McLean County Musem of History

The original site of Williams Oil-O-Matic on East Washington Street. The Castle Theater next door also housed the factory on the top three floors.

Williams Oil-O-Matic Collection

Processed by Ethlyn Yount
October 2008

Processed by Brigid McBride
February 2009

Table of Contents

Collection Information

Historical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Box and Folder Inventory

Collection Information

Volume of Collection:

One box.

Collection Dates:

1926-1947; 1994; 2009

Restrictions:

None.

Reproduction Rights:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the McLean County Museum of History.

Alternative Formats: None.

Other Finding Aids: None.

Location:

Archives.

Notes: See also the C.U. Williams vertical file and the Eureka vertical file.

Collection Information
Volume of Collection:	One box.
Collection Dates:	1926-1947; 1994; 2009
Restrictions:	None.
Reproduction Rights:	Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the McLean County Museum of History.
Alternative Formats:	None.
Other Finding Aids:	None.
Location:	Archives.
Notes:	See also the C.U. Williams vertical file and the Eureka vertical file.

Williams Oil-O-Matic magazine advertisement.

Williams Oil-O-Matic heaters loaded into a box car.

Photograph of the P-47 Republic Thunderbolt sponsored by the employees of Williams Oil-O-Matic.

Historical Sketch

Charles U. Williams came to Bloomington in the late nineteenth century. He was an itinerant photographer who decided to relocate to the area. He is credited with inventing the picture postcard and later opened a successful auto dealership located at 207 E. Washington St. Due to the coal shortage caused by World War I, Walter Williams (Charles' son) developed the Oil-O-Matic, an oil-based heater for homes by reusing oil from cars serviced at the dealership. With the expansion of the heating business came other inventions such as the Ice-O-Matic, a compressor-operated refrigeration system. In 1925 Williams Oil-O-Matic moved to a new location at the corner Bell and Hannah streets in Bloomington.

During World War II, Williams Oil-O-Matic produced "oil gears" for anti-aircraft guns resulting in the Army/Navy "E" award for excellence. Oil-O-Matic also produced fuel injectors for aircraft and smokescreen generators for the Navy as well as many gears and telescopes. The factory employees purchased enough war bonds to sponsor a war plane.

In 1945 the company merged with the Eureka Company of Detroit and was renamed Eureka-Williams Corp. and the company began production of vacuum cleaners. In 1973, Eureka-Williams purchased 38 acres of land in North Normal and built a warehouse and motor department building. In 1974 Eureka-Williams Corp was purchased by AB Electrolux of Sweden and changed its name to the Eureka Company. In 2004 the Eureka Company officially changed its name to Electrolux Home Care Products North America.

Historical Sketch
Charles U. Williams came to Bloomington in the late nineteenth century. He was an itinerant photographer who decided to relocate to the area. He is credited with inventing the picture postcard and later opened a successful auto dealership located at 207 E. Washington St. Due to the coal shortage caused by World War I, Walter Williams (Charles' son) developed the Oil-O-Matic, an oil-based heater for homes by reusing oil from cars serviced at the dealership. With the expansion of the heating business came other inventions such as the Ice-O-Matic, a compressor-operated refrigeration system. In 1925 Williams Oil-O-Matic moved to a new location at the corner Bell and Hannah streets in Bloomington. During World War II, Williams Oil-O-Matic produced "oil gears" for anti-aircraft guns resulting in the Army/Navy "E" award for excellence. Oil-O-Matic also produced fuel injectors for aircraft and smokescreen generators for the Navy as well as many gears and telescopes. The factory employees purchased enough war bonds to sponsor a war plane. In 1945 the company merged with the Eureka Company of Detroit and was renamed Eureka-Williams Corp. and the company began production of vacuum cleaners. In 1973, Eureka-Williams purchased 38 acres of land in North Normal and built a warehouse and motor department building. In 1974 Eureka-Williams Corp was purchased by AB Electrolux of Sweden and changed its name to the Eureka Company. In 2004 the Eureka Company officially changed its name to Electrolux Home Care Products North America.

Scope and Contents Note

The collection materials consist of advertisements, installation and service manuals, histories, newsletters, and other miscellaneous items relating to Williams Oil-O-Matic and Eureka Williams.

