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
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
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.
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
PEER Chain was incorporated on July 9, 1969 as a separate entity and management. Brothers Kenneth and Laurence, 1969 (Image Below)
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
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
Great Grandpa Nate enjoying the new Wheeling, IL headquarters with his sons, Laurence and Kenneth.
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
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)
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)
January 29, 1989
Danny and Executive Dog, Teddi Bear, are featured in the Chicago Tribune.
October 31, 1995
Jake Spungen attended his first ball bearing event when he was just roughly six months old!
1995
Grandpa Laurence begins planning his first manufacturing facility in Xinchang, Zhejiang, China, which was completed in 1998.
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)
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
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.
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
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.
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 30th, 2008
Good Morning America crew comes to Waukegan, interviewing Danny & Glenn Spungen.
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.
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
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.
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
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…
June 19, 2018
Danny with his 4th Generation son, Jonathan Spungen preparing 1st 4GEN shipment to a new customer.
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
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.
August 1st, 2020
Jake Spungen, the first of the 4th Generation to “officially” begin full-time at 4GEN Bearing Company.
November 15th, 2020
Tali Spungen, 4th Generation, a senior at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, starts her internship at 4GEN.
