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Our History

Beginning in the 1940’s the Spungen family has been synonymous with quality, integrity and loyalty.  Our commitment has spanned four generations, combining many family traditions with new manufacturing capabilities.  Join us for a virtual tour of the past and present:

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1944

1944

Archer Sales Company, the precursor to 4GEN Bearing, opened between 1942-1944. We know that our Uncle Oscar (April 4, 1908 – August 29, 2001) sent a telegram to Great Grandpa Nate Spungen at the storefront location from his post on the German front during WWII. V-Mail telegram sent to Nate Spungen 1931 S. State Street, Chicago c/o Archer Sales. (Image Below)

November 29th, 1944

November 29th, 1944

Uncle Oscar’s Purple Heart after being wounded in the Huertgen Forest, Germany Nov. 29, 1944. He was enlisted in the famous “Big Red One” 1st Infantry Division. Uncle Oscar was discharged in March 1946 and joined the family business. After first retiring in 1984, he came back in January 1988 and worked until shortly before passing away in 2001. Uncle Oscar was known as a walking encyclopedia of bearing interchange and joke telling!

1948

1948

The estimated year of the only known photo of Nate Spungen and Ralph Zeitlin standing in front of Archer Sales Company, 1931 South State Street, in Chicago.

1960

Nate’s sons, Laurence and Kenneth, start to import ball bearings from Japan around December 1960 under the brand name “PEER”. A bold move at the time, given the “wounds” of WWII were still fresh in the minds of Americans – Japan was not very popular!

1961

1961

Based on our museum documents, between December 1960 and before August 1, 1961, Archer Bearing Company moves from 2021 South Wabash Avenue to 1818 South Wabash Avenue.

1969

1969

PEER Chain was incorporated on July 9, 1969 as a separate entity and management. Brothers Kenneth and Laurence, 1969 (Image Below)

1973

1973

On February 24, 1972, USA President Nixon toured the Great Wall in China (image below), a move credited with opening up the two countries’ economies. Laurence, a pioneer in exploring business options in Asia, followed the same path about one year later with his wife, Florence.

1978

With the Spungen family no longer focusing on surplus bearings, Archer Bearing Company is dissolved.

1978

1978

The Spungen family moves all their companies from Chicago to 241 W. Palatine Road, Wheeling IL 60090. Laurence Spungen begins developing strong ties with ball bearing plants in Romania.

December, 1979

December, 1979

Great Grandpa Nate enjoying the new Wheeling, IL headquarters with his sons, Laurence and Kenneth.

1981

1981

Danny Spungen’s first trip to China and Taiwan on a college “Semester At Sea” program. April 21, 1981 postcard from Danny to his parents. (Image Below)

1982

1982

Summer 1982, Danny Spungen interns making calls to alternator rebuilders. During the Fall semester at Indiana University, Danny continues calling bearing customers using the 3×5 index cards used to track customer activity. The summer included his first trip to Romania with his father, Laurence. The primary ball bearing plants were in Brasov, Alexandria and Birlad. 1982_June_22_Danny Spungen 1st bearing order $257.40_Bill’s Generator, NJ (Image Below)

June 20th, 1983

Danny Spungen official full-time starting date in the bearing industry.

1984

1984

Glenn Spungen’s first trip to China and Taiwan on a college “Semester At Sea” program. Spring 1984, Glenn at the Great Wall of China (Image Below)

July 15th, 1985

Glenn’s official full-time starting date in the bearing industry.

1986

Grandpa Laurence begins importing bearings from China in small quantities. Romania was, at this time, a primary bearing source for the Spungen family but the breakdown of the eastern block countries like Romania is in the air. Bearings from Japan are reduced to a small percentage of sales.

September 23rd, 1987

Helen Shapiro, wife of Oscar, passes away. Helen worked many years alongside her sister, (Great Grandma) Sarah Spungen as a secretary for the Spungen companies. Lots of family “folklore” about Grandma Sarah and the business.

1987

Grandpa Laurence assigns Danny to create a separate division for mounted unit and pillow block bearings.

October 28th, 1988

On behalf of The Torrington Company, the US Department of Commerce announced preliminary determinations that antifriction bearings have been dumped in the US by nine European and Asian countries. China and some of our other suppliers were not affected badly (if at all). The Spungens benefited, adding on to its building, fondly nicknamed, “The Fafnir Wing.” Sadly the expansion overtook Teddi Bear’s dog run and “park.”

