For a first-person history of this company written by the co-founder of the company, see our History of Sprunger Woodworking Machinery.

In 1977, Dale Fahlbeck bought the company from Harry Sprunger; at that time, product liability and imports were wreaking havoc on the industry. Fahlbeck made changes, including moving the factory from Ligonier to Elkhart, and kept manufacturing until 1984. Since then he has continued to supply parts for Sprunger's 22 machine models. Bill Davis, Sprungers Brothers' longtime plant manager, continued with the company to within six months of his death.

As of March 2003, the company is still around as Sprunger Corp. of Elkhart, IN, but they no longer make woodworking machinery.

Sprunger sold at least some of the woodworking machinery tooling to Foley-Belsaw Co., which manufactured the Sprunger designs under the Foley-Belsaw name.

Besides making machines sold under their own name, Sprunger manufactured machines sold by Montgomery Wards under the Powr-Kraft name. Where Sprunger were crackle gray, the Montgomery Wards machines were "crackle bronze", which is almost tan.

Per Wayne Sprunger: the Topeka plant internally manufactured castings and stampings and painted components. The only purchased components were belts, blades and small items like fasteners. The blades were decorated with the Sprunger logo and very colorful. When the company moved to Ligonier, the castings were outsourced.

Parts for Sprunger Machinery

• Dale Fahlbeck still supplies parts for Sprunger machines. He can be reached at 1-800-582-0319.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Dale Fahlbeck, Ernest Fahlsing, Scott Sprunger (Wayne Sprunger's son), Wayne Sprunger (Harry Sprunger's son), Fred Sprunger, and David Fry, all associated either with the Sprunger company or the Sprunger family, for information provided.
• OWWMer Brian Kachadurian recognized a Foley-Belsaw scrollsaw in the Photo Index as a Sprunger design. Thanks to Herm Kemple for posting the pictures.
• Brian reported a letterhead dated January 1960 that shows that Sprunger Brothers, Inc. "General Office & Factory" was located on Gerber Street in Ligonier, IN, at that time. The envelope says, "Office and Factory, TOPEKA, INDIANA / Factory Branch, LIGONIER, INDIANA".