1945

The Wrought Washer Company uses leaf-type MICRO SWITCH components to turn on and off a fan in a vault that safeguards their paper records, files and archives.

Major General Frank Parker, Executive Director of the Illinois War Council presents the National Security Award to the employees of the MICRO SWITCH Corporation. It is in recognition of outstanding achievement in the safeguarding the production, employees, and facilities from fire, natural disaster or enemy action.

Employees continue to answer their country’s call to arms. According to records dated November 15, 1945, 175 men and women are still in the armed services, 6 have died and 31 have been discharged, for a total of 214 MICRO SWITCH employees.

1944

Lieutenant Eugene Biesemeier was killed in action while fighting in the Ardennes Sector. He worked at the MICRO SWITCH Corporation in the Heat Treating Department from 1940 to 1942. He is one of many MICRO SWITCH employees who bravely served his country.

1943

The first Army/Navy “E” Award for excellence was presented to the MICRO SWITCH Corporation in recognition of the company’s achievements in providing top quality products for use in armed forces equipment during World War II.

1942

An employee of Curtiss-Wright Corporation rigs together a MICRO SWITCH device, a clock and a lamp and mounts it on the top of his car so he can readily find his vehicle in the block square parking lot after dark.

1941

MICRO SWITCH Corporation receives two patents. One is for Arthur Riche’s snap switch and the other is for Virgil Fry’s electric limit switch.

Francis Botsford writes the MICRO SWITCH Corporation. He states he believes he is the first person to use a MICRO SWITCH product in a timer mechanism. His timers have been working since 1932 and he has not seen a single failure. “Congratulations, you have a fine product.”

Twenty-eight hundred MICRO SWITCH catalogs are sent to customers.

1940

The Hydro-Electric Power Commission recommends MICRO SWITCH components to a Canadian manufacturer. This company’s self-manufactured switches failed to pass HEPC tests.