January 29, 1989

January 29, 1989

Danny and Executive Dog, Teddi Bear, are featured in the Chicago Tribune.

December 25th, 1989

Romania Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife are executed on TV. Romania loses MFN. Grandpa Laurence had already begun moving a majority of radial bearing business to China. Danny begins sourcing the majority of mounted unit insert bearings and castings from Korea, Taiwan and Puebla Mexico.

November 16th, 1991

Great Grandpa Nate Spungen passes away (Jan 15, 1905 – Nov 16, 1991).

January 14, 1992

1992 Internal (Wheeling) Office Memo – Smoking Policy “Effective immediately, smoking in the Front Office Lunchroom is no longer permitted…each trip to the dock will be considered a 10-minute break.”

October 31, 1995

October 31, 1995

Jake Spungen attended his first ball bearing event when he was just roughly six months old!

1995

1995

Grandpa Laurence begins planning his first manufacturing facility in Xinchang, Zhejiang, China, which was completed in 1998.

1996

The last year of the popular “Risqué” calendars given away as promotional items, generally hung in the factories and shipping offices.

March 23, 1997

March 23, 1997

Construction moving forward on the Spungens’ first ball bearing plant being built in China. Bamboo scaffolding was the standard material used during this period. Xinchang Zhejiang, China (Image Below)

1998

The Spungens’ 1st factory officially opens. Feb. 21st. Danny Spungen, Daniel Wang, and a few others make 1st trip to new factory.

October, 1998

After years of trying, the Spungen companies are accepted as members of the Power Transmission Distribution Association (PTDA). Danny Spungen attends the summit in San Diego. The Spungens were sponsored by Doug Savage, Bearing Service MI.

January, 1999

January, 1999

After 20 years in Wheeling, the Spungen family companies move into a new 330,000 square foot global headquarters in Waukegan, Illinois.

October 28th, 1999

October 28th, 1999

One of the greatest (and craziest) bearing salespeople the Spungens ever employed, Dimitri Elias, was lost in a fatal one car crash after visiting his OEM accounts in southern Illinois. Danny Spungen had to call his father and brother in Greece and when they arrive back to the USA, pick them up at the airport. The Spungens never forget those that helped in their success. Danny self-publishes a book about Dimitri’s life for his customers, friends, family, and employees.

2000

The Spungens create a sales and warehousing operation in Cricklade, England, to service European customers.

May, 2000

Danny Spungen attends the Bearing Specialist Association (BSA) convention in Florida after being accepted as members, sponsored by Frank Volpentesta (BHQ).

2004

The Spungens’ establish a sales office in Shanghai, China.

2005

2005

The Spungen family opens a bearing plant in Villa Maria, Argentina, in partnership with Gustavo Boetsch and his family. The Spungen 4th Generation become instant Argentina soccer fans!

3rd from right is Jake Spungen.

2005

2005

Grandpa Laurence accepts on behalf of the Spungen family and its employees, the 2004 “Supplier of the Year” award from John Deere at its annual Supplier Awards dinner.

2008

The Spungen family sells most of its bearing interests to SKF.

June 26th, 2008

A formal announcement in industry media.

September 11th, 2008

Official closing of the sale.

September 12, 2008

September 12, 2008

The Spungens hands out specially made bonus cards in English and Spanish all hand-signed by Laurence, Florence, Carol, Debbi, Danny and Glenn. Bonuses for the USA employees totaled $6.6 million. Millions more paid out and/or “taken” internationally.

November 28th, 2008

“Black Friday.” News of bonuses hits the internet (AP-Newswire). WGN Chicago TV was the 1st to contact Danny Spungen and visit his former office in Waukegan, Illinois

International Television | News Article

November 30th, 2008

November 30th, 2008

Good Morning America crew comes to Waukegan, interviewing Danny & Glenn Spungen.

December 1st, 2008

December 1st, 2008

CBS comes to Waukegan, the only time all family members (excluding Carol, who was in California) were interviewed together for a major news media outlet.

December 5th, 2008

CBS Nightly News broadcasts the bonus story. This was the last major media piece.

December 20th, 2008

Danny Spungen takes his last videos of his office at 2200 Norman Drive and last pictures of Bubbles and Grizzly Bear at PEER Bearing. Danny moves to PEER Chain’s offices at 2300 Norman Drive.

