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THERE IS A FAMILY WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH PLUMBING AND INVENTIVE NES
WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH PLUMBING AND INVENTIVE NES FOR GENERATIONS.
WITH PLUMBING AND INVENTIVE NES FOR GENERATIONS. AS WE DISCOVERED AT THE
FOR GENERATIONS. AS WE DISCOVERED AT THE HIERONYMUS MUELLER MUSEUM IN
AS WE DISCOVERED AT THE HIERONYMUS MUELLER MUSEUM IN DECATUR.
HIERONYMUS MUELLER MUSEUM IN DECATUR. >> IT IS A NAME STAMPED ON
DECATUR. >> IT IS A NAME STAMPED ON VALVES AND PIPES ACROSS THE
>> IT IS A NAME STAMPED ON VALVES AND PIPES ACROSS THE WORLD, AND IT BEGAN IN THE MID
VALVES AND PIPES ACROSS THE WORLD, AND IT BEGAN IN THE MID 1800'S WHEN HIERONYMUS MUELLER
WORLD, AND IT BEGAN IN THE MID 1800'S WHEN HIERONYMUS MUELLER SETTLED IN DECATUR OF THE WHILE
1800'S WHEN HIERONYMUS MUELLER SETTLED IN DECATUR OF THE WHILE THE SIGN ON THE STORE PROCLAIMED
SETTLED IN DECATUR OF THE WHILE THE SIGN ON THE STORE PROCLAIMED HIS SKILLS AS KEY AND GUNSMITH.
THE SIGN ON THE STORE PROCLAIMED HIS SKILLS AS KEY AND GUNSMITH. HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
HIS SKILLS AS KEY AND GUNSMITH. HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. >> HIERONYMUS WAS A TINKERER IN
HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. >> HIERONYMUS WAS A TINKERER IN A LOT OF PROFESSIONS.
>> HIERONYMUS WAS A TINKERER IN A LOT OF PROFESSIONS. AND TINKER I THINK IS AN
A LOT OF PROFESSIONS. AND TINKER I THINK IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE WORLD, HE
AND TINKER I THINK IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE WORLD, HE WAS A GENIUS.
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE WORLD, HE WAS A GENIUS. HE -- ONE WAS THINGS HE TINKERED
WAS A GENIUS. HE -- ONE WAS THINGS HE TINKERED AROUND WITH AND WORKED ON WAS
HE -- ONE WAS THINGS HE TINKERED AROUND WITH AND WORKED ON WAS UNDERGROUND PLUMBING.
AROUND WITH AND WORKED ON WAS UNDERGROUND PLUMBING. HE WAS NAMED DECATUR'S FIRST
UNDERGROUND PLUMBING. HE WAS NAMED DECATUR'S FIRST PLUMBER AND WAS SUPPOSED TO
HE WAS NAMED DECATUR'S FIRST PLUMBER AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING IN WATER TO THE BUSINESSES
PLUMBER AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING IN WATER TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE HOMES THAT WERE ALREADY
BRING IN WATER TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE HOMES THAT WERE ALREADY LOCATED.
AND THE HOMES THAT WERE ALREADY LOCATED. HE HATED GETTING WET.
LOCATED. HE HATED GETTING WET. HE WAS ALWAYS HAVING TO GO DOWN
HE HATED GETTING WET. HE WAS ALWAYS HAVING TO GO DOWN THERE AND UNPLUG SOMETHING FROM
HE WAS ALWAYS HAVING TO GO DOWN THERE AND UNPLUG SOMETHING FROM THIS LIKE A WOODER WATER MAIN,
THERE AND UNPLUG SOMETHING FROM THIS LIKE A WOODER WATER MAIN, AND HE WOULD TRY TO GET THE PLUG
THIS LIKE A WOODER WATER MAIN, AND HE WOULD TRY TO GET THE PLUG BACK IN.
AND HE WOULD TRY TO GET THE PLUG BACK IN. HE WAS ALWAYS LIKE KNEE-DEEP OR
BACK IN. HE WAS ALWAYS LIKE KNEE-DEEP OR NECK DEEP IN WATER.
