Arthur E. Jensen- The Shavemaster
If you are familiar with our story, you know that our beloved father and grandfather, Arthur E. Jensen was the brilliant inventor of the Thunderbird wheel line irrigation system, the product that changed agriculture forever and of which is our namesake. But did you know that he had many other successful inventions? Such as his first patented and well-known creation- the Sunbeam Shavemaster.
A Mechanical Genius
Arthur E. Jensen was born in 1907 to Danish immigrant parents in Blackfoot, Idaho. He grew up as a bright farm boy that discovered a knack and passion for intricate mechanics. This led to him pursuing his higher education at Idaho State University, majoring in mechanical engineering. Meanwhile, he made a living by fixing items like clocks, watches, and typewriters. It didn’t take long for one of his professors to notice his gifts. This professor encouraged him to head out to Illinois to continue his education in the field of Horology- the science of measuring time and the design and construction of measuring devices. Not only did Jensen graduate university with honors, he also finished the 3 year course in less than a year! After graduation, he worked as a watchmaker and etch artist for a time, before moving to southern California to open a jewelry shop. It was during this period and place that the conception of the Sunbeam Shavemaster happened.
The brilliant design of Jensen's electric razor was inspired by sheep-shearing equipment. The world of agriculture heavily influenced many of his inventions, because of his farming background. The idea for the razor was that it would provide as close a shave as a blade would. His razor received patents in the 1930’s and he sold those patents to The Sunbeam Corporation. His invention, given the name “Shavemaster,” was the company’s first electric razor. He did receive royalties on his product, about 5 cents a piece, until 1941, but with the start of WWII, the United States government needed Sunbeam and Jensen’s engineering talents to be deterred for the war efforts.
A WWII Influence
During the war, Jensen worked on several projects for the government with a company called Western Electric. In particular, he created complex parts to add on to the famous Light Valve machine- the machine that was originally used to add sound to motion picture films. These additions converted the Light Valve into a more complex device that could be used on the vibrations of a war airplane. Another WWII invention of Jensen’s was his biometric flare fuse. The idea for his flare fuse came about when a US colonel came to Jensen saying that the army was having issues with lighting up the field at night. Apparently, their flares wouldn’t go off at the right altitude or right accuracy. So, Jensen invented a detonator made with a copper diaphragm (aneroid) that worked off of the air pressure to attain accuracy. Jensen did not serve as a soldier in the war, but he contributed by continually making the copper diaphragms for the fuse. A fun fact, he made these diaphragms out of his grandmother's garage.
The war changed things for Arthur Jensen. He had more mechanical experience under his belt, his royalties for the Sunbeam Shavemaster picked back up, and after an impressionable trip to Europe, he made the decision to leave California and buy some ground back to Idaho. In Idaho, he dived back into the farming world and he went on to create more contraptions for the agriculture industry, like one of the first chicken debeakers and the ingenious Thunderbird irrigation system we cherish. Arthur E. Jensen’s Shavemaster electric razor was made and distributed until about 1980. In fact, if you do some digging, you can still find the Shavemaster exhibited in museums, sold online, and find some fun 1970s Shavemaster commercials!
Cider Apples
Published in Neighbors of Ellensburg September 2020 issue
Written by: Maryanna Schane
Apples have stood the test of time, moving and adapting through the different regions it traveled through, finding its way across the world as trade and conquests occurred. It is said that the earliest apples were identified as early as 2000 BC in southern Kazakhstan. As apples have traveled forward in history, the varieties have evolved; terroir, cross-breeding, historical events and more have played their respective parts. You can’t have cider without apples, and you can’t have apples without history!
Colonists brought their taste for cider with them when they moved to the new world. They brought seedlings and trimmings to plant so that they may continue the tradition of cider, in some cases, cider was safer to drink than water! The seedling and trimmings evolved based on its ability to grow and adapt, thus the American apple varieties were born. These American varieties were still fairly bitter, leading us into the conversation of what kind of apples do you use for cider?
The truth of the matter is that you can ferment any kind of apple and make cider, however, the most revered apple to create cider with is the bittersweet apple. Bittersweet apples (Michelin, Harrison, Yarlington Mill, to name a few), are fondly referred to as “spitters”, they generally have low acid and high tannins. A tannin provides a bitter and/or astringent flavor that leaves the mouth feeling dry, it can provide an unparalleled complexity and depth to a cider making the drink itself more interesting.
