This firm was established in 1897 as Parten Brothers. In 1901 Charles Blomstrom joined with one of the brothers, Gustave A. Parten, and the firm became Parten & Blomstrom. Sometime between 1907 and 1912 the name changed to Parten-Blomstrom Manufacturing Co.. We do not have any information on the activities of the business in their early years, but in the 1920s they made multi-spindle carving machines and gas engines. Gustave Parten was granted a patent for a carving machine in 1933; since we have seen several surviving machines they must have survived for at least a few years after that date.
Information Sources
- Little Sketches of Big Folks, Minnesota 1907, 1907, has the following entries:
BLOMSTROM Charles, Minneapolis. Res 3405 Oakland av, office 249 6th av S. Machinist. Born Mar 9, 1869 in Sweden, son of Renol and Annie (Venerstrom) Blomstrom. Married 1894 to Matilda Sutherland. Educated in the common schools of Sweden. Came to U S 1887 and was employed as a machinist in Mich until 1890; moved to Minneapolis; in same trade 1890-1901: in business as Parten & Blomstrom Minneapolis 1901 to date.
PARTEN Gustuv A, Minneapolis. Res 2831 Bloomington av, office 249 iith av S. Machinist. Born Mar 2, 1872 in Sweden, son of Rathnusen and Mary (Jacobson) Parten. Married 1899 to Anna Anderson. Educated in the common schools of Sweden. Came to U S and worked as engineer and machinist in Bessemer Mich 188495; worked in Minneapolis 1895-97; in business as Parten Bros 1897-1901; Parten & Blomstrom 1901 to date.
- A 1912 University of Minnesota Alumni Directory mentions "Parten-Blomstrom Mfg. Co."
- The 1928 edition of "Engineers": Listing the Engineers of Corporations with Their Official Duties and Connections lists this firm: "PARTEN BLOMSTROM MFG. CO. (Gas engines, etc.) General Offices, ??? 6th Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn."
- Multi-spindle carving machines labeled "Minnesota Carving Machine / Parten-Blomstrom Mfg. Co. / Minneapolis, Minn." The number of spindles ranges from 16 to 32 (based on only a few examples seen).