Beginnings
Our history begins in 1873, with the first of many bold business moves. Despite a climate of financial panic and the start of a five-year economic depression, 29-year-old Austrian immigrant John Michael Kohler purchased the Sheboygan Union Iron and Steel Foundry.

A Plumbing Business Is Launched
The firm got its successful start producing cast iron and steel implements for farmers, castings for the city's furniture factories, and ornamental iron pieces that included cemetery crosses, urns and settees. A key turning point came in 1883 when John Michael seized upon another bold idea to improve his customers' quality of life. By applying baked enamel coating to a Kohler horse trough/hog scalder, he had created the Kohler Co.'s first bathtub. Kohler was in the plumbing business.

Immigrant Craftsmen
Like John Michael, many of the early employees were immigrants. Steeped in a heritage of European craftsmanship, they were eager to achieve success in their new country. Their dedication to excellence helped to forge one of the oldest and largest privately-held companies in the United States.

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