Hanna-Brackenridge Co. was established in 1899, by Samuel D. Hanna and William T. Brackenridge, as a used-machinery dealer and maker of wood products such as boxes and barrel staves. In 1909 they announced a move into larger quarters, with machine shop, blacksmith shop, and foundry. "The company will manufacture a line of woodworking machinery in addition to its business of rebuilding machines." An article thee following year itemized a quite complete list of general woodworking machinery that they were manufacturing: planers, matchers, jointer, self-feed and hand-feed rip-saws, cut-off saws, bandsaws, lathes, shapers, and boring machines. Given the dearth of surviving machines from this firm—so far we only have confirmed reports of a swing saw and a 12" jointer—we suspect that this list of machinery was more aspirational than real.

We have at least one report of a machine with this company's name in it, plus we have seen a used-machinery ad mentioning a swing saw made by this firm. But the woodworking machinery line was short-lived as the business failed, in 1913. Their used machinery business went to Wayne Machinery Company, their electrical department became V. M. Nussbaum & Company (which also was a machinery dealer); A. T. Vail acquired their stave and barrel-heading manufacturing, and continued that business under the Hanna-Brackenridge name. So far as we can tell, no-one picked up their line of woodworking machinery.

Information Sources

• The Biennial Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana, for the Two Years Ending October 31, 1900 lists "Articles of Association", i.e., business incorporations, including Hanna-Brackenridge Co., on July 22, 1899.
• The 1903 Ft Wayne Directory lists the principles as Samuel D. Hanna and William T. Brackenridge. The address is the corner of Columbia and the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. Thanks to Matt Hankins for digging out this reference.
• From the December 23, 1909 issue of Iron Age:

  Owing to its increasing business the Hanna-Brackenridge Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., has been obliged to seek larger quarters, the company has purchased the Clark Showcase Company's buildings in that city and is now engaged in getting the place ready for occupancy in order to begin operations in March or April. The main building is of fireproof construction, 60 x 250 ft., two stories, with two wings forming machine shop and blacksmith shop, foundry, engine and boiler room. The company will manufacture a line of woodworking machinery in addition to its business of rebuilding machines.

• From the March 1910 issue of Foundry:

  The Hanna-Brackenridge Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., has recently purchased a plant originally occupied by the Clark Fixture Co., of that place. In addition to a machine shop, the plant has a well equipped foundry.

• 1910-02-17 The Tradesman.

  Hanna-Brackenridge Company's New Plant.

  The accompanying illustration shows the magnificent plant of Hanna-Brackenridge Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., manufacturers and rebuilders of woodworking machinery.

  This company makes a specialty of rebuilding woodworking machinery of every description, and are the pioneers in this line, having been in the business for more than a quarter of a century. They also manufacture a very attractive line of planers, planers and matchers, hand jointers, bandsaws, lathes, self-feed and hand-feed rip saws, cut-off saws, shapers, boring machines, and in fact a very complete line of general woodworking machinery. Also patented sawmill feeds and hollow blast grates.

  The new plant of the Hanna-Brackenridge company is located on Taylor street, in the "Rolling Mill Addition," two miles southwest of the center of Fort Wayne, and occupies two and one-half acres, with private sidetracks connecting with seven trunk line railroads to all parts of the country. The main building is of brick, modern construction, sixty feet wide, 250 feet long, two stories high, with two ells forming engine and boiler rooms, and foundry 25x90 feet. An additional warehouse, 50x200 feet, is now being erected. The office building is separate as shown in the foreground, is fireproof and two stories high.

  The Hanna-Brackenridge Company have long enjoyed the reputation of being among the leaders in their particular line, and their wonderful growth is but another evidence of the truth of the oft-repeated statement that they always give a square deal—and make good their guarantee, which is:

  "Each second-hand machine is taken into our machine shop, stripped to the frame, carefully and thoroughly rebuilt from the ground up, each working part put in perfect working order, and the machine is warranted by us to be in condition to do the same work as when new."

  Their "Guaranteed Machinery List" will be sent upon request.

• From the June 14, 1913 issue of Electrical World:

  Street-Lighting Plans at Fort Wayne, Ind.—The city of Fort Wayne, Ind., has just awarded to the Hanna-Brackenridge Company the contract for installing five light ornamental posts on three of the business streets, similar to posts now in use in other parts of the city. Besides this, as a sample installation, a number of ornamental posts, each bearing a single magnetite-arc lamp, are being erected by the same company.

  ...Motor Drive for a Sawmill and Planing Mill.—The electrical department of the Hanna-Brackenridge Company is now installing 300 hp in motors in the sawmill and planing mill of the Perrine Armstrong Company, at Fort Wayne, Ind. Individual drive is being used wherever possible, and the installation is to be a model one in every respect. Fort Wayne Electric Works motors are being used, and energy will be obtained from the Fort Wayne & Northern Indiana Traction Company.

• From the June, 1913 issue of The Wood-Worker is an ad for used woodworking machinery for Wayne Machinery Co., of Fort Wayne, "Successors to Hanna Brackenridge Co."
• From the February 14, 1914 issue of Electrical Review:

  V. M. Nussbaum & Company is the new name of a concern doing electrical contracting in Fort Wayne, Ind. This company also deals in machinery. It formerly operated as the electrical department of the Hanna-Brackenridge Company, which is no longer in existence.

• From a 1914 issue of Wood Craft.

  The Stock and Business of Hanna-Brackenridge Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., Sold by Trustee—A machinery deal of more than ordinary interest was the recent sale of stock and business of Hanna-Brackenridge Co. to a new concern, who will continue the operation of the business at the old stand in Fort Wayne. The new company is Wayne Machinery Co., and officers and directors are as follows: Geo. H. Van Arnam. Nathan Rothschild. W. L. Fridell. A. N. Cruser. ...

• From the April 11, 1914 issue of Electrical World:

  The V. M. Nussbaum Company, of Fort Wayne, Ind., has been incorporated to deal in electrical supplies. The company will take over the electrical department of the Hanna-Brackenridge Company, which Mr. Nussbaum has purchased from the trustees in bankruptcy of the Hanna-Brackenridge Company. The directors are V. M. Nussbaum, L. P. Nussbaum and J. W. Thompson.

• October 1914 Wood Craft has a 2/3 page text ad from "Wayne Machinery Company / Taylor St. and Lake Erie R. R. / Fort Wayne, Ind. / Successors by Purchase Hanna-Brackenridge Co. / Machines of relative merit at a lower cost. Large and well selected stock of seven hundred new and modern used machines..."
• A 1923 issue of The Wood-Worker has a used-machinery ad from Hermance Machine Co., which lists a "Swing saw, Hanna-Brackenridge".