c. 1920s

Perfection Brand Shipping Crate

John B. Franke established the Wayne Biscuit Company in 1901, producing Perfection Wafers (P.W. Crackers) and later bread, cakes and cookies. In 1923 it became the first bakery in Indiana to offer wrapped bread. By the mid 1950s the cookie and cracker lines were phased out. Since 1957 the iconic animated sign, featuring slices of bread falling fresh from the loaf, has been a landmark in downtown Fort Wayne. The aroma of baking bread continues to waft over the city today since Perfection Bakeries began making Sunbeam Bread in 1946 and Aunt Millie's in the 1990s. Perfection Bakeries changed its name to Aunt Millie's Bakeries in 2005. Pictured is a hand holding PW cracker with the motto: "Quality our Specialty."