HE WAS ALWAYS LIKE KNEE-DEEP OR NECK DEEP IN WATER. HE WAS JUST SO TIRED OF T HE
NECK DEEP IN WATER. HE WAS JUST SO TIRED OF T HE KEPT THINKING THERE HAS GOT TO
HE WAS JUST SO TIRED OF T HE KEPT THINKING THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY!
KEPT THINKING THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY! IN THAT PROCESS, HE GOT A PATENT
BE A BETTER WAY! IN THAT PROCESS, HE GOT A PATENT ON THE CAPPING MACHINE WHICH IS
IN THAT PROCESS, HE GOT A PATENT ON THE CAPPING MACHINE WHICH IS STILL USED WORLDWIDE IN THE
ON THE CAPPING MACHINE WHICH IS STILL USED WORLDWIDE IN THE WATER AND THE GAS INDUSTRIES
STILL USED WORLDWIDE IN THE WATER AND THE GAS INDUSTRIES TODAY.
WATER AND THE GAS INDUSTRIES TODAY. THE MUELLER COMPANY WAS ACTUALLY
TODAY. THE MUELLER COMPANY WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN 1857, AND IT WAS
THE MUELLER COMPANY WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN 1857, AND IT WAS BASED ON PLUMBING GOODS.
FOUNDED IN 1857, AND IT WAS BASED ON PLUMBING GOODS. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER OPENED
BASED ON PLUMBING GOODS. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER OPENED VARIOUS SATELLITE OR OFFICES
THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER OPENED VARIOUS SATELLITE OR OFFICES LIKE IN CHICAGO, CANADA, AROUND,
VARIOUS SATELLITE OR OFFICES LIKE IN CHICAGO, CANADA, AROUND, SO THE PLUMBING COULD GET
LIKE IN CHICAGO, CANADA, AROUND, SO THE PLUMBING COULD GET DISTRIBUTED ALL AROUND THE
SO THE PLUMBING COULD GET DISTRIBUTED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
DISTRIBUTED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. HE DIDN'T STAY SMALL VERY LONG.
COUNTRY. HE DIDN'T STAY SMALL VERY LONG. >> THE COMPANY CONTINUED TO GROW
HE DIDN'T STAY SMALL VERY LONG. >> THE COMPANY CONTINUED TO GROW OFFERING BRASS AND IRON PRODUCTS
>> THE COMPANY CONTINUED TO GROW OFFERING BRASS AND IRON PRODUCTS TO DISTRIBUTE WATER AND GAS.
OFFERING BRASS AND IRON PRODUCTS TO DISTRIBUTE WATER AND GAS. BUT MUELLER'S INTERESTS WERE
TO DISTRIBUTE WATER AND GAS. BUT MUELLER'S INTERESTS WERE WIDESPREAD, AND HE CONTINUED TO
BUT MUELLER'S INTERESTS WERE WIDESPREAD, AND HE CONTINUED TO TINKER.
WIDESPREAD, AND HE CONTINUED TO TINKER. AND, ONCE AGAIN, ANNOYANCE WAS
TINKER. AND, ONCE AGAIN, ANNOYANCE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE.
AND, ONCE AGAIN, ANNOYANCE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE. >> MR. HIERONYMUS MUELLER
THE DRIVING FORCE. >> MR. HIERONYMUS MUELLER BROUGHT THE FIRST CAR TO DECATUR
>> MR. HIERONYMUS MUELLER BROUGHT THE FIRST CAR TO DECATUR IN 189 5, IT WAS A BENZ.
BROUGHT THE FIRST CAR TO DECATUR IN 189 5, IT WAS A BENZ. HE HATE THE HORSES.
IN 189 5, IT WAS A BENZ. HE HATE THE HORSES. HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF
HE HATE THE HORSES. HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF HORSES.
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF HORSES. AS SOON AS THIS CAR GOT OFF THE
HORSES. AS SOON AS THIS CAR GOT OFF THE BOAT.
