A knack for mechanics and a natural desire to go places started two Lancaster
County (Pa.) farm boys on the road to faster transportation than the horse
could provide. With the help of an old World War I aircraft engine, they
constructed (much to the annoyance of their horse-driving neighbors) what was
probably the worlds first airdriven farm wagon. People stared in amazement
and horses shielded nervously the first and only time the boys took their
dust storm contraption into town.
But it was a worn out rope, borrowed from their father's hayloft, that
started the Sensenich Brothers in the propeller business. After their "wind
wagon" was ruled off the roads, they transferred their precious engine and
propeller to an ice sled which traveled at high speeds in a 200 foot circle
while tied to a well-secured post in the nearby Susquehanna River.
Ultimately, the rope broke, the sled cracked up and the precious propeller
was broken. Lacking the funds to buy a new propeller, Harry and Martin
Sensenich, borrowed their father's spoke shave and drawing knife and made one.
Thus a new industry was born.
Sensenich Brothers was founded in 1932 by Harry and Martin Sensenich as a
partnership to manufacture wooden fixed-pitch aircraft propellers.
Production of propellers originally took place in a barn on the family farm
near the Lancaster Airport. By 1939 the existing space was inadequate for
the business and a plant site was acquired and a factory erected (currently
the Farfield Company). During World War II, the company grew to nearly 400
employees and produced propellers in volume for military trainer aircraft.
Sensenich Brothers became the largest manufacturer of wooden propellers for
light aircraft.
In 1947 the company reduced its work force
to approximately 100 employees and was incorporated into Sensenich
Corporation, under Pennsylvania laws. In 1948, the company diversified into
metal fixed-pitch propellers for general aviation aircraft and, also
initiated manufacturing of a broad line of laminated hard-wood products using
the technology and facilities formerly devoted solely to wood propellers.
Further additions were made to facilities which brought the total building to
87,000 sq. ft. on 11 1/4 acres of land at the main plant plus 8,500 sq. ft. at
a hanger building leased from the Lancaster Airport Authority. The latter
was used for servicing all makes and types of general aviation propellers.
In 1989, Sensenich Corporation sold all propeller divisions to Philadelphia Bourse, Inc. (PBI) and the name was changed to Sensenich Propeller Company, Inc. employing about 70 people.
In 1995, Sensenich Propeller Company, Inc. was split and three wholly owned subsidiaries were formed, Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Company, Inc. (metal propeller manufacturing and authors of this web site), Sensenich Wood Propeller Company, Inc., and Sensenich Propeller Company, Inc. (service).
With a desire to only manufacture propellers, PBI sold the Sensenich Propeller Company in late August of 1995. That company was renamed Sensenich Propeller Service.
In 1996 PBI allowed for 10% of Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Co. to be purchased by its' employees. With that purchase plan now complete, PBI and the employees of Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Co. are looking at a robust future, serving the needs of the aviation community.
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