There were several related "Merritt" companies located in Lockport, NY. Our highly speculative ordering is as follows.
- I. E. Merritt Machinery Co., 1880s.
- Merritt Manufacturing Co., 1890s-1900s.
- Merritt Engineering & Sales Co., 1920s-1930s.
- Merritt-Monsanto Corp., 1940s.
- Merritt-Solem Corp., 1950s.
Sometime before 1953, Merritt-Monsanto was bought out by
Solem Machine Co. of Rockford, IL, and operated as a separate subsidiary, Merritt-Solem Corp. of Lockport.
Information Sources
- 1889 ad for I. E. Merritt Machinery Co. "Improved stave, heading & shingle machines...Improved gage lathe...The Ober lathe...Improved veneer machine, the standard for fruit packages, basket work, &c. Automatic sawing machines, veneer cutting machines, Bailey's handle and nulling gauge lathes, milling and mortising machines, key seat cutting machines, pulley boring machines, gear cutting machines, etc., etc."
- Louis G. Merritt of Lockport, NY was granted 1893-1907 lathe and veneer machinery patents.
- According to patent records, it appears that by 1932, Merritt Manufacturing Co. had been succeeded by Merritt Engineering & Sales Co., which was in turn succeeded by Merritt-Monsanto Corp.
- Ad for used gauge lathe in 1917 catalog.
- An ad in a 1920 issue of The Wood-Worker lists a used dowel machine from this company.
- Ad in 1955-56 Hitchcock's Wood Workers' Digest Directory, which says, "Established 1851" and "Successors to: Merritt Mfg. Co., Merritt Eng. & Sales Co., Inc., Merritt-Monsanto Corp."