Miller Electric began its 75th anniversary celebration in December 2003.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Appleton, Wis., began its 75th anniversary celebration in December 2003 with the delivery of a motorcycle it commissioned Orange County Choppers (OCC) to design and build.

Miller is a manufacturer of arc welding equipment and related systems. It employs approximately 1,200 people in Wisconsin. The company started in 1929 in the basement of Niels Miller's Appleton home when he recognized the need for a small, affordable arc welder that would operate on the type of electricity available in rural Wisconsin.

To officially turn over the Miller chopper, OCC owner Paul Teutul Sr. and chief designer and fabricator Paul Teutul Jr. visited Miller's Appleton headquarters and signed autographs for company employees and their families. They also toured the manufacturing facility as part of filming for a cable TV show seen by millions of viewers each week. An episode airing in early February chronicles the building of the Miller chopper.

Beginning January 8, a special Web site, www.MillerWelds.com/75years, will go live with detailed information on the chopper, Miller's history and customer appreciation events.