The Neverslip Horseshoe Co. was established in Boston in 1885 to manufacture horseshoes and horseshoe calks—studs that screw into the bottoms of horseshoes to provide traction in slippery conditions—as well as specialized tools related to their shoes and calks. In 1896 the Neverslip Horseshoe Co. was incorporated in New Brunswick, NJ, by Robert W. Johnson (one of the three brothers who had co-founded Johnson & Johnson a decade earlier). It is uncertain whether the company was immediately renamed to the Neverslip Manufacturing Co., or if those two names co-existed for a time.

in 1917 the Manufacturers' Iron & Steel Co. was established which was a holding company for Neverslip Manufacturing Co., the Neverslip Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of Montreal, and the Bryden Horseshoe Co., of Catasauqua, Pa. By about 1919 the company was doing business as the Neverslip Works of New Brunswick, NJ. In 1923 the businesses were re-organized as the Bryden-Neverslip Co. and the Neverslip facilities were relocated to Catasauqua. In 1928 the Bryden-Neverslip Co. was acquired by the Phoenix Horse Shoe Co., of Joliet, Illinois, and their manufacturing facilities were converted to the production of commercial forgings and flanges.

The Neverslip companies' products are all outside the scope of this website except for a drilling machine they made that was designed for drilling holes in horseshoes, and that product is the reason the companies are listed here.

Information Sources

• November 1886 The American Mail and Export Journal has a brief illustrated writeup on the Neverslip horseshoe.
• 1886 patents assigned to the Neverslip Horseshoe Co., Boston, Mass.
• 1893-94 Reports of Committees of the Senate of the United States has a section relating to metals manufacturing where they solicited information from various manufacturers. A "reply of The Neverslip Horseshoe Company, of Boston, Mass., manufacturers of horseshoes" indicates that they were established in 1885, have $50,000 of invested capital, and have 25 employees. Their only foreign market was Canada, accounting for 1% of their sales and much less than that in profit because of the 35% Canada customs duty. In the US, prices had fallen in the previous five years due to immigration of blacksmiths from France, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
• March 1896 The Blacksmith and Wheelwright. "The Neverslip Horseshoe Co. has been organized at New Brunswick, N. J. Capital, $250,000. R. W. Johnson, of Johnson & Johnson, is at thee head of the concern."
• 1897 patents assigned to Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J.
• January 1898 The Blacksmith and Wheelwright mentions that "Neverslip" shoes and calks were available from the Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J.
• 1898 patent assigned to Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J.
• August 1904 The International Horseshoers' Monthly has a notice from The Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J., warning of unscrupulous persons passing themselves off as representatives of their firm.
• 1905 Canada patent assigned to Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J.
• 1911 Obsolete American Securities and Corporations lists "Neverslip Horseshoe Co., The. Incorporated in Massachusetts. Dissolved 1904."
• 1915 patents assigned to Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J.
• 1916-06-15 The Iron Age.

  The Manufacturers’ Iron & Steel Corporation, incorporated at Albany, N. Y., June 1, with an authorized capital of $8,000,000, of which $6,000,000 is issued, has absorbed the stock holdings of the Bryden Horseshoe Company, Catasauqua, Pa., and the Neverslip Horseshoe Mfg. Company, New Brunswick, N. J. Both of these companies will continue under their corporate names as before, the Manufacturers' Corporation simply being a holding company.

• November 1916 Successful Farming, ad for "Red Tip Horseshoe Calks" from Neverslip Manufacturing Co., New Brunswick, N. J."
• 1920-03-21 The Iron Age.

  William J. Mccurdy, vice-president and general manager Manufacturers' Iron & Steel Co., New Brunswick, N. J., died at his home, "The Pines," on Easton Avenue turnpike, on Feb. 29. Mr. McCurdy was born in New Brunswick 57 years ago. The Manufacturers' Iron & Steel Co. controls the Neverslip Horseshoe Calk Co., New Brunswick, the Bryden Horsehoe Works, Catasauqua, Pa., and the Neverslip Works, Montreal, Can. Mr. McCurdy served as chairman of the horseshoe committee of the War Industries Board.

• 1921 book, History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume 1.

  The Neverslip Manufacturing Company was organized in February, 1896, with Robert W. Johnson, president; James W. Johnson, vice-president; and William J. McCurdy, secretary and treasurer, for the manufacture of horseshoes, calks and tools. On May 29, 1917, the Manufacturers' Iron and Steel Company was incorporated, which included the Neverslip Manufacturing Company, of New Brunswick; the Neverslip Manufacturing Company, of Montreal, Canada; and the Bryden Horseshoe Company, of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, with the following officers: James W. Johnson, president and general manager; Robert C. Nicholas, vice-president and secretary; George F. McCormick, treasurer; and H. Morley Holton, assistant treasurer; directors: J. W. Johnson, R. C. Nicholas, G. F. McCormick, Paul E. Miller, H. Morley Holton, Sidney B. Carpender and Royal W. Mattice. The average number of employees in the New Brunswick plant is 125, and only adjustable calks and tools are made.

• May 1921 Good Hardware: ad for "The Neverslip Works / New Brunswick, N. J." for their replaceable-blade side-cutting pliers
• January 1922 Popular Science has an illustrated ad from "The Neverslip Works / New Brunswick / N. J." for their replaceable-blade side-cutting pliers
• Thanks to Bob Poole for sending pictures of a drilling machine with "The Neverslip Mfg. Co. New Brunswick, N. J." cast into it.