AS SOON AS THIS CAR GOT OFF THE BOAT. HE HATED IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T
BOAT. HE HATED IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T GO BACKWARDS, ONLY ONE FORWARD
HE HATED IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T GO BACKWARDS, ONLY ONE FORWARD IN ONE GEAR.
GO BACKWARDS, ONLY ONE FORWARD IN ONE GEAR. HE AND HIS SONS, FRED AND OSCAR,
IN ONE GEAR. HE AND HIS SONS, FRED AND OSCAR, ALSO PART OF THE GENIUS OF THE
HE AND HIS SONS, FRED AND OSCAR, ALSO PART OF THE GENIUS OF THE FAMILY, GOT INVENTIONS AND
ALSO PART OF THE GENIUS OF THE FAMILY, GOT INVENTIONS AND PATENTS ON SPARK PLUGS AND
FAMILY, GOT INVENTIONS AND PATENTS ON SPARK PLUGS AND VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION,
PATENTS ON SPARK PLUGS AND VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION, WATER COOLED RADIATOR.
VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION, WATER COOLED RADIATOR. THEY PUT ONE GEAR BACKWARDS AND
WATER COOLED RADIATOR. THEY PUT ONE GEAR BACKWARDS AND TWO MORE FORWARDS SO HE COULD
THEY PUT ONE GEAR BACKWARDS AND TWO MORE FORWARDS SO HE COULD PUT HIS NAME ON THE CAR.
TWO MORE FORWARDS SO HE COULD PUT HIS NAME ON THE CAR. >> HE EVEN ENTERED THE CAR IN
PUT HIS NAME ON THE CAR. >> HE EVEN ENTERED THE CAR IN ONE OF THE FIRST AUTO RACES HELD
>> HE EVEN ENTERED THE CAR IN ONE OF THE FIRST AUTO RACES HELD IN CHICAGO AND WON.
ONE OF THE FIRST AUTO RACES HELD IN CHICAGO AND WON. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS NEW HOBBY
IN CHICAGO AND WON. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS NEW HOBBY WOULD BE THE DEATH OF HIERONYMUS
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS NEW HOBBY WOULD BE THE DEATH OF HIERONYMUS MUELLER.
WOULD BE THE DEATH OF HIERONYMUS MUELLER. IN 1900 WHILE WORKING ON ANOTHER
MUELLER. IN 1900 WHILE WORKING ON ANOTHER CAR, HIS OIL SOAKED CLOTHING
IN 1900 WHILE WORKING ON ANOTHER CAR, HIS OIL SOAKED CLOTHING CAUGHT FIRE.
CAR, HIS OIL SOAKED CLOTHING CAUGHT FIRE. HE DIED TEN DAYS LATER.
CAUGHT FIRE. HE DIED TEN DAYS LATER. THE COMPANY WAS NOW IN THE HANDS
HE DIED TEN DAYS LATER. THE COMPANY WAS NOW IN THE HANDS OF HIS SIX SONS AND DAUGHTER WHO
THE COMPANY WAS NOW IN THE HANDS OF HIS SIX SONS AND DAUGHTER WHO CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE SALES
OF HIS SIX SONS AND DAUGHTER WHO CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE SALES FORCE ALONG WITH THE PRODUCT
CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE SALES FORCE ALONG WITH THE PRODUCT LINE.
FORCE ALONG WITH THE PRODUCT LINE. SOON THEY WERE OFFERING A
LINE. SOON THEY WERE OFFERING A COMPLETE LINE OF BATHROOM
SOON THEY WERE OFFERING A COMPLETE LINE OF BATHROOM FIXTURES IN VARIETY OF COLORS.
COMPLETE LINE OF BATHROOM FIXTURES IN VARIETY OF COLORS. >> THEY MADE ALL THIS THING OUT
FIXTURES IN VARIETY OF COLORS. >> THEY MADE ALL THIS THING OUT OF VITT RUSS WARE, VITREOUS.
