In 1894 the Specialty Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut was manufacturing various items for the hardware trade, including Capewell's patent nail pullers and tack pullers; inventor George J. Capewell was company president. In that year they changed their name to American Specialty Co., apparently to avoid confusion with a similarly named business. For reasons unknown the renamed firm sometimes used the name American Specialty Manufacturing Co. as well. There were, in fact, companies of the same name for all three of these names, and you must always confirm the location as well as the name to be sure it's the right business. There was an American Specialty Co. of Bridgeport, Conn., with a very similar product line, and we do not know whether that enterprise was related to the Hartford incarnation.

In the late 1890s the American Specialty Co. also manufactured items for the over-saturated bicycle market, including wire spokes. It's not clear whether financial difficulties precipitated the change, but in 1901 the Henry & Wright Manufacturing Co. was formed to take over the business of the American Specialty Co. The principals of Henry & Wright were Robert G. Henry and Daniel M. Wright. They continued the lines of hardware specialties and soon began manufacturing metalworking drill presses.

Henry & Wright designed and brought to market a bench-top die filing machine, but in 1907 the Robinson Tool Works of Hartford was established to take over manufacture of that product. That same year Messrs. Henry and Wright were involved in another startup business, the Globe Screw Co., which was established to produce wood screws using a roll-and-cut thread-making process patented by company co-founder William G. Allen. Henry would be co-inventor on a subsequent patent that described the screw machines in more detail.

From 1922-12-07 American Machinist

Over the years, Henry & Wright's lineup of drilling machinery expanded, particularly in multi-spindle machines that were widely used in automotive production. A century later the company is still in business, making power presses.

Information Sources

• December 1894 Hardware Dealer, page 420, has a display ad from The American Specialty Co., Hartford, Conn., manufacturers of the "Black Hawk Nail Puller". Visible in the illustration of the nail puller is "G. J. Capewell's patent". On page 56 of the same volume:

  The American Specialty Company—The trade are hereby advised that the Specialty Mfg. Co., of Hartford, Conn., will hereafter be known as the American Specialty Co. This change in title is made for the purpose of avoiding confusion with another concern having a similar title. There has been no change in the officers or directors of the Company, which will continue to manufacture their large line of tack and nail pullers, and other excellent specialties, favorably known to the trade.

• May 1895 House Furnishing Review, page 184, has an illustrated writeup of tack pullers from American Specialty Co., Hartford, Conn.
• 1896 Geer's Hartford City Directory lists "American Specialty Co. / 135 Sheldon" under Manufacturers. Charles Flint is listed as treasurer and secretary of that concern. On page 722 is listed corporations, including "American Specialty Company / Incorporated 1894. Capital $100,000. 135 Sheldon st. Geo. J. Capewell, Pres't. C. E. Billings, V. Pr. Charles Flint, Sec'y and Treas. / Directors, G. J. Capewell, A. W. C. Williams, J. H. Knight, John W. Hall, E. C. Lewis, Charles Flint, C. E. Billings. Annual meeting in January."
• 1896 The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer lists, page 1827, "American Specialty Co., Hartford. Capital, $50,000. Org. 1894. George J. Capewell, Pres. Charles Flint, Treas. Tacks and pulleys." On page 303 their address is given: 303 Main, Hartford.
• 1899 Seeger and Guernsey's Cyclopædia of the Manufactures and Products of the United States: New York, lists American Specialty Co., Hartford, Conn., under the categories of Knife Sharpeners, Nail Pullers & Box Openers, Tack Claws, Bicycle & Tricycle Sundries, Bicycle Spokes, and Patent Buttons. It is notable that American Specialty Co. of Bridgeport, Conn., is listed under some of the same categories.
• 1901-12-12 The Iron Age.

  Henry & Wright Mfg. Company.
  The Henry & Wright Mfg. Company, composed of R. G. Henry, formerly superintendent, and D. M. Wright, formerly secretary and treasurer of the American Specialty Mfg. Company, have succeeded the latter concern, and will continue business at 132 Sheldon street, Hartford, Conn., manufacturing Sheet Metal Blanks and Dies and Tools for same, light machinery and novelties under contract. They already manufacture a line of Hardware Specialties, including the Columbia and Twentieth Century Tack Pullers, and are preparing to bring out a line of Pruning Shears consisting of about 12 different styles.

• 1903 Geer's Hartford City Directory lists "Henry & Wright Mfg. Co. / 133 Sheldon" under the categories of Dies, Inventions, Machinists, Manufacturers, Models, and Sheet Metal Workers.
• May 1907 The Open Shop lists attendees at the Annual Convention of the National Metal Trades Association, including three people representing "The Henry & Wright Mfg. Co., Hartford, Conn.": R. G. Henry, D. W. Wright, and Clifton T. Henry.
• 1907-09-10 Hardware.

  Hartford, Conn.—The Globe Screw Company has filed a certificate of incorporation. The authorized capital stock is $5,000. The incorporators are Robert G. Henry, William G. Allen and Daniel M. Wright, all of this city. Mr. Henry is the president and Mr. Wright, secretary and treasurer, of the Henry & Wright Manufacturing Company.

• This firm's two-spindle class "K" drilling machine was featured in the September 1917 issue of Boston Blue Bulletin from machinery distributor Hill, Clarke & Co.