Marburg Brothers, Inc., of New York City, was active from 1910 to the 1960s. They were strictly a distributor of machine tools, bearings, and metals, including jig borers and grinders from Moore Special Tool Co. and bandsaws from German maker Gebrüder Thiel GmbH, among others. Marburg Brothers sold a line of milling machines machines badged, "Holland / Fitchburg, Mass.", and these have been identified as from Marburg Bros., although they did not manufacture them. Subsequent research has produced photos of an earlier machine with the name J. W. Holland on it.

Holland milling machine, courtesy Fred Grefe

John W. Holland of Fitchburg is believed to have been the one who manufactured the Holland milling machines for Marburg Brothers. In 1921 Holland co-established, with Samuel A. Kenyon, the Holland-Kenyon Machine Co. in Fitchburg. That business survived into the 1950s, making automobile-related machinery and tools, including a patent valve-seat grinder. They also made a device for killing gypsy moths.

Given the likely timelines for the production of Marburg Bros.' Holland milling machine, it would seem that they were produced as some kind of side business by Holland. We have not been able to find any documentation whatsoever that J. W. Holland made milling machines, except for the existence of a Holland mill with his name cast into it.

Information Sources

• Thanks to correspondent Fred Grefe for alerting us to this firm and for finding photos of Holland milling machines (see the Photo Index tab, above).
• November 1910 Aeronautics has an ad from Marburg Brothers / 1777 Broadway / New York, listing "Records made by Wright aeroplane with Mea as sole and standard equipment", as well as "Benz car with Mea, winner in Gaillon Hill Climb, 97½ miles p. h., 8% grade / Standard High Tension Equipment of the German Mercedes". Page 220 of the December 1910 issue, in the same volume linked above, has a writeup on articles imported by the Marbug Brothers, 1777 Broadway. These articles are Mea magnetos, S. R. C ball bearings, and Duralumin alloy. On page 227 are more details of Duralumin, an alloy the "consists of more than 90 per cent aluminum, but small additions, mainly of copper and magnesium, have changed its mechanical characteristics absolutely."
• 1914-08-05 The Horseless Age, in an article on "Effect of European War on Our Automobile Business, page. 191.

  Theodore Marburg, of Marburg Brothers, importers of Mea magnetos and S. R. O. bearings, was one of the optimistic importers interviewed by THE HORSELESS AGE on Monday. Mr. Marburg declared that as the S. R. O. bearings are made in Switzerland he felt that there would be no halt in shipments to this country, as he expected these products would be shipped via Italian ports. "We do not know where we stand on Mea magnetos," said Mr. Marburg, "but we still hope that matters will be cleared up. With the closing of commerce in the greater part of Europe the mean that are still at work at the Mea factory will devote their attention to manufacturing for export and consequently we can expect better attention to our orders. It is possible that shipments might be sent down the Rhine River to Switzerland and thence to Italy, but as to that procedure being taken i cannot say. Franz Marburg is at present in Germany and we trust that he will take care of our interests."

• April 1915 Chilton Automobile Directory lists, under "Importers, auto goods", "Marburg Brothers, Inc., United States Rubber Bldg., N. Y. City. ('Mea magnetos and 'S. R. O.' ball bearings; 'Marburg-Hagen' auto springs & 'Lodge' spark plugs.)"
• 1922 Export Trade Directory.

  Marburg Brothers, Inc., 90 West Street, New York. Established 1910... President, Theodore H. Marburg; Secretary and Treasurer, Louis C. Marburg. Also as Marburg Brothers, Ltd., Toronto.
  Foreign Markets: Europe South America, Far East.
  Exports: Machinery, metals, engineering specialties.
  Imports: Magnetos, ball bearings, oil engines.

• 1936 issue of Product Engineering, in a list of trade-show exhibitors, has this snippet: "Marburg Brothers , Inc . New and improved Moore jig borers, a precision sawing and filing machine, a Thiel cutting band saw and a vertical punch and form shaper will be shown in operation."
• 1941 issue of The Tool Engineer, in a summary of an upcoming trade show, offers this snippet: "The Moore Precision Jig Grinder will be displayed by Marburg Brothers in Booth 206. This machine is designed to correct and to finish jig-bored holes in all kinds of tool work after hardening. The work is said to be located quickly within jig borer accuracy and then ground to the finish size. A large range of holes, both straight and tapered, can be handled because the adjustable planetary movement of the grinding wheel permits a wide latitude in size. Automatic or hand-feed, for straight or tapered grinding, is provided."
• From a 1941 issue of Modern Machine Shop.

  Holland Vertical Milling Machine—The illustration shows the Holland Vertical Milling Machine for milling, drilling, and boring operations which has been brought out by Marburg Brothers, Inc., 90 West St., New York, N. Y. The machine is adapted for use on tools, dies, molds and production work. High spindle speeds and rigid construction are said to assure smooth finish and accurate work. As the operator usually sits while producing the fine work for which this machine is especially suited, the table remains at a fixed height, and the table screws are within convenient reach for use simultaneously. Marburg Brothers, Inc., 90 West St., New York, N.Y.

• 1976 issue of American Machinist provides the following snippet. "High spindle speeds and rigid construction of the new Holland milling machine distributed by Marburg Brothers, Inc., 90 West St., New York." They also offered the "Angle-master" rugged sine vise.
• The Smithsonian has in its collection a Marburg Bros., Inc. trade catalog and price list of "machine tools and metalworking equipment". Another site shows that the Smithsonian's catalog contains "Trade catalogs on hand tapper, power screw driver and tapper, duplex die and punch filing machine, sine vise, vertical miller and bandsaw, tool and cutter grinder, Holland vertical milling machine, crank pin turning lathes, double swage hammer, automatic folding and grooving machine ..."