Formed in 1883 as the incorporation of the Crowell & Co.. The company specialized in stationary and portable steam engines but continued to make boilers, steam operated sawmills, threshers, grain and fertilizer drills, hay rakes and field rollers.

The Greencastle line of machinery was built by the Crowell Manufacturing Company of Greenville, Pennsylvania located about 8 miles from Waynesboro, the home of Frick and Geiser. Mr. Crowell founded the company sometime in the 1800's. He was joined by Henry B. Larzelere either as a partner or a machinist and designer.

It is estimated that there were about 12 traction engines built by the Crowell Mfg. Co. They also built about 13 threshers. Grain drills were their specialty.

In the late 1890's The Crowell Co. went into receivership under the reign of a Rahauser family. The Geiser Mfg. Co. of Waynesboro bought the plant about 1901, using it to build gas engines, tractors, etc.

Information Sources:

• McLouth News webpage on the history of the Crowel Mfg. Co.
• Norbeck, Jack, Encyclopedia of American Steam Traction Engines, Crestline Publishing Inc, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Pg. 132
• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 71
• The Steam Tractor Encyclopedia by John F. Spalding & Robert T. Rhode, 2011 page 190