>> THEY MADE ALL THIS THING OUT OF VITT RUSS WARE, VITREOUS. THEY WOULD MAKE VASES WITH THE
OF VITT RUSS WARE, VITREOUS. THEY WOULD MAKE VASES WITH THE REMAINS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THEY WOULD MAKE VASES WITH THE REMAINS AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE SALESMAN WOULD TAKE THE END
REMAINS AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE SALESMAN WOULD TAKE THE END OF THE DAY VASES TO SHOW THE
THE SALESMAN WOULD TAKE THE END OF THE DAY VASES TO SHOW THE CUSTOMERS WHAT COLORS ALL THESE
OF THE DAY VASES TO SHOW THE CUSTOMERS WHAT COLORS ALL THESE PRODUCTS COULD COME IN.
CUSTOMERS WHAT COLORS ALL THESE PRODUCTS COULD COME IN. WE HAVE HEARD, WE DON'T KNOW,
PRODUCTS COULD COME IN. WE HAVE HEARD, WE DON'T KNOW, THAT THEY WERE THE FIRST COMPANY
WE HAVE HEARD, WE DON'T KNOW, THAT THEY WERE THE FIRST COMPANY TO START AN EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE
THAT THEY WERE THE FIRST COMPANY TO START AN EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE CALLED THE MUELLER RECORD.
TO START AN EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE CALLED THE MUELLER RECORD. I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE WAS
CALLED THE MUELLER RECORD. I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE WAS ISSUED AROUND 1910, AND IT WAS
I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE WAS ISSUED AROUND 1910, AND IT WAS SECRET.
ISSUED AROUND 1910, AND IT WAS SECRET. >> EVENTUALLY THE COMPANY WOULD
SECRET. >> EVENTUALLY THE COMPANY WOULD IP TRO DUECE COPPER PLUMBING AND
>> EVENTUALLY THE COMPANY WOULD IP TRO DUECE COPPER PLUMBING AND OTHER INNOVATIONS.
IP TRO DUECE COPPER PLUMBING AND OTHER INNOVATIONS. THEY ARE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR
OTHER INNOVATIONS. THEY ARE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR THE FIRE HYDRANT.
THEY ARE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR THE FIRE HYDRANT. >> THEY DIDN'T INVENT THE FIRE
THE FIRE HYDRANT. >> THEY DIDN'T INVENT THE FIRE HIGH GRANT DRANT, BUT FRANK HI I
>> THEY DIDN'T INVENT THE FIRE HIGH GRANT DRANT, BUT FRANK HI I GOT THE PATENT ON FIRE HYDRANT
HIGH GRANT DRANT, BUT FRANK HI I GOT THE PATENT ON FIRE HYDRANT THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO STAY
GOT THE PATENT ON FIRE HYDRANT THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO STAY WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, LIKE YOU
THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO STAY WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, LIKE YOU SEE MOVIES WHERE A CAR BANGS
WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, LIKE YOU SEE MOVIES WHERE A CAR BANGS INTO A WATER FIRE HYDRANT AND
SEE MOVIES WHERE A CAR BANGS INTO A WATER FIRE HYDRANT AND THE WATER SPEWS EVERY WHERE.
INTO A WATER FIRE HYDRANT AND THE WATER SPEWS EVERY WHERE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TODAY BECAUSE
THE WATER SPEWS EVERY WHERE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS INVENTION.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS INVENTION. I THINK IT WAS CALLED THE NO
OF THIS INVENTION. I THINK IT WAS CALLED THE NO BEEN BLOW.
I THINK IT WAS CALLED THE NO BEEN BLOW. WATER IS CONTAINED WITHIN IT.
BEEN BLOW. WATER IS CONTAINED WITHIN IT. A FIRE HYDRANT MIGHT GO AWAY,
WATER IS CONTAINED WITHIN IT. A FIRE HYDRANT MIGHT GO AWAY, BUT THE WATER STAYS THERE.
A FIRE HYDRANT MIGHT GO AWAY, BUT THE WATER STAYS THERE. >> HIERONYMUS PASSED ON MORE
BUT THE WATER STAYS THERE. >> HIERONYMUS PASSED ON MORE THAN A COMPANY TO HIS FAMILY.
>> HIERONYMUS PASSED ON MORE THAN A COMPANY TO HIS FAMILY. FOR HIS SONS AND GRANDCHILDREN
THAN A COMPANY TO HIS FAMILY. FOR HIS SONS AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE ALL TINKERERS.
