Greaves, Klusman & Company
In the trade circles of Cincinnati the name of Greaves, Klusman & Company is well known in connection with the manufacture of machine tools, metal working machinery, engine lathes, turret lathes, etc. This is one of the older among the many machine tool concerns that is fast making Cincinnati the center of the machine tool trade of the world. The firm is the outcome of a partnership relation between W. A. Greaves and H. H. Klusman. These two gentlemen established the business in 1889 on Second Street, near Plum, and they immediately began the manufacture of machine tools and also wood working machinery. During the first year they gave employment to about twenty men. Since that time the business has steadily increased until theirs is now one of the largest industrial enterprises of the city.
Both Mr. Greaves and Mr. Klusman are natives of Cincinnati and have made for themselves a creditable position in her trade. The former, William A. Greaves, was born in 1802 and was a son of Thomas Greaves, a native of England, who in that country served an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade. About 1845 he left his native land and became a resident of Cincinnati, where he was employed as a machinist, gradually working his way upward until he became superintendent of the Lomas Forge & Bridge Works. Thomas Greaves was for many years connected with that concern and upon leaving school his son W. A. Greaves entered the employ of the same company as a machinist apprentice. He afterward entered the employ of Lodge, Barker & Company, with whom he steadily worked his way upward until he became foreman of their works, remaining with that firm after changes in the original partnership led to the adoption of the firm name of Lodge, Davis & Company. He was associated altogether with that business for ten years and in 1889, in connection with Mr. Klusman, established the present firm of Greaves, Klusman & Company.
On the 6th of May, 1891, Mr. Greaves was united in marriage to Miss Anna Meyer, of Cincinnati, and they are now the parents of three sons: William Allan, Jr., born October 14, 1892; William Howard, born in 1899; and George Byron, born in 1902. Mr. Greaves is a member of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute and the Masonic fraternity, and by his ballot supports the men and measures of the Republican Party.
Herman H. Klusman was born in Cincinnati, in 1864, and was a son of H. G. Klusman, who for many years was connected with mercantile interests here. The son was reared under the parental roof and after leaving school entered the office of the T. J. Nottingham Manufacturing & Supply Company. They were manufactures of Valves, fittings, etc. Mr. Klusman remained with that house in different capacities for about five years, serving during the latter part of the period as bookkeeper. Leaving the employ of the T. J. Nottingham Manufacturing & Supply Company, he entered the firm of Love & Company, being one of the partners in the steamfitting business for five years.
On the expiration of that period he joined Mr. Greaves in organizing the present firm of Greaves, Klusman & Company. In 1898 the present large plant was erected, located at Alfred and Cook streets. There they have a floor space of about sixty thousand square feet and they furnish steady employment to about one hundred and twenty-five skilled mechanics. Since erecting the factory buildings they have from time to time built additions to meet the growing demands of the trade. Altogether their business has been successful and, while theirs is not the largest plant of its kind in the city, it is one of the most substantial and has done as much to advertise Cincinnati through its machine tools and wood working machinery as many of the larger plants. The partnership between Messrs. Greaves and Klusman is ideal in its character, as Mr. Greaves is one of the best practical mechanics of the middle west and personally superintends the manufacturing end of the industry, although he has a force of skilled foremen and mechanics under him. Mr. Klusman through his many years of office experience is the ideal man to look after that department and thus the labors of the one ably supplement and round out the efforts of the other. An interesting fact concerning Greaves, Klusman & Company is that the two men who established the business more than two decades ago are still the sole owners and the partnership has been continued uninterruptedly. Each in his particular field has contributed to the prosperity of the house, which bears an unassailable reputation for the excellence of its product and for the reliability of its methods. They are members of various business organizations.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III by Rev. Charles Fredric Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912