January 6th, 2012

January 6th, 2012

Grandma Florence Spungen passes away after a 7 year great battle with cancer. She was actually on the phone with Fidelity Wed. Jan 4th trading stocks! Flo leaves a legacy of the Foundation she founded in 2005:
www.spungenfoundation.org

June, 2013

June (summer). Jake Spungen interns with his father, Glenn.

July 28th, 2014

Grandpa Laurence Spungen passes away (Feb 12, 1930 – July 28, 2014).

October 8th, 2014

Great Uncle Kenneth Spungen passes away (Aug 3, 1929 – Oct 8, 2014). Kenneth was the last of the 2nd generation.

October 12th, 2014

October 12th, 2014

Danny and Glenn have dinner with the Spungens’ former China bearing factory Director, Mr. Wu at the Rosemont Fashion Mall near O’Hare (Chicago). The first time Danny/Glenn approached by former employees to re-enter the bearing business. On Nov. 7th, while in China, Danny meets with Mr. Jiang, Mr. Wu and Daniel Wang.

May 28th, 2015

Danny travels to China to visit the new factory built by Mr. Wu and other former employees.

August 26th, 2015

August 26th, 2015

Danny takes his son Jonathan to China for his first factory tours of bearing and other power transmission parts. 4th generation Jonathan Spungen with Mr. and Mrs. Wu, Daniel Wang

September 21st, 2015

The Spungens and Mr. Wu (former Spungen China factory director) invest significant funds into feasibility study on creating a new international bearing company.

October 1st, 2015

Daniel Wang (the Spungens former China Sales General Manager) becomes Executive Director of Mr. Wu’s new bearing factory sales division.

February 26th, 2016

Siva Yam (President of the US-China Chamber of Commerce) while in China, meets for the 1st time with Mr. Wu, Mr. Jiang, and Daniel Wang about how to create a new bearing company that includes a US Operation involving Danny/Glenn Spungen. Siva Yam was hired by the group as part of

Sunday June 19th, 2016

Siva Yam held the 1st joint in-person meeting with Mr. Wu, Mr. Jiang, Daniel Wang, Danny, Glenn, Jonathan Spungen, and Mr. Quinn (Consultant). A big leap forward in the Feasibility Study on when and how to re-enter the bearing business.

Sunday August 21st, 2016

Sunday August 21st, 2016

Joe Cephus Taylor passed away surrounded by his large family at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. In total he worked for Spungen related companies 57 ½ years…

November 19th, 2016

4GEN Bearing Company is officially incorporated as an S-Corporation in the state of Illinois. 4GEN Bearing becomes a niche boutique supplier with a focus on specials and/or solving specific customer issues.

June 19, 2018

June 19, 2018

Danny with his 4th Generation son, Jonathan Spungen preparing 1st 4GEN shipment to a new customer.

April 4th, 2019

April 4th, 2019

Bob Walter started with the Spungen family on May 14, 1970, Retired August 16, 2009, Passed away April 4, 2019. “Bob was able to travel as the Vice President of Sales and always brought a piece of the world back home to share with all.”

December 3rd, 2019

December 3rd, 2019

Danny Spungen, along with his 4th generation daughter (Leanna), visit the former Spungen family factory complex in Villa Maria, Argentina. When the Spungen family sold most of their bearing interests in 2008, Gustavo Boetsch and his family were given 100% control of the Argentina operations. Now talks with the Spungen and Boetsch families begin on a new partnership.

May 29th, 2020

May 29th Thursday. Jake Spungen makes his 1st business call (lunch) with Danny and Glenn. Jake exploring very seriously joining 4GEN Bearing Company after three years in computer software.

August 1st, 2020

August 1st, 2020

Jake Spungen, the first of the 4th Generation to “officially” begin full-time at 4GEN Bearing Company.

November 15th, 2020

November 15th, 2020

Tali Spungen, 4th Generation, a senior at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, starts her internship at 4GEN.

January 15, 2021

One hundred-sixteen years ago today, Great Grandpa Nate Spungen was born (January 15th in 1905). Back in the day, his birthday gift wish list would include a bowling ball, a junket to Las Vegas with fresh decks of playing cards, a good supply of Martini’s – “throw everything in the drink…including the kitchen sink and a well-done waffle”, or a weekend retreat away from Great Grandma Sarah (may she also rest in peace)! But today is a new year, 2021, and we are all living in The Cloud! Today as we honor him, his gift is a new website,

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