Formed in 1899 as the New Idea Spreader Co.,by Henry Synck Jr., and his father-in-law, Joseph Oppenheim to manufacture manure spreaders. They expanded into gas engines through the purchase of the Sandwich Mfg. Co. in 1930.
In the 1930's this company introduced the Vari-Speed Gas or Kerosene Engine.
Following Joseph's son, B.C. Oppenheim's death, Henry Synck Jr. served as President of New Idea. In 1945 the family sold New Idea to Avco, a conglomerate that was subsequently acquired by Textron. In a complicated series of transactions, Textron subsequently divested New Idea to Allied Corporation, another conglomerate (White-New Idea) who subsequently divested it to AGCO Corporation.
Information Sources
- American Gasoline Engines Since 1872 by C. H. Wendel, Volume #1, 1983 page 340
- The Complete Guide to Stationary Gas Engines by Mark Meincke, 1996 page 149