San Joaquin County Biographies


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SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 
 
        A thriving concern with one of the most up-to-date plants in the state, 
the Superior Manufacturing Company of Lodi has built up a reputation for its 
pumps and pumping machinery that has gone far and wide. The plant was first 
established in 1914 by the three Woock brothers, Walter R., Herbert J. and Eric 
M., and was incorporated on August 1, 1919. The new, modern factory was 
completed May 1, 1920, at a cost of $150,000. It is finely appointed, equipped 
with special machinery to facilitate its economic operation. It comprises the 
following departments: Pattern department, drafting room, manufacturing 
department, machine shop, testing department, and show room.
        The brothers are endowed with unusual mechanical ability and inventive 
genius, and the Superior pumps are the result of the new ideas in construction 
which they have developed, the design having been worked out by constant study 
and experimentation on their part. Applying the knowledge gained by their years 
of experience in the design and manufacture of high-grade pumps, they can assure 
their customers of a superior article, made of the best of materials and 
correctly finished. The great demand for their products from every locality 
where they have once been used, and the long list of repeated orders from 
satisfied customers, are the best references as to their quality and efficiency. 
One of their leaders is the shaftless deep-well pump, patented by them. Among 
its marked advantages are the following: No overhead power; no shafting; no pump 
packing; no priming; no end thrust; no pump bearings; less horse power than any 
other deep-well pump; can be installed at any angle; impervious to sand and 
grit, which put many pumps out of commission. They have also patented their twin 
pump, packless pump, and elbow check pump, all of which have special features; 
and among other articles manufactured are single centrifugal pumps, combined 
elbow check , valves, flap valves, and large pipe fittings. The sizes of their 
pumps run from one and a half to twelve inches, designed to discharge from sixty 
to 4,500 gallons per minute. They also make special pumps to order, and have 
installed plants on many of the large ranches of San Joaquin County, where they 
are giving complete satisfaction.
        The Superior Manufacturing Company has agencies in Kern, Kings, San 
Joaquin, Tulare, Madera, Sacramento and Placer counties; and with the growth of 
their business, they will doubtless maintain branches all over the state and in 
the adjoining territory. With the reclamation of waste lands through irrigation, 
these deep-well pumps will play no small part, thus adding to the natural wealth 
and productivity of every locality in which they are installed. The business of 
the company is in the hands of the following efficient personnel: Walter R. 
Woock, president; Herbert J. Woock, vice-president; Eric M. Woock, treasurer; H. 
T. Bailey, secretary; while the other members of the board of directors are H. 
C. Beckman, Otto Spenker and Percy S. Webster. The company has just been 
reincorporated as The Superior Iron Works, and the manufacturing will be 
continued and gradually increased.
  
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p  1340        
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.