This hardware retailer was in business from about 1850 until early 1931. They sold various household house-branded products, including pedal-powered and motorized scrollsaws and wood lathes. At least some of these machines were made by Millers Falls Co.

Advertisement from the August 1928 Popular Mechanics

Information Sources

• From Brown Auction Services catalog:

  143. PEDAL-POWERED JIG SAW. Schroeter Bros. Hdw. Co. St. Louis, Mo. Red and gray paint is nearly 95% and original. Casting is complete and delicate. Not listed in the American Foot Power and Hand Power Machinery. A nice saw. Good+ 600 - 1,000 (22)

• The scrollsaw on the right is a Schroeter Brothers saw. A detail of the patent date reads "Feb 187?". We have not yet succeeded in identifying a corresponding patent.
• The 1897-06-26 edition of The Age of Steel has the following article.

  Schroeter Bros., the well-known hardware dealers on North Fourth Street, have moved from their old store into new and commodious quarters at 800 and 811 North Fourth Street. This house has been in that neighborhood since 1874, under the name of Julius Morische, until the Schroeter Bros., Oscar J. and Charles G., succeeded him. The business has grown steadily from year to year, and additional room was added to handle the business. The latest move Is the most ambitious they have ever made, and they now have a model retail hardware store In every particular. They are making a specialty just at present of the Philadelphia lawn mower, and have a display of high-grade mechanics' tools second to none in this section. They are also calling attention to their excellent line of steam power, metal and wood working machinery. They have a complete supply department where everything needed in the woodturning art can be secured, and where special attention is given to ladles anxious to pursue this interesting line of work. The better to accomplish this end, they have published a beautifully illustrated catalogue, containing a large number of handsome sketches of the wood turner's art. Schroeter Bros*, also sell bicycles and repair wheels, and are sparing no pains to give the largest measure of satisfaction to their customers.

• From a 1916 issue of Home Furnishing Review:

  Schroeter Bros. Hardware Co., St. Louis, Mo., have developed a profitable line of trade on scroll saws, turning lathes and other small tools for wood working by furnishing with these tools Schroeter's Scroll Saw Designs...

• A 1928 catalog is titled, "Schroeter's Specialties, Patented and Designed for Practical and Useful Purposes". The subtitle is, "Schroeter's Vegetable Graters, Schroeter's Stringbean Slicer, Schroeter's Improved Mole Trap, Schroeter's Golf Weeder, Schroeter's Scroll Saw Machines, Schroeter's 'Home' Pecan Cracker, Schroeter's 'Home' Walnut Cracker, Schroeter's 'Home' Cherry Stoner, Schroeter's Mitre Box Irons, 'Rapid Shine' Metal Polish, 'Rapid Shine' Furniture Polish".
• From the January 1930 edition of Hardware Age>:

  Schroeter Bros. Hardware Co., 810 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Mo, old-time hardware concern, after approximately 80 years in the retail business in the city, has been forced out of business. The Schroeter brothers have all been well and favorably known to the hardware trade, and their friends will be sorry to know that their business will be liquidated under court order and their assets sold at public sale under date of Jan. 14, 1931.