Scope and Contents Note
The collection materials consist of advertisements, installation and service manuals, histories, newsletters, and other miscellaneous items relating to Williams Oil-O-Matic and Eureka Williams.

Box and Folder Inventory

Box 1

Folder 1:
Articles and Advertisements (Pantagraph unless otherwise noted)

1.1
"The Home of Today," September, 1929 (torn from book or pamphlet).

1.2
"Williams Representatives Here From Wide Territory," photograph from Sunday Pantagraph, January 7, 1934.

1.3
"Romance of Oil-O-Matic" by A. T. Simmons, Export Manger, Oil-O-Matic, January 5, 1934

1.4
July 13, 1921

1.5
August 22, 1921

1.6
September 28, 1921

1.7
September 17, 1922

1.8
October 9, 1923

1.9
January 31, 1925

1.10
January 15, 1926

1.11
February 26, 1926

1.12
May 22, 1926

1.13
Magazine advertisement from August 1926 (source unknown)

1.14
Magazine advertisement (source unknown; undated)

1.15
December 31, 1929

1.16
August 26, 1930

1.17
September 22, 1935

1.18
April 19, 1937

1.19
"Army Order to Williams; May Reach Two Millions," March 11, 1941, p. 3

1.20
"Ordnance Chief Visits Workers, Inspects Plant," May 21, 1942, p. 8

1.21
"Oil-O-Matic Now Tooling Up For Army Work," June 2, 1941, p. 3

1.22
"Oil-O-Matic Goes on 24 Hour, Seven Day Production Schedule," May 23, 1942, p. 3

1.23
"Every Williams Worker to See Ceremonies," September 6, 1942, p. 8

1.24
"Williams Employes 100 Percent For Payroll Deduction Plan; Tenth of Wages at Plant Goes Into War Bonds," September 6, 1942, p. 10

1.25
"First Oil-O-Matic Was Designed to Beat Coal-less Mondays of First World War; Trades-Labor assembly Letter of Congratulation Tops List; Baby of 1917-18 Conflict Helping To Win This One," September 6, 1942, p. 14

1.26
"3,500 Cheer as Williams War Plant Wins Army-Navy 'E,'" September 9, 1942, p. 12

1.27
"Williams War Plant Wins 3rd 'E' Award," March 29, 1944, p. 3

1.28
"Sales by Williams Oil-O-Matic To Government Total $8,911,748," April 13, 1944, p. 9

1.29
"Williams Plant to Concentrate On 4 Main Products After War," April 30, 1944, p 7

1.30
"56 Women Start Work In Williams Factory," May 6, 1944, p. 3

1.31
"Women Go To Work In War Plant," May 10, 1944, p. 3

1.32
June 5, 1944

1.33
October 20, 1944

1.34
"Movie Star To Give Talk At Williams," November 6, 1944

1.35
"City's Part in Bombing Tokyo: B-29 Parts Made at Williams," November 24, 1944, p. 3

1.36
December 1, 1944 (B-29)

1.37
December 25, 1944 (B-29)

1.38
"Suicide Plane Defense," July 18, 1945, p. 3

1.39
"80 Oil-O-Matic Sales in 30 days in Bloomington!!," no date, no source

1.40
"Williams Oil-O-Matic plant beat plowshares into swords," August 30, 2009, p. B4

Folder 2:
Programs from Conventions and meetings

2.1
Fourth International Convention, June 25-26, 1928.

2.2
Fifth International Convention, June 3-4, 1929.

2.3
Sixth International Convention, Aug 18-19, 1930.

2.4
Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Song Sheet.

2.5
Army E Navy Production Award including invitation to Buffet Supper and presentation.

Folder 3:
Merger

3.1
Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders on May 28, 1943, written May 7, 1945, including a Proxy statement and Proxy ballot with envelope.

3.2
Agenda for meeting.

3.3
Motion to adjourn to Friday, June 1, 1945.

3.4
Item 7(c) of Agenda second motion for the adoption of the resolutions.

Folder 4:
Manual, 1932

4.1
Installation and Service Manual Williams Ice-O-Matic Refrigeration July 1, 1932; includes instructions for installation and service, photographs, and schematics of the Ice-O-Matic; designed for dealers to completely understand electric refrigeration. (2 copies).

