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History of Innovation
Born October 19th 1899,
Founder Francis Arthur Wittern grew up on his
family farm in Cushing Iowa. Pursuing an engineering education he
quickly developed a penchant for designing mechanical devices. At the age of 16 he developed his first
practical patent for an underwater magnet mine. In the 1920's he worked as a private
contract engineer for a number of companies designing everything from very
popular gaming devices to household items, to agricultural safety devices
before becoming interested in the coin machine industry. To his credit he was granted over 80
patents during the course of his life.
In 1931 with an original investment of $12.50 for used tools and plenty of
ambition, F.A. started his own company, Hawkeye Novelty, named after the
state of Iowa.
The first machine was a penny peanut dispenser that had a special
innovation that was new for its time. Every ninth vend a bell would ring
and delivered a free portion.
Hawkeye was successful in the following years, manufacturing peanut
vending machines, match box dispensers and other small vending
devices. During the second world
war, Hawkeye manufactured juvenile furniture, magazine racks and other wood
based products and returning to peanut vending machines and bumper pool type
novelty games after its end.
In 1947 Hawkeye Novelty became FAWN.
The trade name was derived from Mr. Wittern's
initials. F. A. W., and the N from
the last letter of Wittern, thus Fawn. Manufactured products also changed and
the production of cigarette dispensers marked the starting point for real
growth in the years to follow. From
cigarette vending machines, FAWN's products expanded to popcorn vending
machines, snack machines, hot and cold beverage vending machines, cold and
frozen food, as well as many different non-traditional merchandising
equipment variations.
Now
in its second generation of family ownership and transitioning to its
third, the company has grown with the industry and with the hard work and
dedication of our employees FAWN has evolved from a single entity to a
successful and diverse group of companies under the Wittern
umbrella.
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