A Short Chronological History of the Geiser Manufacturing Co.
(Page 2 of 6)
January/February 1970
W. J. Eshleman
He, like so many other men of the era, was proud to be an
American and was inspired by God and country which enabled him to
overcome his difficulties by hard labor and perseverence which
brought forth the first successful grain thresher in America, and
founded an industry which carried his name around the globe.
RELATED CONTENT
Since time and space do not permit otherwise we will list this
short history by years of important target dates in the life and
evolution of Peter Geiser and his company and those who associated
with him in the development of farm machinery and sawmills.
1848-1850- Peter Geiser built first grain thresher at Smithburg,
Md.
1852- Peter Geiser patented first grain thresher.
1854- Displayed thresher at Hagerstown Fair and won first prize
in competition with a newly built Smith thresher from New York.
Peter Geiser records that from this time many new brands entered
the field. John A. Pitts of Buffalo, New York built a machine,
which apparently performed very well, since it soon conquered the
West and was manufactured by many companies with names familiar to
us today; such as Russell Bros., Massilon, Ohio; C. Altman &
Co., Canton, Ohio; Garr & Co., Richmond, Ind. and later Jerome
I. Case Co., Racine, Wis. 1855- The Geiser Company was organized,
and entered into an agreement with Jones & Miller, Hagerstown,
Md., to manufacture Geiser threshers. Peter Geiser then went into
Ohio and Indiana, where he entered into competitive demonstrations
against the Pitts and two other threshers which he does not name.
Here, even though he was financially embarrassed, he won the award
for best performances. A firm of Musselman and Victor, now asked
for and received permission to build Geisers. This same year Samuel
Fitz at Hanover, Pa., who also had a branch at Martinsburg in what
is now West Virginia, also was franchised.
1858 - Geiser expansion was now going on in earnest and
manufacturing rights and franchises were granted to the following:
McDowel & McKee, Hagerstown, Md., J. S. Moore, Mount Jackson
Va., and George Frick, Ringold, Md. This same year George Frick
purchased two and one half acres of land in Waynesboro, Pa., at
Broad and Second Sts.
1860 - The Geiser Mfg. Co. moved to Waynesboro, Pa. on part of
the land purchased by George Frick two years before. At the same
time George Frick moved on his land beside Peter Geiser.
It is easy to see that the beginnings of both the Geiser Mfg.
Co. and Frick Co. are very closely related, and it is impossible to
give the history of one without mentioning the other, if the story
is to be correct. In his autobiography, Peter Geiser records the
advertisement of George Frick in the newspaper upon their arrival
in Waynesboro in 1860.
'The undersigned having removed his foundry and machine shop
to Waynesboro where he is better prepared to carry on his business
in all its various branches than formerly would call the attention
of persons in want of anything in his line as he is fully prepared
to make to order and on short notice, steam engines, grist and
sawmills, gearing, shafting and pulleys, iron bridges, cast iron
water wheels, iron kettles, stoves, and plow castings, also cast
and wrought iron kettles, stoves, and plow castings, also cast and
wrought iron for steam or water, and brass castings of every
description; in a word he is prepared to do everything usually done
in a foundry and a machine shop. Having supplied himself with the
latest improved machinery, such as lathes, boring, planning and
drilling machines, persons can rely upon having their work done in
the most satisfactory manner. He is also prepared to manufacture to
order machinery for wood, such as tongueing and grooving machines
for flooring, surface, tenant, moulding machines, etc. He also
manufactures 'GEISER'S PATENT SELF-REGULATING GRAIN
SEPARATORS' with latest improvements. Also the triple-geared
horsepower arranged for running on wheels. All persons in want of
these machines will give in their orders at an early date to have
them secured.'
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