Our farm orchard is dedicated to finding bittersweet/sharp varieties that grow exceptionally well in our terroir. The orchard itself sits on a hillside at the top of our farm in soil that is fairly dry, full of rocks and Caliche, and then add in the wind and you have a recipe for a semi volatile growing environment! This is where science and horticulture studies plays a huge role in the how we are able to cultivate these wonderful trees in our area. Grafting (taking a twig from one specimen and attaching it to a rootstock), has allowed us to take cuttings called scions from our desired tree and attach it to a new, hardier rootstock that we know flourishes in this type of environment. The majority of our varieties are grafted onto rootstock M-111, which is a hardy, semi-dwarf rootstock that will keep our trees relatively small. We then trellis and train the tree branches in the hopes it will give these trees a fighting chance against our sometimes, branch breaking winds!
With 23 different French/English/Crab varieties, and 1,000 trees and counting, it is our hope that by cultivating these special apples, we will be able to continue to elevate, educate and introduce our friends to different elements used to create cider. Join us for tasting tours in the orchard this September! For more information or to schedule a tour e-mail Maryanna@wheellinecider.com!
*Introduce children to Agriculture by scheduling a Walking Orchard/Farm tour! Tour includes a snack and craft for small homeschool groups!
Adventure is NOT Cancelled!
Published in Neighbors of Ellensburg
Written by: Maryanna Schane
Summer is a season where many of our fondest memories are born. A season full of gatherings, of sharing food, drinks and laughter with friends and family during long days and warm evenings. This time of year is generally jam packed with concerts, play dates, camps, potlucks and picnics, family vacations and so much more! However, navigating and keeping up with the latest Covid19 restrictions and guidelines have caused many of us to feel like the possibility of “fun” has been edited out of what we view as the traditional summer narrative. We are craving good ol’ social interaction without compromising those we love most, our family and our community.
We have chosen to look at the cup half full of cider instead of half empty. Our unique semi secluded setting amidst the rolling hills and waves of crops has allowed us to utilize the countryside as a haven of sorts. We have implemented many extra safety precautions to minimize the potential risk. We have locally made (Ellensburg Distillery) hand sanitizer easily accessible for all guests as well as safety guidelines and reminders posted throughout the building and around the tasting grounds. These restrictions have given us the opportunity to get creative, and really find joy in the journey of redefining summer adventure for the 2020 season.
OPT OUTSIDE!
ADVENTURE IS NOT CANCELLED, it has just leveled up in difficulty. There are many local day excursions to fill your adventure cup with and Wheel Line Cider is just one of the options! We are dedicated to creating a space for people to safely gather, within the current guidelines, so that we may begin to revisit a piece of social normalcy. Our focus has always been on highlighting the beauty of our agricultural setting, sharing our cider, exchanging stories and giving our community a quiet place to just be., and we intend to keep doing just that. This season join us for an elevated picnic experience, as we transport ourselves back in time to an era where picnics and music in the park were revered social outings! Grab your blankets and/or chairs, family, and friends (5<less), your fur babies, and pack a delicious lunch, or order something to- go from any one of our fantastic local eateries and head out to the Pocket for an afternoon filled of good ol’ fashion fun!
We are truly blessed to live in the Kittitas Valley where we are surrounded by beauty, and by opportunities to get out and explore. I encourage our community become tourists of our valley, ask questions, try new things and share your experiences with others on social media outlets by using hashtags like #myellensburg. If you take Wheel Line Cider along with you be sure to share your adventure using #ciderrally!
Channel your intrepid spirits, and opt outside! Check out MyEllensburg.com, click on the Barn Quilt Trail option, click on Denmark Area Map (D8) and follow agricultural history out to Wheel Line Cider!
Cultivating Connection
Published in Neighbors of Ellensburg
Written by: Maryanna Schane
There is more to our business than just creating crisp and flavorful hard cider. The core of what we do, our passion, is creating connection. Like a carefully fashioned cider cocktail, we are 1 part family, 1 part ag, 1 part tourism, 1 part cidery, with a splash of bittersweet apples, shake it up, pour it in a glass and garnish it with community support and we have the perfectly crafted recipe for cultivating connection!
