Edward Stanek, Sr., founder of Stanek Tool, graduated from the University of Prague in Czechoslovakia with an engineering degree around the turn of the century. Story has it; Mr. Stanek had political disagreements with the ruling government and happily immigrated to the United States settling in Milwaukee.

Shortly thereafter, Edward Stanek, Arthur Seegar and Joseph Stemo joined together and in 1924 the Stanek Tool and Manufacturing Company was born. They chose for their first site a property located at N. 28th Street and North Ave. Records show that during that period, tool and die makers were earning approximately $0.20 per hour. Records also indicate that an 'apprentice', Peter Balatzek was indentured that year. In 1926, the company moved to 2558 N. 30th Street. The picture below shows the technology of the day including line shafts and belts.

The company weathered the tumultuous economic times of the late 1920's and early 1930's. A newspaper article published in 1933 described an established company that had "recently designed and produced a semi-automatic machine for the Globe Union Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, maker of batteries and radio parts for speeding up output of radio resister units. The Stanek machine handled 1,600 radio parts per hour." By now the workforce had grown to 22 men.

The late 1930's and early 1940's brought about some big changes to the company. With the passing of Edward Sr., his eldest son Jerry took the reins of the organization in 1939 leading Stanek Tool into its second generation of growth and production.

The forties proved yet another big year of change for Stanek Tool. By 1941, Stanek Tool had moved to its third location at 29th and Vliet Street. During this time, the company was heavily involved in contracts with the government doing its part to support the war effort. Ed. Stanek Jr. came on board in 1945 followed by his younger brother Tom in 1953. By this time the work force had grown to almost 50 with the top paid toolmaker now earning $2.81 per hour.

Thirty years of continued technological growth compelled Stanek Tool to find a bigger location. Hence, a new plant was constructed in 1972. Located in the New Berlin Industrial Park, it still serves today as the current sight for the Stanek Tool Corporation. The design and build of workholding fixtures, plastic molds and quick turnaround prototypes have emerged as the cornerstone of Stanek Tool's work. After many years of successfully managing the company, Jerry, Ed and Tom Stanek each retired in 1984, 1988, and 1996 respectively.

Following her graduation from Purdue University and five years of engineering service at one of the area's large engine producers, Mary Wehrheim (Tom's daughter), joined the organization in 1984. Today Mary Wehrheim serves as president for the Corporation. She states, "The success of Stanek Tool spanning 80 plus years is a remarkable feat today. We have a past steeped in the knowledge that we must continually improve to meet our customer's needs. It is not the biggest company or the company with the newest invention that survives, it is the company that can realize improvement and adapt change."