Welcome! 

Register :: Login
Manufacturers Index - Austin & Eddy
History
Last Modified: Oct 6 2020 6:53PM by Jeff_Joslin
If you have information to add to this entry, please contact the Site Historian.

In 1884 the hardware sales firm of Austin & Eddy was established by William H. M. Austin and Lyman K. Eddy. By 1896 they were apparently manufacturing a pulley mortising machines, by 1901 they selling a moulding sander that was made by Black Bros., and by 1908 they were selling planing mill machinery. The company survived until at least 1945.

Austin was still with the company in 1901 but not in 1904; from that date Eddy ran the company himself, until at least 1918.

Information Sources

  • The 1896 book, Boston with Its Points of Interest. "AUSTIN & EDDY, Manufacturers of Special Hardware, Glue, Sandpaper, Glaziers' Points, Axle Pulleys. Blind Trimmings, Dehne's Automatic Beam Clamps. (P. O. Box 1484.) Nos. 115, 117 and 119 Broad Street.—The increase in building enterprises which has made itself manifest during the past 25 years in Boston, has created a great demand for the commodities of the ironmonger, and one of the leading firms in this line is Messrs. Austin & Eddy of Nos. 115, 117 and 119 Broad Street. They are manufacturers or agents for manufacturers of special hardware, glue, sand-paper, glaziers' points, axle pulleys, blind trimmings, etc., and handle in extensive lots, as selling agents for the manufacturers, steel wire nails, screws, the Boardman blind staple and the patent glaziers' point and driver, the Enterprise pully mortiser and Dehne's automatic beam clamps. A further line of Messrs. Austin & Eddy's specialties are blind-hinges, blind-fasteners, blind-wires, blind-staples, belt-hooks, belt-studs, dowels, files, quartz, sash-weights, sash-cords, Sisal lath yarn, screws, stair rail screws, wire brads, wire brad drivers, etc. The business of Messrs. W. H. M. Austin and L. K. Eddy was established in 1884, and has been developed until the trade, which is wholesale and retail, extends throughout Boston and New England. The firm occupies four floors, each 65 x 140 feet and give employment to about 25 persons. Every facility is afforded for the manufacture of hardware and the quality of goods produced is of a superior grade, both materials and workmanship being unsurpassed. The firm carry a very extensive stock of high grade goods. Their business method is one that commends itself to the most conservative of dealers in hardware, as well as to those retail buyers who appreciate specialities that possess merit. Messrs. Austin and Eddy have never disappointed their patrons with regard to quality of goods and their house is regarded as one of the most important and reliable in the hardware trade. The prices are reasonable and the service at the hands of clerks is such as to favorably impress all customers."
  • 1896 New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, published by Sampson, Murdock & Co., lists Austin & Eddy, 117 Broad, and has a text ad: "Austin & Eddy, manufacturers of Enginerprise Pulley Mortising Machine, Blind Hings and Fasts, Sash Weights, Glaziers' Points, Axle Pulleys, Boardman's Staples, Quartz, Glue, Files, Steel Wire Nails. Builders' Hardware / 115, 117 and 119 Broad Street, Boston. / W. H. M. Austin, Lyman K. Eddy. / General Agents Mass. Screw Co." There is a listing for "Austin, William H. M. (Austin & Eddy), 119 Broad, h 20 Victoria", which confirms Austin's first name.
  • The January 1901 issue of The Wood Worker carried an ad for this company's "'Pioneer' Moulding Sander".
  • 1902 The Boston Directory
  • The 1904 edition of Building and Engineering Trades Reference Book of Massachusetts and Rhode Island lists, under Boston, "Austin & Eddy (Lyman K. Eddy), mnfrs. builders' hardware, 115-119 Broad"
  • The September 1908 issue of Wood Craft lists Austin & Eddy as makers of mortising machines, planing mill machinery and sanders. An ad for the "Noxall" column clamp, manufactured by A. A. Loetscher of Dubuque, Iowa, lists Austin & Eddy as a selling agent.
  • The September 1909 issue of Wood Craft features an advertisement for a "Pioneer Molding Sander." Listed at 112 Broad Street, Boston, MA and Room 608 The Tacoma, Chicago, IL.
  • Listed in the Annual Report of the Boston Chamber of Commerce for 1917-18: "Eddy, Lyman K.—Austin & Eddy, hardware.
  • 1926 publications with advertisements for a line of machines named "Enterprise," including a window pulley mortiser, plain pocket cutter, and dado machine. Listed at 115 to 119 Broad St., Boston, MA.
  • The Massachusetts corporate registry database lists this company's first registration as 1937-08-30.
  • 1945 Star Machinery Company catalog, featuring "Enterprise pocket cutters and dado machines" from this maker.