Hulley Foundry & Machine Works manufactured the Custer combination punch and shear. Mr. Elkanah Hulley (d. 1936) operated the foundry. The Custer punch and shear was previously made by Custer Manufacturing Co., Summitville, IN., along with a wheelwright's tire bolter. The patentee appears to be William F. Custer. The punch and shear was available in three configurations according to a Hulley Foundry brochure seen on an auction website.
Information Sources
- 1892-03-24 The Fairmont News (Fairmont, IN).
Custer & Co., of Summitville, have commenced the manufacture of a remarkably handy tool in the shape of a tire bolter and wrench, patented Jan. 5, 1802.
- July 1898 The Blacksmith and Wheelwright
Tire Bolt Wrench.—For the small sum of seventy-five cents you can get a tire bolt wrench that for speed and durability can hardly be equaled. Write to W. F. Custer, Summitville, Ind., and mention The Blacksmith and Wheelwright in doing so.
- Beginning December 1906 and continuing until March 1902, issues of The American Blacksmith carried an ad from Custer Manufacturing Co., Summitville, Ind., for "The new Custer punch and shear" and the "Handy tire bolter". E.g., Vol. 6, No. 3, Dec. 1906, Pg. 9.
- 1903 American Carriage and Wagon Directory lists "Custer W. F. (tire bolt wrench) Summitville" under "Machinery and Tool Mfrs / Indiana".
- 1908 Annual Report by Indiana Secretary of State. In a listing of new corporations established, "Aug. 30, 1907. Custer Manufacturing Company 12,000"
- 1909 Hendricks' Commercial Register lists Custer Mfg. Co., Summitville, as a maker of "Custer" hand powered punch and shear combined. The 1914 edition has the same listing.
- 1925 Hendricks' Commercial Register. "Handy Tire Bolter Wrenches. W. F. Custer & Son, Summitville, Ind." (p. 2385). Another listing on page 2274 provides the same information.
- Genealogical websites show that William F. Custer was born in 1860 and died in 1919 at Summitville, IN.
- The Fairmount News, Feb. 13, 1923, Pg. 3.
- The Star Press, Mar. 8, 1936, Pg. 5.