Folder 5:
Manual, 1934

5.1
Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating, January 1, 1934; includes schematics, instructions, and photographs of the heating products produced by Williams Oil-O-Matic.

Folder 6:
Manual, 1937

6.1
Williams Ice-O-Matic Refrigeration, January 1, 1937; includes schematics, drawings, and instructions for installation and service of Williams Oil-O-Matic products (2 copies).

Folder 7:
Manual, 1937

7.1
Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating, February 1, 1937; includes schematics, photographs, and drawings of products and explanations of service and installation techniques.

Folder 8:	Manual, 1940
8.1	Williams Hi-Pressure Oil Burner, February 1, 1940; includes instructions and schematics of the Hi-Pressure Oil Burner and photographs.

Folder 9:	Service Manuals
9.1	Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating, Section K, Service, 5010 Oil Burner, 1947-1948.
9.2	Code and Manual for the Design and Installation of Warm Air Winter Air Conditioning Systems by National Warm Air Heating & Air Conditioning Association, 1945.

Folder 10:	Manuals and Photos
10.1	Notebook Manuals and Our Photos on Gas Burners & Gas Furnaces.

Folder 11:	Courses and Notebooks
11.1	How Oil-O-Matic Works, Unit II of the Course in Oil-O-Matic Salesmanship, by Business Training Corp, 1926.
11.2	A Lecture Course on the Design, Operation and Servicing of Domestic and Small Commercial Refrigerating Units by Refrigeration Service engineers Society, 1940.
11.3	Basic Service Text on pressure Type Burners by G.T. Kaufman, Oil-Heat Institute of America, Inc., 1945.
11.4	Fuel Conservation Handbook prepared by Williams Oil-O-Matic Division Eureka Williams Corp, 1947.
11.5	Handwritten notes, diagrams, test sheets on Oil Gear Unit for Remote Control System.

Folder 12:	Service Department Notebook
12.1	Notebook by L.B. Crusius, Service Department consisting of memos, specifications, tables, photos, blueprints, bulletins; arranged alphabetically.

Folder 13:	Service Department Notebook
13.1	Notebook by L.B. Crusius, Service Department consisting of specifications, data, departments by name and number, parts. Large section on listing of service schools, where they were held, dates and enrollment. Arranged alphabetically.

Folder 14:	Miscellaneous
14.1	Lawrence B. Crusius membership certificate in Refrigeration Service Engineers Society, 1945.
14.2	Birth announcement for Harriet Jane Kirwan, 1935.
14.3	"I Like The Depression," editorial by Henry Ansley in the Amarillo Glove-News, discovered and offered for your amusement and happiness.
14.4	"A Fighting Captain of Industry," article about William A. Matheson, president of Williams Oil-O-Matic Corp, in Finance magazine, February 25, 1945.
14.5	Three page list of names, addresses and phone numbers.
14.7	Drawing of Method of Handling Crank Case Drainings.
14.7	Draft of Process used in handling crank case drainings, August 4, 1925.
14.8	Sales Campaign flyer for selling Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Systems (undated).
14.9	Program for the Presentation of the Army Navy Production Award, September 8, 1942 (2 copies).
14.10	Digital image of P-47 purchased by employees, December 1942-April 1942.

Folder 15:	History
15.1	Company letterhead, two styles.
15.2	Inter-company correspondence, comparisons, analysis of performance on High-Lift Platform and Telescopic Fork-Type Trucks, 1944.
15.3	"Memories" spiral notebook, company involvement during World War II of company, employees, minutes of meetings.
15.4	History of Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Corporation by W. A. Matheson, Jr., February 18, 1994.
15.5	Letter to Greg Koos, April 6, 1994, from W.A. Matheson, Jr., addendum to letter below.
15.6	William Oil-O-Matic Heating Corporation by W.A. Matheson, Jr. - based on recall of stories shared by father and other employees. February 18, 1994.

