Whatz it wrench

[Ken W.]

I found this in the basement at an estate sale. It's marked " 1036A " and has an M in a circle. The open end measures 9/16" and thew box is 1". The wrench is 6 3/8 " long. It still has some flashing on the wrench. Any ideas ?

[Neals]

Rathbone lists it as Philadelphia Lawn Mower co. circa 1894 to 1900.

[Ken W.]

Cool.Thank You Neals. Did they have a pic of the lawn mower ?

[amertrac]

I may be mistaken it was a long time ago but i think philadelphia mower made commercial reel , drag type mowers for golf course and large estates.  bob w.

[Bus]

I don't have a picture of a mower but here a some pictures of the wrenches for Pennsylvania Lawn Works wrenches from a 1932 parts list that was printed in the Dec. 2000 Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter.

I don't know if the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works and the Philadelphia Lawn Mower Co. were the same company or just what the connection if any.

Note that the list shows three variations of the 1036A wrench.

[rusty]

The Pennsylvania Lawnmower >works< was the work of John Braun, maker of carpet looms, and was initially only a minor sideline to that manufacturing business. It was later split off and aquired it's name (1877) . The remainder of the works would eventually become part of the gigantic  American Wood Working Machine Co. (See OWWM)

The 'Pennsylvania Lawnmower company', and the 'Pennsylvania Lawnmower manufacturing company', were listed in incorporation records  in 1916 (These 2 are likely the same co)

The "Enclycopedia of Pennsylvania Biographies", in the entry for John Braun, states that his lawn mower company was incorporated in 1916 as "The Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works"

So, tho weak, I'm leaning toward them being the same company....

This is also the same Braun that made food choppers, coffee mills etc...(Braun Co/Coles Mfg)

EDIT: I see the picture is for the wrong company *duh*

[Bus]

Rusty,
So you think the The Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, the "Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Co.,  the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Mfg. Co. and the Philadelphia Lawn Mower Co. were the same company?

[rusty]

The Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works is listed at North 32 st. until they moved to Primos,PA in 1931

The Philadelphia Lawnmower company is consistantly listed as being on Chestnut St, (3100 block)
Also, the company lists it's name with 'Inc' at least as early as 1907, (Ad's claim founded 1869) so I think the Philadelphia lawnmower company at least, is a different entity.

1877 American Agriculturist claims "Philadelphia" brand lawnmower is made by Graham, Emlen & Passmore, Philadelphia.
 which takes me to:
(John W Graham, Other son listed president Phil. Lawnmower Co - )Encyclopedia of genealogy... - 1921 - so yes, it's a different company

--
As to the first 3, I would be happier if I could find something more concrete than a Bio, Bio's are notorious for just the kind of error I don't want to make (getting company names wrong)

[rusty]

Pennsylvania Lawnmower Works Pictures...
(The Trio was advertised for golf courses etc)

[Bus]

Rusty,
According to your sources the Philadelphia Lawn Mower Company is consistently listed as being on Chestnut St, (3100 block) in Philadelphia. I found an address for the Philadelphia Lawn Mower Co. of 31st and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia in the AMERICAN ARTISAN AND HARDWARE RECORD of  April 10 1920. Would this be the same or at least close to the same address?

I have some old notes I saved when trying to sort out the two companies history a few years ago and I found this info from:  http://pennock.ws/surnames/nti/nti60566.html (link not good now)

"It is the best evidence in the world of Mr. Supplee's energetic nature that the Supplee Hardware Company does the largest business, of any wholesale hardware house this side of Chicago . . .

His firm employs fifty salesmen, and has nearly two hundred workmen in all. It controls the production of the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, which is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country."

Rathbone pictures the 1036A wrench which is a known Philadelphia Lawn Mower Co wrench under Pennsylvania Lawn Mower. I don't know if he was guessing or has a good source. He also shows a parts list picture of  two other wrenches (D389 and M50) that haven't been found in Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Parts Lists. He also states that the last listing in Philadelphia city directories for the Philadelphia Lawn Mower Company is 1900.

Anybody have any thoughts?

[rusty]

>31st and Chestnut Streets

From google maps, South 31'st street intersects Chestnut street on the corner of the block with street address 3107, so yes.

>controls the production of the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works
I lost the reference, but the same article that mentions William W. Supplee's retirement, mentions that Supplee has exclusive rights to distribute the Pennsylvania Lawnmowers, foreign and domestic...

Interestingly, there are 3 issues of Hardware Dealers magazine that have advertisments for both companies side by side. This alone makes me wonder, why advertise both if they were the same company? Farm Implimenty News (#27) also lists both companies in the same index's at the same time.

> last listing in Philadelphia city directories ...1900

They are in Phil at least until 1916, Coal Age mentions them in a contract award, and lists the 31st & Chestnut address.
Seed Trade buyers guide lists them only as in Philadelphia (1936)

However, I find nothing after that date..

A 1949 reference mentions that the 'PHILADELPHIA COLONIAL' is made by  Coldwell-Philadelphia Lawn Mower Co., Newburgh, NY. So, perhaps they were gobbled up... (Coldwell lawnmower goes back to 1891)
(Coldwell- Philadelphia was bought by Toro - 1950)

For the other company, Hardware Age #157
Sometime before 1957 : Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Div American Chain & Cable Co

Not entirely difinitive, is it...

[Ken W.]

And to think that some poor sap has one of these mowers in their barn with no wrench. ;)