Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Corporate History
Custodial History
Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Whitcomb Locomotive Company records
Identifier/Call Number: MS 99
Physical Description:
300 Linear Feet
269 record cartons +14 card boxes + 12 filing cabinet drawers
Date (inclusive): 1906-1952
Abstract: The Whitcomb Locomotive Company Records include the corporate records of the George D. Whitcomb Company from 1916-1931, the
Whitcomb Locomotive Company from 1931 to 1940, and the Whitcomb Division of the Baldwin Locomotive Works from 1940 until 1950,
when Baldwin purchased the Lima-Hamilton Company and became Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, until the Whitcomb Locomotive Company name
was retired in 1952. Material includes locomotive drawings, specifications, photographs, manufacturing records, operations
and parts manuals, and sales department records.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Contact Library Staff for details.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Baldwin - Lima - Hamilton Company, 1979.
Arrangement
These records have been arranged into the following series:
Series 1. Card Files
Series 2. Manufacturing Records
Series 3. Operating and Maintenance Manuals
Series 4. Specifications
Series 5. Photographs and Negatives
Series 6. Drawings
Series 7. Bills of Material Index Sheets and Drawings Lists
Series 8. Sales Department Records
Series 9. Vendor Files
Series 10. Whitcomb Renewal Parts Books
Corporate History
The Whitcomb Locomotive Company was a builder of gasoline and diesel powered industrial locomotives that supplied companies
around the world with a variety of configurations for moving cars within factory environments.
The George D. Whitcomb Company was incorporated by George D. Whitcomb on May 6, 1896 in Illinois. George's son George Card
Whitcomb replaced George D. Whitcomb as General Manager in 1907, and after George senior's death in 1914 he took over the
company.
The company sold its first gas-mechanical locomotive in 1906. In October of 1914 Whitcomb introduced and shipped its first
electric storage battery locomotive. Its first gas-electric locomotive was manufactured in 1928. Whitcomb introduced its first
diesel-electric locomotive in 1929.
A friendship between Baldwin President Samuel L. Vauclain and Whitcomb President George Whitcomb led to Baldwin taking a
financial interest in the George D. Whitcomb Company. In 1927, Baldwin Locomotive Works began representing Whitcomb in the
sales division. Baldwin acquired a half-interest in Whitcomb stock in 1928. After suffering a downturn in orders during the
Great Depression, Whitcomb lost control of the company to Baldwin Locomotive Works. After declaring bankruptcy on behalf of
Whitcomb in 1931, Baldwin reorganized it as the Whitcomb Locomotive Company and operated it under that name until 1940. Starting
in 1934 the Baldwin Locomotive Works took over the sales, repair, and renewal parts business from the Whitcomb Company.
In July 19, 1932, Whitcomb acquired the Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacture Company.
Whitcomb became a division of Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1940. During World War II, Whitcomb supplied the United States
Army Transportation Corps with diesel-electric switchers.
In December 4, 1950, Baldwin Locomotive Works bought the Lima-Hamilton Company and became the Baldwin – Lima – Hamilton Corporation.
Whitcomb construction facilities moved from Rochelle, Illinois to Eddystone, Pennsylvania. BLH continued to use the Whitcomb
name until December 1952.
Custodial History
This collection was donated by the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Company who kept the corporate records of the Whitcomb Locomotive
Company and the Sterling Engine Company at their manufacturing plant in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania.
Scope and Contents
The Whitcomb Locomotive Company Records include the corporate records of the George D. Whitcomb Company from 1916-1931, the
Whitcomb Locomotive Company from 1931 to 1940, and the Whitcomb Division of the Baldwin Locomotive Works from 1940 until 1950,
when Baldwin purchased the Lima-Hamilton Company and became Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, until the Whitcomb Locomotive Company name
was retired in 1952. Material includes locomotive drawings, specifications, photographs, manufacturing records, operations
and parts manuals, and sales department records. They provide detailed information about every locomotive type they manufactured,
including detailed specifications of any modifications or parts purchased for every locomotive they manufactured. There are
records from their sales and manufacturing departments, and photographs of some locomotives taken were routinely taken and
appended to the sales orders after 1931.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of
the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroad Locomotives
Railroads--Photography--Locomotives
Baldwin locomotives
Whitcomb locomotives
Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton
Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacturing Company