Bahrs Die& Stamping Co., Inc. had its beginnings as Bahrs Tool Shop, which was founded by John and Erna Bahrs. Mr. Bahrs was a tool maker, who had learned his trade in Germany. He immigrated to the United States in the late 1920’s. He started in a garage on Davis Lane of Airport Road in the East End.Mr. Bahrs moved his shop in 1941 to a building that he built on Bank Avenue in St. Bernard. At that time George Klapper came to work at Bahrs Die Shop as an apprentice toolmaker. Bahrs was making tools, dies and did machining for the war effort.
Mr. Bahrs’ nephew, Harold Sterneberg returned from service in the Navy and went to work for Bahrs in 1945. George Klapper returned from service in the Air Corps in 1946 and went back to work making tools and dies at Bahrs.
It was at that time after WWII that Bahrs Tool Shop got into the business of stamping transformer mounting hardware for the transformer industry. The company made tools and did stamping for companies such as Formica, Mercury Instrument and Nutone in the Cincinnati area. The company also manufactured stampings for national corporations such as RCA and Magnavox.
The company was growing and in 1957 Bahrs was formed and Harold and George were made part of the corporation. As time went on and after many additions the company outgrew the Bank avenue facility, so it was time to move forward with a new building.
Two acres of land were acquired on Rossplain Road, north of Cincinnati in Sycamore Township. A 24,000 square foot building was constructed in 1971-72 and Bahrs moved to its new home in August of 1972. the building had an addition added in 1990 increasing the square footage to 30,400 square feet.
Bahrs is now in its third generation of management with the addition of John, Mike and Tim. The tradition of quality and service to our customers continues into the future.