In 1867 Binghamton, NY, machinists Augustus L. Henderer and Edmond (or Edmund) Henderer, doing business as Henderer Brothers, were manufacturing Alcott's broom-handle lathe, available with Rennie's carriage-feeding attachment for making ornamental spindles; they had taken over manufacture of Alcott's lathe from Counch & Alcott of Oriskany Falls, NY, a town 75 miles from Binghamton.. We find no data points for Henderer Brothers after early 1868. It seems most likely that A. L. Henderer took primary control of the business until 1869 when William Scott became a partner. In 1871 Scott acquired sole ownership of the business and continued operating it under his own name, Wm. Scott. Meanwhile, the two Henderer brothers relocated to Wilmington, Delaware where they operated as A. L. Henderer & Co., manufacturing the Alcott lathe and Rennie's attachment They began in business in Binghamton, NY, and relocated to Wilmington, DE, in 1872. Early products included Alcot's broom-handle lathe plus drilling machines. By 1880 it seems that the business had split into A. L. Henderer & Co. and E. Henderer & Co., the A. L. Henderer firm continuing with the original product lines and eventually adding stationary engines and boiler-tube expanders.

At some point before 1899 A. L. Henderer & Co. became A. L. Henderer's Sons, makers of a combination vise, drill, and anvil in that year. We have also seen a Henderer & Co., Wilmington DE, hinged pipe vise on an internet marketplace.

Business Names

The following is a list of names used by the brothers' businesses and the years of the data points we have found. Given the overlapping date ranges it seems likely that "A. L. Henderer" was sometimes used interchangeably with "A. L. Henderer & Co.", and likewise for E. Henderer and E. Henderer & Co.

• Henderer Brothers: 1867, 1868, 1869
• A. L. Henderer: 1888, 1894, 1897
• A. L. Henderer & Co.: 1871, 1880
• A. L. Henderer's Sons: 1899, 1904, 1907, 1914, 1916
• E. Henderer: 1897
• E. Henderer & Co.: 1882, 1885, 1888, 1897

Information Sources

• 1867-03-30 Scientific American page 204, also 1867-04-20 issue, page 251, Business and Personal column. "Wanted.—Second-hand engine lathe in good repair, 12 to 18 inch swing. Address, with full description and price, Henderer Brothers, Binghamton, N. Y."
• 1867-11-09 Scientific American page 302, Advertisements section. "Alcot's Concentric Lathe for Broom and Hoe Handles, Chair Stuff, etc. Price $26. With Rennie's Patent Attachment for Null and Beaded work, price $40. Also, Hand and Foot Lathes. Henderer Bros., Binghamton, N. Y." The phrase "Null work" refers to a style of ornamental turning that looks like beads on a rod, used as furniture decoration.
• 1871-03-25 Scientific American page 201, Business and Personal column. "Gage Lathes for Broom and other handles, Chair Rounds, etc. Price $20. With attachment for Null work, price $30. Also, Wood-turning lathes. A. L. Henderer & Co., Binghamton, N. Y."
• 1874-12-26 Scientific American page 409, Business and Personal column. "Manufacturers of small Steam Pumps with Boiler, send circulars and price to A. L. Henderer, Wilmington, Del."
• Industries of Delaware by John Thomas Scharf, 1880 page 110.

  A. L. HENDERER & CO.—Machinists, No. 609 West Front Street. Excellent opportunities are afforded in Wilmington for the prosecution of the business of the machinist, and many firms are engaged in that branch of industry. One firm who display great skill in workmanship and who turn out very accurate and well finished machinery is that of A. L. Henderer & Co.

  These gentlemen were formerly engaged in the business in Binghamton, New York, but selected Wilmington as a good location in 1872. Here they occupy a suitable building, sufficiently large and well fitted with the most approved machinery, an investment of $8000 being required for the stock. The firm do a safe and careful business, buying at 60 days, and seeking to enlarge their trade only with responsible parties, and they have built up a satisfactory business, which increases steadily as the class of work executed by them becomes more generally known. Both Mr. Augustus L. Henderer and Edmund Henderer, who constitute the firm, being practical machinists, and devoting themselves to the supervision of the industry, the work of this establishment is not excelled by that of any firm in the city, but is most carefully and accurately done. No more industrious men are to be found in Wilmington and none entitled to more credit for their work than the members of this enterprising company.

• 1882 "Monthly Statement" with text "Monthly Statement / Wilmington, Del., Jan. 1 1882, to J. Billenbender / To E. Henderer & Co., Dr. / Manufacturers of / Hand and power drilling machines, tire benders, wood turners' lathes, saw arbors, emery grinders, and other special machinery. 609 West Front Street [Wilmington, Delaware]."
• History of Delaware : 1609-1888 by Richard Edwards, 1888 page 778.

  A. L. Henderer, general machinist, is only a trifle younger in business than the house just spoken of, having started in 1872 The plant was removed from Christiana Street only a short time since to Maryland Avenue and Beach Streets, where it occupies a three-story brick building. A specialty of Mr. Henderer's is the manufacture of boiler tube expanders, which are shipped all over the country- Stationary engines are also made. E. Henderer & Co. are engaged in general machine making in the same locality.

• January 1897 The Journal of Railway Appliances page 26, lists "E. Henderer & Co., Wilmington, Del." as a maker of vises.
• 1899 ads in American Machinist (see Images tab) from A. L. Henderer's Sons, 85 Maryland Avenue, Wilmington, Del. Both ads we have seen were for jacks; the ads do not suggest what the jacks were intended for—wagons, train cars, houses,...?
• 1900 book Binghamton: Its Settlement, Growth and Development, page 467.

  In 1866 A. L. Henderer started a machine shop in Binghamton. In 1869 William Scott became interested in the business, and in 1871 became its sole proprietor. The works were continued several years with fair success.

• The Iron Age Directory, 1905, pg. 279
• September 1907 The Boiler Maker page 18.

  A. L. Henderer's Sons, 740 Maryland avenue, Wilmington, Del., manufacturers of hydraulic jacks, punches, tube expanders and other boiler makers' machinery and tools, call special attention to their steel screw punches, which the company makes in all desirable sizes for boiler and structural steel work.

• Carriage and Wagon Makers Machinery and Tools by Kenneth L. Cope, 2004 page 111
• 1975 book Delaware: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites page 14.

  A. L. Henderer Company / Wilmington South / Beech Street and Maryland Avenue / 18.451540.4298580 / Wilmington / This three-story brick building was built about 1872 for the manufacture of boiler tube expanders and stationary engines. There have been several additions to the original building but it has not been altered in the interior, except for the introduction of modern machinery. The shafting and pulley arrangements are still located in the ceiling of the second floor; the floor itself is original. Henderer is still manufacturing boiler tube expanders.

• A genealogy page for Clara Henderer (1869-1938) says that her parents were Augustus L. Henderer (1828-1898) and Ellen Moses (1837-1914). Clara was born in Binghamton, NY and married in Wilmington, DE, so this is almost certainly the correct Augustus L. Henderer (we did not find any other persons of the same name). Another page gives Edmond Henderer (abt 1838 - 1914), born in Binghamton and died in Wilmington. Parents Jacob Henderer (1791-1877) and Margaret Poyer (1793-1884). Edmond was married to Francisca H. (Fannie) Shade (1847-?).