McLean County Museum of History Collections and Research

Folder 1:	*Articles and Advertisements (Pantagraph* unless otherwise noted)**
1.1	"The Home of Today," September, 1929 (torn from book or pamphlet).
1.2	"Williams Representatives Here From Wide Territory," photograph from Sunday Pantagraph, January 7, 1934.
1.3	"Romance of Oil-O-Matic" by A. T. Simmons, Export Manger, Oil-O-Matic, January 5, 1934
1.4	July 13, 1921
1.5	August 22, 1921
1.6	September 28, 1921
1.7	September 17, 1922
1.8	October 9, 1923
1.9	January 31, 1925
1.10	January 15, 1926
1.11	February 26, 1926
1.12	May 22, 1926
1.13	Magazine advertisement from August 1926 (source unknown)
1.14	Magazine advertisement (source unknown; undated)
1.15	December 31, 1929
1.16	August 26, 1930
1.17	September 22, 1935
1.18	April 19, 1937
1.19	"Army Order to Williams; May Reach Two Millions," March 11, 1941, p. 3
1.20	"Ordnance Chief Visits Workers, Inspects Plant," May 21, 1942, p. 8
1.21	"Oil-O-Matic Now Tooling Up For Army Work," June 2, 1941, p. 3
1.22	"Oil-O-Matic Goes on 24 Hour, Seven Day Production Schedule," May 23, 1942, p. 3
1.23	"Every Williams Worker to See Ceremonies," September 6, 1942, p. 8
1.24	"Williams Employes 100 Percent For Payroll Deduction Plan; Tenth of Wages at Plant Goes Into War Bonds," September 6, 1942, p. 10
1.25	"First Oil-O-Matic Was Designed to Beat Coal-less Mondays of First World War; Trades-Labor assembly Letter of Congratulation Tops List; Baby of 1917-18 Conflict Helping To Win This One," September 6, 1942, p. 14
1.26	"3,500 Cheer as Williams War Plant Wins Army-Navy 'E,'" September 9, 1942, p. 12
1.27	"Williams War Plant Wins 3rd 'E' Award," March 29, 1944, p. 3
1.28	"Sales by Williams Oil-O-Matic To Government Total $8,911,748," April 13, 1944, p. 9
1.29	"Williams Plant to Concentrate On 4 Main Products After War," April 30, 1944, p 7
1.30	"56 Women Start Work In Williams Factory," May 6, 1944, p. 3
1.31	"Women Go To Work In War Plant," May 10, 1944, p. 3
1.32	June 5, 1944
1.33	October 20, 1944
1.34	"Movie Star To Give Talk At Williams," November 6, 1944
1.35	"City's Part in Bombing Tokyo: B-29 Parts Made at Williams," November 24, 1944, p. 3
1.36	December 1, 1944 (B-29)
1.37	December 25, 1944 (B-29)
1.38	"Suicide Plane Defense," July 18, 1945, p. 3
1.39	"80 Oil-O-Matic Sales in 30 days in Bloomington!!," no date, no source
1.40	"Williams Oil-O-Matic plant beat plowshares into swords," August 30, 2009, p. B4

Folder 2:	Programs from Conventions and meetings
2.1	Fourth International Convention, June 25-26, 1928.
2.2	Fifth International Convention, June 3-4, 1929.
2.3	Sixth International Convention, Aug 18-19, 1930.
2.4	Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Song Sheet.
2.5	Army E Navy Production Award including invitation to Buffet Supper and presentation.

Folder 3:	Merger
3.1	Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders on May 28, 1943, written May 7, 1945, including a Proxy statement and Proxy ballot with envelope.
3.2	Agenda for meeting.
3.3	Motion to adjourn to Friday, June 1, 1945.
3.4	Item 7(c) of Agenda second motion for the adoption of the resolutions.

Folder 4:	Manual, 1932
4.1	Installation and Service Manual Williams Ice-O-Matic Refrigeration July 1, 1932; includes instructions for installation and service, photographs, and schematics of the Ice-O-Matic; designed for dealers to completely understand electric refrigeration. (2 copies).

Folder 5:	Manual, 1934
5.1	Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating, January 1, 1934; includes schematics, instructions, and photographs of the heating products produced by Williams Oil-O-Matic.

Folder 6:	Manual, 1937
6.1	Williams Ice-O-Matic Refrigeration, January 1, 1937; includes schematics, drawings, and instructions for installation and service of Williams Oil-O-Matic products (2 copies).

Folder 7:	Manual, 1937
7.1	Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating, February 1, 1937; includes schematics, photographs, and drawings of products and explanations of service and installation techniques.