It is our belief that the perfect pairing for any beverage, is an experience that creates a lasting impression! Whether your immersed in the grandeur of the countryside, enjoying a picnic lunch with a crisp, cold cider with us at out at our family farm, or gathering with friends and loved ones (once stay at home order & social distancing bands are lifted of course!) and exchanging hugs, laughs, and cheers while playing games and meals. Memories in turn end up being the stories we share and the nostalgia we feel when we experience a certain place, smell, activity or taste.
Some of my most cherished memories come from time spent with my family! From cooking and crafting, to enjoying laughter rich meals, with kids running everywhere while adults socialize over delicious beverages! These sometimes, small moments are what we hold onto especially during times of uncertainty! Staying home doesn’t mean disconnect, it simply means adapt new ways to stay connected. Historically people gather over food and drink, and although we may not be permitted to physically gather right now, but we have access to virtual options allowing us to be communicate, create, laugh and cook together!
If getting creative in the kitchen resonates with you, we encourage and challenge you to explore fresh ingredients from local farmers when planning your next meal! Get your friends and family involved and create a local shopping list of ingredients produced or offered by farmers/ranchers/specialty stores like Colockum Hillside Farm, Green Bow Farm, Owen’s Meats, Glondos Sausage, Daily Bread & Mercantile (to name a few) or even visit the Ellensburg Farmers Market website for more local vendors/market news. Items like veggies, plant starts, eggs, meat, baking ingredients, craft beverages (WHEEL LINE CIDER J, Taneum Creek Brewing, Mule & Elk Brewing, Whipsaw, Ellensburg Distillery), and so much more, can be found locally. We are blessed to live in a community with SO many wonderful local businesses who are working tirelessly to navigate and create ways to serve our community and we are grateful for them!
At the end of the day we are all in this together, even if we are apart! Please feel free to contact us with any way we can help support you, and other community members during this time! Sending love and well wishes from our family to yours!
Submit/Share your creative cider recipe/pairing/cocktail/craft to Maryanna at Maryanna@wheellinecider.com by June 8, 2020 for a chance to be featured in our next article in Neighbors of Ellensburg as well as our website!
Wheel Line Cider
About Us as seen in Neighbors of Ellensburg Publication
Written by: Maryanna Schane
Kittitas Valley is a blanket of farms and agricultural based, family run businesses. For over twenty years our family has been farming mostly Timothy & Alfalfa hay with rotational crops in the Upper Badger Pocket area. Seven years ago, 8 acres were set aside to plant bittersweet heritage apples, and thus the inception of Wheel Line Cider! As seasoned travelers, we’ve discovered a wide range of ciders, and fallen in love with the complex flavors that a fermented apple can possess. Each apple varietal reflecting the earth, sun and water of the region providing each cider with a distinctive flavor profile.
Driven by its own rich history’s in brewing, agriculture, and hospitality, Wheel Line Cider draws inspiration from each branch to cultivate a unique, multifaceted experience that will inspire you to slow down, and connect. Our cider barn sits on a hillside overlooking rolling farmlands, with beautiful views of the Kittitas Valley and Steward Mountains in the distance. The barn that once was bursting with farm tools, equipment, and parts has since been cleaned out and given a new purpose. The building is infused with bits and pieces of history, and outfitted with all of the fermentation essentials, drains, glycol tanks, a mill and press. As you enter through the large barn doors, you will notice three large wheels have been repurposed into light fixtures and hung as a homage to the buildings former purpose and our familial ties to the innovation of linear moving irrigation, Wheel Lines. A Normal Rockwell painting also hangs front and center and is a cheerful scene of men playing cards enjoying Schmidt Beer. The painting was commissioned as part of an ad campaign for Near Beer by Schmidt Brewing Co. during Prohibition and serves as a reminder of our heritage and the importance of perseverance and a good craft beverage!
Much like the Farm to Table movement, our cider creations encompass a root to glass journey. We have a small onsite orchard dedicated to the revival of old French and English heirloom varietal apples such as, Micheline, Tremlett Bitter, Nehou and more. In the interim, as we wait for our orchard to mature and produce, we source apples from Washington State growers, some as local as Kukes Farm just down the road from us, off of 4th parallel. The entire cider production process is carried out onsite in the cider barn. We mill and press all of the apples ourselves, the fresh juice is then pumped directly from our press into the tanks to undergo fermentation. After the cider has finished its ferment it is either kegged and bottled from the tanks, or is transferred into wooden barrels, where the cider will undergo a closely monitored aging process.
