This company was founded in 1882 in Lanark, Scotland, by William Black, Sr. The five Black brothers immigrated to Chicago, IL, in 1884, and re-established the business there. The company name was Black Bros. Machinery Co.
In 1889 the company introduced a patented molding sander—a flap sander.
In 1900 the company relocated 90 miles southwest to Mendota, IL, to be closer to the woodworking factories in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. After 1900 their product line started to specialize in veneer-related machinery, glue spreaders, and clamp carriers.
In 1920 the company was renamed to Black Bros. Manufacturing Co. That same year the company purchased the John T. Towsley Manufacturing Co.'s glue spreader and glue heater product line. At the time, Black Bros. had 50 employees.
The current company president is a fifth-generation Black: Matthew Black Carroll.
Information Sources
- The company history is taken from a very nice timeline at the Black Bros. Co. website.