This company was founded in 1874 most likely under the name of Bender & Holman, the Bender being Jacob F. Bender. Around mid-1881 the firm became Bender, Potts & Co. and by 1887, Potts & Weber. By 1898 the firm was operating as D. H. Potts. That firm lasted until 1919 when it went out of business and the business was acquired by the Uniset Tool Co., which was formed for that purpose. Uniset went bankrupt and in late 1921 the assets were acquired by Louis Kimmel of Lancaster. We have not been able to find any evidence that the business continued under some other name.

Information Sources

• In the (approximately) July 1881 issue of the carriage makers' trade magazine The Hub.

  BENDER & HOLMAN, manufacturers of hand-fan blowers and tire benders, located at Lancaster, Pa., have dissolved partnership, Mr. Holman retiring, and a new partnership has been formed, under the name of Bender, Potts & Co., who will continue the business as before.

• The 1883 edition of Farley's Directory of the Metal Workers of the United States lists the Lancaster, Pa. firm of "Bender, Potts & Co., Mfrs. Iron Fences".
• The 1887 book Resources and Industries of the City of Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pa mentions "Potts & Weber, No. 152 North Christian street, iron fences, fire escapes, etc."
• The 1889-03-01 issue of The Hub:

  POTTS & WEBER, Lancaster, Pa., have increased their force for the manufacture of forges, blowers, etc.

• The 1890 book Seeger and Guernsey's Cyclopaedia of the Manufactures and Products of the United States, lists Potts & Weber of Lancaster, Pa., as a maker of air moving machinery, blowers, crank blowers, fan blowers, tire benders, and portable forges.
• The Blacksmith & Wheelwright magazine, Vol. XXXVII. No 5, May 1898.
• Seen at auction: an 1898 catalog from D. H. Potts, "Portable forges, fan blowers, hand and power drills, tire benders, upsetters, screw plates, vises, etc., manufactured by D. H. Potts, Lancaster, Pa., U.S.A." The catalog cover is over-printed, "Successors to Potts & Weber".
• 1914-10-22 The Iron Age in a list of Trade Publications.

  Forges, Blowers and Tire and Axle Upsetting; and Welding Machines—D. H. Potts, Lancaster, Pa. Catalogue. Size, 4 x 5% in.; pages, 96. Contains illustrations and brief descriptions of various kinds of forges, blowers and tire and axle upsetting and welding machines. In connection with the Illustrations of the various forges, brief statements are given of the work for which they are adapted, tables of dimensions of the blowers are included and mention is made of a line of drilling machines for mounting on posts. An index of the various lines covered is included.

• April 1917 The Blacksmith & Wheelwright.

  Good Blacksmiths' Blowers and Tools. An excellent line of fan blowers for blacksmiths, also a large variety of other tools, is manufactured by the D. H. Potts Company, Lancaster, Pa. Their line includes blowers, forges, drills, tire upsetters and tire benders. This company has been in business for 35 years, and have made a specialty of high quality goods, prompt shipments and reasonable prices. Readers who are interested should write for descriptive circular and prices direct to this company, who will gladly give full information.

• 1919 edition of the State of Pennsylvania's List of Charters of Corporations Enrolled in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

  UNISET TOOL COMPANY—Lancaster, Pa., April 29, 1919. Capital $50,000. Treasurer, Ralph W. Roseboro, Lancaster, Pa. Manufacturing, repairing, and selling mechanical metallic tools, machinery of all kinds and machine products.

• 1919-05-15 The Iron Age.

  The Uniset Tool Co., Lancaster, Pa., has been chartered with a capital stock of $50,000 to manufacture tools and machinery. The incorporators are Charles A. Potts, W. A. Sherwood. L. O. Beard, Ralph W. Roseboro and W. W. Wenger, all of Lancaster. The company takes over the establishment of the D. H. Potts Co., which will go out of business.

• November 1921 Forging and Heat Treating.

  Louis Kimmel, Lancaster, Pa., has acquired the plant and property of the Uniset Tool Company, Lancaster, Pa., at a receiver's sale and plans to operate the works.

• The 1922 edition of Engineering Directory lists D. H. Potts of Lancaster, Pa., as a maker/supplier of American and Peter Wright pattern anvils, "Giant" brand swage blocks, "Centennial" hand forge blowers, "Cyclone" power forge blowers, "Giant", "Keystone" and "Sun" tire upsetters, and "Giant" presses.
• Our thanks to Phil Sponem for bringing this company to our attention.