William Besserdich: The Father of Four-Wheel Drive

William Besserdich was a titan of traction, co-founding two legendary truck manufacturers: FWD and Oshkosh. Alongside Otto Zachow, he patented the revolutionary ball-and-socket joint that made four-wheel drive practical. His engineering genius transformed vehicles from fair-weather carriages into all-terrain workhorses.

Stuck in the Mud

In the early 1900s, automobiles were fragile machines that became useless in mud or snow. William Besserdich, a blacksmith and tinkerer in Clintonville, Wisconsin, was determined to change that. Working with his brother-in-law Otto Zachow, he sought a way to send power to all four wheels without breaking the steering mechanism. Their solution was the "double-Yoke" ball-and-socket joint.

This invention was revolutionary. It allowed the front wheels to pivot for steering while simultaneously receiving torque from the engine. In 1909, they founded the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company, which soon became the legendary FWD (Four Wheel Drive Auto Company). Their trucks proved indestructible during World War I, cementing the viability of 4x4 technology.

A New Beginning: Oshkosh

Despite FWD's success, Besserdich was a restless inventor. He felt the design could be improved, particularly by transferring power more efficiently to the wheels with better traction. After disagreements with FWD management, he left the company he helped build. In 1917, he partnered with Bernhard Mosling to found the Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Legacy of "Old Betsy"

This new company eventually became the Oshkosh Corporation. Their first prototype, nicknamed "Old Betsy," demonstrated incredible climbing ability and durability. Today, Oshkosh is a global leader in military and specialty trucks (including the JLTV that replaced the Humvee). William Besserdich holds the rare distinction of sparking not one, but two Fortune 500 companies, all because he hated getting stuck in the Wisconsin mud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was William Besserdich and what is his role in 4WD history?

<p><strong>William Besserdich</strong> (1867–1959) was a pioneering American inventor and mechanical engineer who co-founded the <strong>Four Wheel Drive Auto Company (FWD)</strong> and later the <strong>Oshkosh Corporation</strong>. Alongside his brother-in-law Otto Zachow, Besserdich developed the first successful and practical four-wheel-drive system in a machine shop in Clintonville, Wisconsin. His work laid the foundation for modern <abbr title="All-Wheel Drive">AWD</abbr> and 4x4 technology, specifically by solving the problem of delivering power to the front wheels while allowing them to steer.</p>

What was the "Battleship" car invented by William Besserdich?

<p>The <strong>"Battleship"</strong> was the nickname given to the first successful four-wheel-drive steam-powered car (later converted to gasoline) built by Besserdich and Zachow in 1908. It was designed to prove that a vehicle could "go anywhere a team of horses could go," even through the deep mud and sand of early 20th-century Wisconsin roads. The success of this prototype led to the founding of the <strong>Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company</strong> in 1909.</p>

How did Besserdich solve the front-wheel steering problem for 4x4s?

<p>The primary technical hurdle for early four-wheel drive was steering. William Besserdich and Otto Zachow patented a unique <strong>ball-and-socket</strong> steering joint that enclosed a universal joint. This 1908 patent (U.S. Patent 882,986) allowed power to be transmitted to the front wheels at any steering angle without the wheels binding. This invention is essentially the ancestor of the modern <strong>constant-velocity (<abbr title="Constant-Velocity">CV</abbr>) joint</strong> found in nearly every all-wheel-drive vehicle on American roads in 2026.</p>

Why did William Besserdich leave FWD to found Oshkosh Corporation?

<p>In 1914, William Besserdich left the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company due to disagreements over the company's direction and management. Seeking to further innovate in the heavy-duty truck sector, he teamed up with Bernhard Mosling to form the <strong>Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company</strong> in 1917. This company was soon relocated and renamed the <strong>Oshkosh Motor Truck Company</strong> (now <strong>Oshkosh Corporation</strong>), where Besserdich continued to refine specialized 4x4 and 6x6 truck designs for construction and military use.</p>

What was the impact of Besserdich’s FWD trucks on World War I?

<p>William Besserdich’s engineering was critical to the Allied victory in World War I. The U.S. Army adopted the <strong>FWD Model B</strong> three-ton truck as a standard transport vehicle. Over 15,000 of these trucks were produced, as they were the only vehicles capable of navigating the cratered, muddy battlefields of Europe where rear-wheel-drive trucks frequently became stuck. This established <strong>FWD</strong> as the world’s largest producer of four-wheel-drive vehicles at the time.</p>

Is there a museum dedicated to William Besserdich’s inventions?

<p>Yes, the legacy of William Besserdich is preserved at the <strong>FWD Seagrave Museum</strong> (also known as the Four Wheel Drive Foundation) located in Clintonville, Wisconsin. The museum is housed in the original machine shop where the "Battleship" was built. It features more than 60 historic vehicles, including early Besserdich prototypes and the FWD trucks that served in both World Wars, serving as a landmark for American automotive heritage.</p>

What are the key patents held by William Besserdich?

<p>William Besserdich held several influential patents that defined early automotive traction:</p><ul><li><strong>U.S. Patent 882,986 (1908):</strong> The original "Power Applying Mechanism" for four-wheel-drive axles.</li><li><strong>U.S. Patent 907,940 (1908):</strong> Improvements in steering axles for motor vehicles.</li><li><strong>U.S. Patent 1,152,874 (1915):</strong> Advanced steering mechanism and wheel hub design for automobiles.</li></ul>

How did Besserdich influence the "Transfer Case" design?

<p>William Besserdich and Zachow were among the first to successfully implement a <strong>lockable center differential</strong> and a dedicated transfer case to split power between the front and rear axles. Their 1908 design ensured that power was distributed evenly, preventing wheel slip on uneven terrain. This "full-time" 4WD philosophy was decades ahead of its time and remains a core engineering principle for heavy-duty vocational trucks in the USA today.</p>

What is the connection between William Besserdich and fire trucks?

<p>Although Besserdich focused on the drivetrain, his company <strong>FWD</strong> eventually became a leader in the fire apparatus industry. In 1963, FWD acquired <strong>Seagrave Fire Apparatus</strong>, moving its operations to Clintonville. The heavy-duty 4x4 chassis technology originally pioneered by Besserdich proved perfect for the weight and durability requirements of fire trucks, making <strong>FWD-Seagrave</strong> one of the most respected names in American fire services.</p>

Where is William Besserdich buried and how is he honored in Wisconsin?

<p>William Besserdich passed away in 1959 at the age of 92 and is buried in <strong>Clintonville, Wisconsin</strong>. He is honored by a state historical marker at the corner of 11<sup>th</sup> Street and Memorial Drive, which designates the site as the "Birthplace of Four-Wheel Drive." In 2026, he is remembered not just as a local inventor, but as an American visionary who enabled the modern SUV and truck industries to exist.</p>