• Discovering Biotechnology
• Gasoline Tractor
• Automobile Manufacturing in Iowa
• The Amazing Monocoupe
• The Pearl Button Story
• Sheaffer Pen Company
• The Science and Technology of Agriculture
• Workers
• Types of Business and Industry
• Business & Industry

Manufacture: To create by forming, combining, assembling, or constructing. What does Iowa manufacture?

 

• 1909 Maytag touring car
• Interior of the Colby Motor Company
• Farm implement store
• Hart-Parr gas tractor
• Interior view of the Mason Motor Car Company
• Mason automobile
• Fountain Spring Mill
• Sheaffer Pen Company
• Washing machine assembly line
• Punched pearl button shells
• Steam tractor
• Collins Radio Helps in the Space Race, ca.1966

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Investigation Tip:
To get the big picture of your exploration, think of your question for your investigation. What have you found that relates to your topic? How does your pathway make a story?

 

• Can you imagine plowing the prairie with this farm implement?
• Iowa's connection to the sky is nearly as strong as its connection to the land.
• So what does a Colby car look like? See the Colby Collection of photographs from the University of Oklahoma Library.
• Cars designed by Frederick and August Duesenberg were known for speed, style and luxury.
• If you were starting a new business, find out what you have to gain by coming to Iowa.
• The 1904 M.A. Disbrow factory in Lyons manufactured sashes, doors, blinds, and other products.
• Take a peek through a 1899 catalog of millwork with sketches and photos of doors, windows, porches and other items.
• Corn refining means to separate the corn into components and convert them into other products.
• See a 1950s photo of the Amana Refrigeration Company.
• Mold makers create molds to be used to mass produce items such as phones, toothbrushes, washing machine parts and more.

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The Manufacturing Industry in Iowa

Since agriculture is such a big part of life in Iowa, it makes sense that the manufacture of farm implements and other agriculture-related products developed in the state. Some of the country's first tractor and combine manufacturers started in Iowa. However, the United States military, astronauts, builders, educators and research scientists all over the world also rely on products made by Iowa's manufacturing industries.

Iowa factories historically were located in the eastern part of the state, where there were larger cities. Early Iowa industry was mainly "primary manufacturing”. Primary manufacturing is when a factory or mill produces an item that is not much different than the raw material. For example, grist mills ground wheat into flour, which is a simple stage removed from wheat.

After railroads reached Iowa in the 1860s, it became much easier for Iowa factories to receive raw materials from places outside the state and to ship their products long distances. Iowa manufacturing began to change into “secondary manufacturing.” Larger, more complicated items including tractors and combines were a few of Iowa's early specialties.

In time, the manufacture of nonagriculture-related products began in the state. Home appliances, cars, recreational vehicles, construction and forestry equipment have been manufactured in Iowa. The design and production of aviation equipment and the mining of minerals are also part of Iowa's manufacturing history.

 

1. The Manufacturing Industry in Iowa