Santa Fe Machine Works Founder
Our founder
1922
Our founder, Stephan Wagner, was an accomplished engineer and machinist. After emigrating from Poland to the United States, Stephan moved his family from Wisconsin to California where in 1922, along with a partner, opened Santa Fe Machine Works.
Our company name originates from our first machine shop on Santa Fe Avenue in the heart of Los Angeles.
1929-1939
The Great Depression of 1929 through 1939 could have brought a swift end to this family-owned business, but Santa Fe Machine Works survived, as they always have – by putting their employees first.
Rather than letting go of his workers during difficult times, Stephan created a contract-to-contract system to keep his staff working. Employees could wait in the parking lot until an order came through and clocked out when work was completed. This eliminated costly downtime.
Stephan Wagner never took a paycheck during this time to ensure that his employees were paid first.
1945
Being both a machinist and an engineer, Stephan persisted in furthering Santa Fe Machine Works’ capacities.
He designed and built state-of-the-art planing, woodworking, and boring machines that were used until they were sold after the Great Depression to make room for continued expansion.
After World War 2, both of Stephan and Anna Wagner’s son-in-laws joined the family business. Vincent Lazicki, an egg salesman and Tony Brodnick, a Machinist’s Mate on the USS Arizona joined the family business to become expert machinists for the company.
1955-1968
Stephan Wagner passed away the year before Santa Fe Machine Works was forced to move in 1955 due to the construction of the Santa Monica (10) freeway. The new location was in the city of Vernon, a small industrial town east of Los Angeles. This expanded their space to 5,000 square feet to accommodate additional equipment and a staff of skilled workers, trained to handle the demands of a busy repair shop with a stellar reputation.
By 1968, Tony Brodnick’s son-in-law, Dennis Kelly joined the team.
When Vincent retired, Tony bought his portion of the business and turned the operations of Santa Fe Machine Works over to Dennis. Under his careful eye, the company grew to 30,000 square feet with over 80 employees turning parts.
1982-1993
Dennis and Patye Kelly bought the company when Tony retired in 1982. Until that time, Santa Fe Machine Works had enjoyed a reputation as a respected repair shop for manufacturers. However, Dennis was ready to move the company forward and began creating injection molding screws for the plastics industry as a compliment to their existing repair business.
This venture into the plastics manufacturing industry proved to be a boon for Santa Fe Machine Works and our customers. Manufacturing has always been our company’s blood. Producing injection and extrusion screws, repairing parts, and supplying tips and barrels became our excellence and it paved the way for a fourth generation to further our family business.
In 1982, Dennis and Patye’s oldest son, Todd began working part-time at Santa Fe Machine Works. He was only 13 years old at the time, but Todd loved working at the shop and soon became our most valued machinist. Todd eventually took over our plastic injection and extrusion screw production.
By 1993, Dennis and Patye’s younger son, Scott was brought into the family business as Dennis knew Scott’s excellence was in sales.
2017
In 2017, then Representative Norma J. Torres visited four Fontana businesses that have helped create numerous manufacturing jobs, including Santa Fe Machine Works, Inc.
“Most people don’t think of the Inland Empire when they think of manufacturing, yet local manufacturers continue to fuel the region’s economy and produce goods used across the globe in nearly every sector,” said Torres. “My ‘Made in the 35th’ tour highlights the local businesses that are innovating and creating jobs for local residents as well as the issues impacting the future of our local manufacturing economy.”
Read the article here>
2017
More from the 2017 “Made in the 35th” tour by then Representative, Norma J. Torres, 35th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives.
Read the article here>
2017
On August 8th, 2017 Santa Fe Machine Works, Inc. was awarded U.S. Congressional Special Recognition for Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing by then Congresswoman Norma J. Torres, 35th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives.
2018
In 2018, Santa Fe Machine Works, Inc. was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the State of California for our small business’s contributions to the state and local community.
2019
In 2019, Julie Kelly was seated as Chairwoman for the Fontana Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Fe Machine Works, Inc.
A Family Tradition of Excellence Since 1923
