A. W. GRAY & SONS
(Page 2 of 3)
January/February 1979
Dan Steinhoff
Paralleling this expansion period, the Grays became involved in
a Spa-type resort hotel business (note the hotel in background of
advertisement). In 1870 a spring flood uncovered a mineral spring
on the Gray property whose waters had medicinal qualities. It seems
the Indians knew and used this spring until a previous flood
covered it over, then the later flood re-opened it. At the time
when springs or spas of this type were fashionable, a company was
formed for bottling the water and a hotel built for the vacation at
a mineral spring or spa-type trade. This was a boon to Middletown
Springs, in the number employed by the hotel and the demand for
fresh meats, vegetables and fruits for this high class trade;
however, the fad ran its course and the hotel was dismantled in
1900.
RELATED CONTENT
A Worthington Ingersol Rand cooler engine.''...
The Rollag Reunion had stack threshing''...
Several old steam threshing engines''...
Aultman-Taylor outfit''...
Aultman-Taylor outfit''...
About this time the Grays acquired the previously mentioned
Ruggles Foundry. Along with this acquisition came all the patterns
and rights to the Ruggles gas engine and the company now added the
then so-called 'new fangled gas engine' to its line. This
explains why the two engines are identical except for name.
A silo filling crew, about 1910, a Gray 2 HP Ohio ensilage
cutter it looks like they are waiting for someone to bring the belt
and a load of corn. Advertisement on barn is for Story-Clark
organs.
The last of the 19th and the early years of the 20th centuries
produced many changes in the farm machinery manufacturing industry.
Perhaps the Gray Company did not heed the words of Horace Greeley
who served a printing apprenticeship in Poultney, Vermont. The
western manufacturers were expanding, J. I. Case, who set out and
did become the threshing machine King, Cyrus McCormack and his
International Company and John Deere who came from Rutland,
Vermont, twenty miles from Middletown Springs, had become so big,
the small eastern farm machinery manufacturers could not compete.
They either went out of business or were bought in by the larger
manufacturers. So in 1917, A. W. Gray and Sons closed up shop. It
appears it was not a financial failure. It was a family made
decision that closed down this family-owned and operated
business.
Why research this old company? A couple of years ago I acquired
a Gray threshing machine. It was used by one owner and always kept
under cover. After a thorough cleaning and a coat of linseed oil,
the original red color, (more on color later), and striping
reappeared. At our annual show in 1977 and '78 we put both rye
and wheat through with good results. Also to my surprise, while
visiting the Jensen Historical Farm and Museum operated by the Utah
State University at Logan, Utah, (a visit is highly recommended). I
saw a perfectly restored, as called in the west, separator made by
A. W. Gray & Sons, Middletown, Vermont, on exhibit in the
museum. As this town is about 70 miles from home, I decided then
and there to dig into the background of the company.