The two cities, separated only by a railroad, were small: Michelstadt was the larger, with 1,500 people, and Steinbach, home of the Walthers, had 700 residents.

Their father considered the request carefully and then decided that the two boys could go to America to live with his brother Jacob in Dayton, Ohio.

Their early training as apprentice molders and pattern makers in the German foundry that made wheels for mine cars helped them find jobs.

Walther's private "co-oping" took him into iron and steel foundries in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

The melter was protected by an asbestos suit and gloves as he had to stand right over the intense heat to carefully grab the crucibles with tongs without breaking them.

Convinced that the infant automobile industry had a good future, Walther and his brother concentrated on small steel castings for passenger cars, many of which were manufactured in Indianapolis and a few in Dayton.

As demand for Dayton Steel Truck Wheels increased, a second electric furnace was installed in 1918 and a third in 1922.

Sales began to climb and soon Walther was spending most of his time traveling around the country selling castings for passenger cars.

Walther heard that the White Motor Company was looking at a cast steel wheel that had been made in Belgium.

Existing wheels with either 6 or 8 wooden or solid steel spokes would break from either the weight of the cargo or from jarring from bumps in uneven roads.

[10] The Walther 7 spoke wheel became the standard for the Army's famous Class B quartermaster Liberty trucks and Government four-wheel trailers.

The Liberty Truck was designed by the Motor Transport section of the Quartermaster Corps in cooperation with the members of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Production of the 3–5 ton truck began in 1917, and the first models appeared ten weeks after the design was standardized.

At this time that the Walther brothers began to see the vision of the future for the Dayton Steel Foundry - truck wheels.

Walther authorized a series of advertisements in major magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post to promote the Dayton Steel Truck Wheel.

To recognize this market leadership, Walther announced a contest for truck drivers and fleet owners for the best suggestions and ideas for reducing operating costs in motor transportation.

[11] Companies that used and stayed with the Dayton Steel Wheels included: White Motors, Mack, Federal, Brockway, Pierce-Arrow, Garford, American-LaFrance, Trailmobile, Fruehauf Trailer, GMC and many others.

Soon after the war ended, troubles developed on solid rubber tires on commercial vehicles traveling at higher speeds.

Walther new design allowed plenty of room for the brake drum and made for much simpler casting and machining.

To the truck owner and operator, Walther's new wheel meant easier handling in mounting and dismounting rims and tires.

[13] Walther's initial cast steel wheel designed for solid rubber tires lasted for about 10 years.

In 1930, Dayton Steel Foundry began commercial production of brake drums based upon Walther's improvements on existing designs.

[14][15] Dissatisfaction with the cast irons then being used for brake drums prompted Walther and his staff to experiment with other materials better suited for the heavier loads and increased speeds of modern trucks.

This research program, under Walther's direct supervision, produced a custom-built material which, for the lack of a better name, the company designated "Brake Drum Iron".

Walther started working on the design and engineering of fifth wheels and landing legs for semi-trailer trucks.

In the 1970s, the Dayton Steel Foundry was one of the largest manufacturers of steel truck wheels in the world, with manufacturing operations at multiple USA sites plus four other countries (Canada, France, England, Mexico) – and licensing agreements with companies in three more countries (Spain, Brazil, Columbia).

For a number of years Walther served as an Associate Member of the Lay Board of Trustees for the University of Dayton.

They had 12 children: Elizabeth, George Jr., John, James, Gretchen, Jacob, David, Mary Jane, Daniel, William, Richard and Fredrick.

At its 108th commencement exercises in June 1958, the University of Dayton awarded Walther an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.

Andrew Seeboldt President of the University, praised Walther for his many and varied contributions to industry, country, and community.