded by William McCurdy in Cincinnati, the company relocated to Evansville in 1902. In the ensuing decade, Hercules grew into a major producer billing itself as the largest buggy works in the world. It also made other products including gas engines for use on farms and in rural areas.
Gift of Rita and George Caddick
1998.040.0001
1910 Model K Sears Motor Buggy
Hercules produced bodies for Sear Roebuck & Company’s 1908-1912 motor buggies. The finished bodies were shipped to the Sears Assembly Plant at Harrison and Loomis Streets in Chicago for final assembly.
A 14-horsepower engine averaging 25-33 miles-per-gallon of gasoline powered this vehicle. Steered by a tiller, the wheels were chain driven by an early type of transmission. The Model K sold for approximately $435.00
Gift of Benninghof-Nolan Company
1942.136
Steam Whistle
This copper steam whistle sat atop the Hercules plant in Evansville. It was installed on the boiler house in 1911 and moved to the powerhouse in 1936. The whistle was originally a three-tone gong whistle, though the largest, lowest section is missing. The whistle sounded at the beginning of the workday at 7 a.m. for plant workers, at 8 a.m. for office workers, for the beginning and end of lunch at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., and at the end of the day at 4 p.m. for plant workers and at 5 p.m. for office workers. The whistle also blew on special occasions such as New Year's Eve, at the end of World War I, and on V-J Day during World War II.
Gift of Juanita and Allen Hay
2009.017.0001
Servel Gas Refrigerator
This is a circa 1935 natural gas-powered refrigerator produced by by Servel, Inc. Servel had acquired the United States patent rights of a Swedish-developed gas refrigerator in 1926 after purchasing Hercules, which had produced electric units, a year earlier. Gas refrigerators used circulating refrigerant to produce cooling from heat. The company’s production of refrigerators for the home continued until 1957.
Gift of Charles Daum
1993.032.0002
Serval Uniform
Ethelyn Schmitt was one of the essential female workers employed at Servel during World War II. She and her co-workers produced a variety of products, including wings for P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes, fire units for gasoline stoves, aircraft motor parts, 105mm and 40mm shell casings, and gas lanterns. At peak, Servel employed 12,000 workers during the war.
Gift of Mary Jane Schmitt
1995.032.0001a-b
Gasoline Lantern
Servel produced gas lanterns, such as this one, for the Akron Lamp and Manufacturing Company during World War II.
Gift of George Caddick
2006.018.0001
Servel Baseball Jersey
Lyle Thompson wore this jersey as a member of Servel’s baseball team during World War II. One of the stars of the team, Thompson led Servel to the War Plant League championship in 1943 while working 10 hours a day and six days per week. As a member of the War Plant League All-Star Team, he also played in exhibition games at Bosse Field against major league teams including the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Braves.
A graduate of Reitz High School, Thompson played professionally in the minor leagues from 1935-1942. After World War II, he served with the Evansville Police Department for 28 years.
Gift of Paul G. & LuAnn Pearce & Family, In Memory of Lyle V. Thompson
2013.020.0001
Servel Wonderbar Mini Refrigerator
The Servel Wonderbar Mini Refrigerator was an innovation in the industry in the early 1950s. WonderBars were used in homes and offices. The donors received this refrigerator as a housewarming gift in 1953 when they lived at 2531 North Heidelbach Avenue in Evansville.
Other innovations at Servel included the automatic icemaker for home refrigerators introduced in 1953.
Gift of Harold and Eileen Hupfer
2007.022.0001
Lighted Servel Dealer Sign
Beyond refrigerators, Servel produced other products including home freezers as exemplified by this dealer sign used in Illinois.
Gift of the Servel Reunion Committee, in Memory of Comer Riggs
2000.025.0001
Thomas R. Lonnberg
Chief Curator & Curator of History