Bernhard Mosling: The Dealmaker Behind Oshkosh

Bernhard Mosling was the co-founder of the Oshkosh Corporation. While his partner William Besserdich provided the engineering genius for their revolutionary 4-wheel-drive trucks, Mosling provided the business acumen. He secured the critical funding and relocation that turned a garage prototype into an industrial giant.

The Other Half of the Equation

Great inventions rarely succeed without smart business. If William Besserdich was the Steve Wozniak of heavy trucks, Bernhard Mosling was the Steve Jobs. When Besserdich left the FWD company with his new ideas for a better four-wheel-drive system, he had the blueprints but no capital. Mosling, a local businessman, saw the potential in Besserdich's "Old Betsy" prototype and joined forces with him in 1917.

The Road to Oshkosh

The duo initially incorporated as the Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company in Clintonville. However, they struggled to find investors in a town already dominated by the FWD company. Mosling took the initiative. He traveled south to the city of Oshkosh, pitching the durability and power of their truck to local financiers. His pitch worked. The city offered capital on the condition that the company relocate. Mosling agreed, renamed the company, and the Oshkosh Motor Truck Manufacturing Company was born.

Building a Titan

Mosling served as the company's sales manager and later holding various executive roles, steering the ship through the Great Depression and World War II. While Besserdich focused on the mechanics, Mosling built the dealer network and secured military contracts. He died in 1957, having seen his gamble on a mud-covered prototype turn into a Fortune 500 powerhouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bernhard Mosling and what was his role in founding Oshkosh Corporation?

<p><strong>Bernhard A. Mosling</strong> (1881–1968) was an American industrialist and businessman who co-founded the <strong>Oshkosh Corporation</strong> (originally the Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company) in 1917. While his partner William Besserdich provided the mechanical genius, Mosling was the <strong>business architect</strong>. He secured the initial $250,000 in capital by selling stock and successfully lobbied to move the company from Clintonville to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the business environment was more favorable for large-scale manufacturing.</p>

What was the 1914 patent co-invented by Bernhard Mosling?

<p>In 1914, Bernhard Mosling and William Besserdich were granted <strong>U.S. Patent 1,111,728</strong> for an innovative <strong>automatic locking differential</strong>. This invention was revolutionary because it managed the transfer of power between the front and rear axles more effectively than previous designs. This specific patent became the technical cornerstone for their first vehicle, "Old Betsy," and established the core engineering DNA that Oshkosh Corporation still utilizes in its heavy-duty tactical vehicles today.</p>

What is "Old Betsy" and how did Mosling help bring it to life?

<p><strong>"Old Betsy"</strong> is the affectionate name given to the first 4x4 truck prototype built by Mosling and Besserdich in 1917. Mosling was instrumental in the vehicle's creation by converting his own <strong>mercantile store</strong> in Clintonville into the company’s first makeshift workshop. Despite rejections from major automakers like Ford and Packard, Mosling’s persistence in funding the prototype proved that their severe-duty four-wheel-drive system was commercially viable for the American construction and utility markets.</p>

When did Bernhard Mosling become the President of Oshkosh?

<p>Bernhard Mosling took over as <strong>President</strong> of the Oshkosh Motor Truck Manufacturing Company in 1922, succeeding William Besserdich. His leadership was crucial during the post-World War I depression, where he pivoted the company’s focus toward <strong>municipal sales</strong>. By targeting local governments for road construction and snow removal equipment, Mosling ensured the company’s survival during one of the most volatile periods in American automotive history.</p>

How did Bernhard Mosling influence the "Model H" snow removal truck?

<p>Under Mosling’s presidency in 1925, Oshkosh introduced the <strong>Model H</strong>, a powerful four-wheel-drive truck equipped with a six-cylinder engine. Mosling recognized that Midwestern winters provided a unique market opportunity. By 1929, the 500<sup>th</sup> Model H had rolled off the line. Its reputation for durability during the Great Depression kept the company afloat, proving Mosling’s strategy of building <strong>highly specialized vocational vehicles</strong> was superior to competing in the mass-market truck segment.</p>

What was Mosling’s strategy for surviving the Great Depression?

<p>During the 1930s, Bernhard Mosling focused on <strong>product diversification</strong> to counter the collapse of the private commercial market. He oversaw the introduction of the <strong>Model TR</strong> in 1933, which was the world’s first <strong>earthmover with rubber tires</strong>. By moving away from tracks and toward heavy-duty 4x4 rubber-tired vehicles, Mosling secured contracts for major US infrastructure projects like dams, canals, and airports, which were central to the New Deal era recovery.</p>

What is Bernhard Mosling’s legacy in the US Defense sector?

<p>Mosling set the stage for Oshkosh’s dominance in military logistics. In 1939, he oversaw the delivery of the <strong>W-700 series</strong> trucks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for airfield snow removal. This was the company's first significant entry into <strong>military production</strong>. In 2026, the defense division he helped establish is a primary contractor for the U.S. military, producing the <abbr title="Joint Light Tactical Vehicle">JLTV</abbr> and heavy tactical trucks like the <abbr title="Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck">HEMTT</abbr>.</p>

How did Mosling’s business acumen differ from Besserdich’s engineering?

<p>The partnership was a classic "business-meets-engineering" duo. While Besserdich was the master of the <strong>ball-and-socket steering joint</strong>, Mosling was the master of <strong>capitalization and market positioning</strong>. Mosling understood that a great invention would fail without a supply chain and a sales network. His ability to reorganize the company into the <em>Oshkosh Motor Truck Corporation</em> in 1930 saved the brand from bankruptcy, ensuring that the Besserdich patents remained in production.</p>

Where is the history of Bernhard Mosling preserved today?

<p>The history of Bernhard Mosling is prominently displayed at the <strong>Oshkosh Corporation Global Headquarters</strong> in Wisconsin. The original prototype he helped fund, "Old Betsy," was fully restored for the company’s 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary and remains in working order. In 2026, he is remembered as the man who turned a "failed" patent into a <strong>Fortune 500</strong> industrial giant that employs over 15,000 people worldwide.</p>

What can modern entrepreneurs learn from Bernhard Mosling?

<p>Mosling’s career offers several key lessons for the 2026 automotive leader:</p><ul><li><strong>Niche Focus:</strong> Solving specific problems (like snow removal) rather than competing with giants.</li><li><strong>Resilience:</strong> Reorganizing and pivoting during economic downturns.</li><li><strong>Strategic Location:</strong> Moving a business to find a more supportive community and investor base.</li><li><strong>Commercialization:</strong> Recognizing that a patent is only as valuable as the stock sold to build the factory.</li></ul>