The grounds that surround the barn have a mixture of both contemporary and tranquil design elements that meld together to create an unmatched rural ambience for everyone to enjoy. From our large custom rebar trees, and fully refurbished 1970’s airstream, that servers as our mobile tasting room, equipped with 4 taps, to our terraced flagstone patio complete with bocce ball and a kid play area. It’s a home away from home, where friends and family can gather and relax in our apple crate lounge chairs or withered teak tables and listened to the hum of tractors, the rhythmic beat of the sprinklers, or the gentle breeze as it blows through the trees and creates whimsical waves of crops.
The combination of onsite production, storytelling and landscape give a sense of wonderment to our agricultural destination! Our focus is cultivating connection through cider and experience. We encourage our friends to pack a picnic or snacks to enjoy while you are visiting us! Our calendar of events is constantly changing as we fill the days with crafts, music and more, for an up-to-date list of activities please visit our website at www.wheellinecider.com!
We welcome you to celebrate agriculture with us, relish in the beauty and magic of the country side, and pop open a crisp slow cider with friends and family!
Uncovering Our Roots!
Our agricultural and brewing roots run deep. Our tie to agriculture is much more apparent than our ties to the brewing world, but both are equally as important to our narrative, how we came to be and who we pay homage to! It is with great pride and pleasure that I write a condensed family history highlighting inspirational stories behind the inception of Wheel Line Cider.
Skoal,
Maryanna
Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company- “The Brew that Grew with the Great Northwest”-
Jacob Schmidt (1846-1910), the founder of the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company is my great, great grandfather. He arrived in the United States from Muffersdorf, Bavaria (now part of Czechoslovakia) as a passenger on the ship Atlanta when he was 19 years old. He befriended Theodore Hamm and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1865 as Hamm’s brew master. He eventually branched off to become the owner of North Star Brewing Co. in 1884. North Star Brewing was successful, but the brewery burned down, causing Schmidt to find a new location. In 1900 Jacob Schmidt purchased the old Stahlmans Cave Brewery, and continued to build his beer legacy. When Jacob Schmidt passed away in 1910, he left the brewery operations to his son in law, Adolf Bremer (1869-1939) and Adolfs brother, Otto Bremer (1867-1965). Schmidt beer would successfully continue brewing operations (even survive prohibition) in this location until selling in 1954 to Pfeiffer Brewing.
The old Stahlmann Brewery contained caves in which Schmidt and his team continued to excavate, even though “laggering” caves were being replaced by mechanical refrigeration. The elaborate cave and passage system would serve another purpose aside from cellars in the years to come.
National Prohibition (1920-1933) caused production and sales of alcoholic beverages to cease. However, this minor inconvenience didn’t stop Schmidt Brewing, they simply adapted and created non-alcoholic beverages or “near beers” such as Malta and City Club. Rumor is that Schmidt Brewing continued to produce real beer and utilized the underground caves and secret tunnels below the brewery to move beer from the brewery to ships docked on the Mississippi River below for quiet distribution. It is also rumored that beer was delivered to the back porches of prominent families as well as various speak-easy locations.
After Prohibition, Schmidt’s Brewing was up and ready to begin beer production immediately. They re-released the City Club beer with the slogan “Tops in any Town” and was met with huge success. Unfortunately, the attention the Bremer family received resulted in the kidnapping, for ransom, of Edward G. Bremer (1897-1965) by the Barker-Karpis gang in January of 1934. Luckily for Edward, he was released a month later to the tune of $200,000 in FBI marked bills that have yet to surface.
The iconic painting featured in the photo at the top of the page was created by illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894-1978). In 1930, Rockwell was hired by Schmidt Brewing Company to create an ad for their, at the time non-alcoholic Schmidt’s City Club Beer, which after Prohibition became a golden lager.
By 1936 Schmidt Brewing had become the 7thlargest brewery in the country! City Club beer began to fade into the background, and in 1954 the Bremer family sold Schmidt Brewing Company to Pfeiffer Brewing Co.
Our family prides itself on its strong historical and familial ties with brewing and alcohol, and even though we have now shifted into the fermentation world of Cider, we’re committed to continue to “Grow with the Great (Pacific) Northwest”. Schmidt Brewing Company (1900-1954) will always have a special place in our hearts and act as a model of perseverance, and innovation.