From an 1878 issue of American Agriculturalist

By 1875 Ward B. Snyder of 84 Fulton St., New York City, was manufacturing steam engines and baseball supplies. Ward's older brother, W. Irving Snyder, was partner in baseball supplies manufacturer and retailer Peck & Snyder, which had been in business since 1866. Ward's line of baseball supplies was soon phased out in favor of his engines. In 1877 Ward bought the property up the street at 94 Fulton St., and relocated his business there. Somewhere around this time a notable change was made to his vertical boiler design, moving from a flat top to a more rounded top as seen in the ad shown above. In 1878 Irving joined his brother as partner in the engine business, and the name changed to Snyder Brothers. By the middle of that year Ward bought out his brother and returned to running the business under his own name. Sometime before 1883 the business name changed again, to Snyder Engine Co., still operated by Ward B. Snyder. After 1885 that firm seems to have disappeared and the popular Little Giant engine was being manufactured by Edward Kirmss in the same city.

Information Sources

• Google lists Little Giant steam engine catalogs from Ward B. Snyder dated 1875, 1878, and 1879.
• 1875-07-03 Leslie's, ad for "Ward B. Snyder, Manufacturer of Base-Ball Goods. My new professional Red or White Dead Balls... Caps... Belts... Shirts... 192-page catalogue... Address, Ward B. Snyder, 84 Fulton St., N. Y."
• December 1875 Manufacturer & Builder, page 271, has an illustrated article on the Little Giant horizontal steam engine from Ward B. Snyder, 84 Fulton St., N. Y.
• Exhibitors at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia included "Ward B. Snyder, New York, N. Y. Steam engines and boilers one to three horse powers. Report.—These are simple, substantial, and well made boilers and engines, and seem well adapted to supply the want of small powers."
• 1877 Memorial of the International Exhibition: "WARD B. SNYDER, New York.—Little Giant Steam-engine. Has been making these excellent and compact engines for the last two years, and employs constantly 50 hands. Prices, 1 horse, $150 ; 2 horse, $200; 3 horse, $250. Shows a very finely finished model 1 horse-power in a glass case, small enough to be carried away under the arm."
• 1877 Mortgages and Chattels, registered in New York City March 15 to 21 inclusive, includes "Ryder, E. P. City.. W. B. Snyder. Lathe, &c. 1,625." (p. 229). On page 250, "Ryder, E. P. to Ward B. Snyder. Machinery, &c. 94 Fulton st., New York. 4,000".
• 1877 Pettengill's Newspaper Directory and Advertisers' Hand-book has an ad from Ward B. Snyder, for Snyder's Little Giant steam engine. "Factory, 94 Fulton Street, New York."
• 1878-07-01 American Bookseller. "The firm of Snyder Bros., dealers in toy engines and sporting goods, New York, is dissolved, the interest of W. I. Snyder having been purchased by Ward B. Snyder, who will continue the business in his own name."
• 1878-08-03 Scientific American, page 63 (the front page) has a nearly full-page illustrated article on the Little Giant engine from Ward B. Snyder, patentee and proprietor of the Little Giant engine works at 84 Fulton St.
• 1878 Trow's New York City Directory lists "Snyder Brothers, engines, 94 Fulton". The only listing of a person working at that address is "Snyder Ward B., engines, 84 Fulton, h 275 E 14th B'klyn".
• 1883-08-23 Forest and Stream, illustrated writeup on Snyder Engine Co.'s small engines.

  An improvement in the compact little launch engines of which the Snyder Engine Company, of New York, make a specialty, is shown in the accompany illustration. Simplicity and durability without excessive weight are the objects sought to be attained. Working parts are of easy access, and wear can be taken up in the simplest manner. The stroke is short and the crank is counterbalanced, which avoids jar and loss of power. The design is especially suited to high speeds and steam pressure. These improved patterns are built small enough for common rowboats having the strength to carry the weight. Such boats can be easily altered in the run to adapt them to engine power. The rated power is figured with a pressure of 50 to 60 lbs., and running from 200 turns up for large sizes, and 400 turns per minute for the small engines. With increased pressure the power will increase in the same proportion. Cylinder is encased in polished brass; crankshaft, piston and connecting rods are of best steel; link and rods are highly polished. Link block, fastenings, packing nuts, etc., are of polished brass. All sizes are now furnished with link and reversing lever, as shown in the illustration. ... The small size will cost about $50, and suitable boat therefor, say $125. The largest size given will cost about $150, and suitable boat, say $300.

• 1885-01-31 Scientific American. "Snyder Engine Company, 12 Cortlandt St., N. Y. 'Little Giant' Engines, 1 to 6 H. P. Also Boat Engines, Propeller Wheels, etc. Send stamp for 28 page list."
Trow's Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City lists "Snyder Brothers (dissolved) 305 & 783 Seventh av."
• 1896 The American Yacht List lists "Daisy" owned by Major B. S. Henning of New York and whose engine was designed and built by Snyder Engine Co. The boat was launched in 1886.
• A YouTube video shows a ca. 1876 engine and boiler from Ward B. Snyder. A second, longer video shows the same engine.
• 1916-11-04 South Amboy (N. J.) Citizen. "Ward B. Snyder.—Ward B. Snyder, well known in this city from being a former resident here, departed this life at Madison on Octobe r29, in his 64th year. The body was brought to this city on Wednesday when funeral service was held in Doane Memorial Chapel, and interment made in Christ Church cemetery."