Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 175; Rocklin Manufacturing

Rocklin Manufacturing is one of Sioux City's remaining/surviving manufacturing companies that have not moved on for cheaper labor in foreign countires. They have a long and proud history in this community.

"Rocklin Manufacturing co. commenced operations in 1934 by I.J. Rocklin, who graduated from the University of Iowa in 1930 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Before WWII, Rocklin manufactured and marketed farm machinery accessories that were resumed after the War. These included pump jacks, disc and tillage tools, corn pickers, hydraulic pump and value components, farm wagon box hardware kits, farm tractor grader blades, various tractor attachments, power drive accessories such as universal joints and slip clutches, tractor and self-propelled saws and mowers, including the MY-T-MO rotary mower, and the Rocklin Water Level Control units for farm and ranch stock tanks.

During WWII the factory operated 24 hours a day to produce subassemblies for tanks and trucks, particularly tank escape hatches, transmission parts and running gear components for tanks, 4 x 4, and 6 x 6 trucks. The mural graphically details men and also "Rosie the Riveter" type women working side by side to support the war materiel effort.

In the 1960's Rocklin participated in several missile base projects providing spring mounts, pneumatic cylinder sway dampers and hydraulic blast door stand components.

In the mid 1960's, I.J. Rocklin invented and patented the Rocklinizer which electronically deposits carbide, which is a hard and wear resistant material, to tools and dies to extend their useful life, for gripping, or for maintenance applications. The Rocklinizer continues to be manufactured and is marketed worldwide to metal working and metal fabricating companies.

The companion industrial electronic product called the Moldmender micro welder was developed about 10 years ago. The Moldmender is a spot welder that applies metallic ribbon, wire, paste or powder to repair primarily plastic injection molds and die cast dies made of steel. It too is manufactured by Rocklin and marketed worldwide.

Rocklin Manufacturing Co. recently commissioned local artists Paul Chelstad and Mark Kochen to paint a 32 feet x 40 feet mural on the end of its brick building. The mural depicts metalworking and metal fabrication scenes from vintage photographs of Rocklin employees taken during World War II. The detailed photographs have been digitally reproduced and then converted into stencils that were laboriously cut out as a pattern for the actual mural painting. "IJ" is superimposed on the mural that is dedicated to his memory."

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Rocklin Manufacturing

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