FOR HIS SONS AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE ALL TINKERERS. THE FAMILY 380 PATENTS.
WERE ALL TINKERERS. THE FAMILY 380 PATENTS. AND THAT IS JUST THE FAMILY.
THE FAMILY 380 PATENTS. AND THAT IS JUST THE FAMILY. IF YOU COUNTED THE COMPANY, I I
AND THAT IS JUST THE FAMILY. IF YOU COUNTED THE COMPANY, I I THINK THERE IS ABOUT 900
IF YOU COUNTED THE COMPANY, I I THINK THERE IS ABOUT 900 PATENTS.
THINK THERE IS ABOUT 900 PATENTS. THEY HAD A WIDE VARIETY OF
PATENTS. THEY HAD A WIDE VARIETY OF PATENTS OF FOR ONE THING THEY
THEY HAD A WIDE VARIETY OF PATENTS OF FOR ONE THING THEY HAD THE FIRST BIKE KICK STAND.
PATENTS OF FOR ONE THING THEY HAD THE FIRST BIKE KICK STAND. THE FIRST SANITARY DRINKING
HAD THE FIRST BIKE KICK STAND. THE FIRST SANITARY DRINKING FOUNTAIN. THEY HAD TO PUT THE
THE FIRST SANITARY DRINKING FOUNTAIN. THEY HAD TO PUT THE MOUTH RIGHT ON THE FAUCET.
FOUNTAIN. THEY HAD TO PUT THE MOUTH RIGHT ON THE FAUCET. NONE OF THE SONS, PHILIP GOT ONE
MOUTH RIGHT ON THE FAUCET. NONE OF THE SONS, PHILIP GOT ONE ON OUTDOOR PRIVY.
NONE OF THE SONS, PHILIP GOT ONE ON OUTDOOR PRIVY. THIS MUSEUM TALKS ABOUT THE
ON OUTDOOR PRIVY. THIS MUSEUM TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY, LITTLE BIT OF THE
THIS MUSEUM TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY, LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HISTORY, LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THE
HISTORY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THE MUELLER'S WERE INVOLVED FROM
WATER DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THE MUELLER'S WERE INVOLVED FROM PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING IN
MUELLER'S WERE INVOLVED FROM PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING IN THAT KIND OF ENDEAVOR, AND THEY
PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING IN THAT KIND OF ENDEAVOR, AND THEY STILL ARE TODAY.
THAT KIND OF ENDEAVOR, AND THEY STILL ARE TODAY. IN DECATUR ILLINOIS, IS THE
STILL ARE TODAY. IN DECATUR ILLINOIS, IS THE HEADQUARTERS, STILL FOR THE NEW
IN DECATUR ILLINOIS, IS THE HEADQUARTERS, STILL FOR THE NEW YORK COMPANY.
HEADQUARTERS, STILL FOR THE NEW YORK COMPANY. >> TODAY THE FAMILY NO LONGER
YORK COMPANY. >> TODAY THE FAMILY NO LONGER CONTROLS THE COMPANY.
>> TODAY THE FAMILY NO LONGER CONTROLS THE COMPANY. BUT THE MUELLER NAME IS STILL ON
CONTROLS THE COMPANY. BUT THE MUELLER NAME IS STILL ON HALF OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS SOLD
BUT THE MUELLER NAME IS STILL ON HALF OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS SOLD IN THE COUNTRY.
HALF OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS SOLD IN THE COUNTRY. THE TAPPING MACHINE DESIGNED TO
IN THE COUNTRY. THE TAPPING MACHINE DESIGNED TO KEEP HIERONYMUS'S FEET DRY IS
THE TAPPING MACHINE DESIGNED TO KEEP HIERONYMUS'S FEET DRY IS STILL BEING USED ACROSS THE
KEEP HIERONYMUS'S FEET DRY IS STILL BEING USED ACROSS THE GLOBE.
FOR DATES AND TIMES OF HIERONYMUS MUELLER MUSEUM IS OPEN CALL (217)423-6161.