New Holland Machine Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Holland Machine Company
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New Holland Machine Company building, c. 1895
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 146 E. Franklin St., New Holland, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000846 |
| Added to NRHP | August 9, 2000 |
The New Holland Machine Company started in 1895. A young man named Abram Zimmerman bought a horse barn in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He turned it into a blacksmith shop. Abram was very good with machines. He used his skills to fix and build farm equipment for local farmers.
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The Historic Building
The main building for the New Holland Machine Company is at 146 E. Franklin St. in New Holland. It was built in eight parts between 1903 and 1952. This two-story brick building was used for making machines. The factory closed its doors in 1992.
In 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Early Engines: Otto and Columbus
When Abram Zimmerman started his business, he first sold German-made Otto engines. These were single-cylinder engines with two large flywheels. They were used to power machines on farms.
After a short time, Abram switched to selling another type of engine called the Columbus. Selling these engines helped his blacksmith shop earn more money. By 1896, Abram's shop had three employees. But Abram had an even better idea brewing!
Abram's Big Idea: The "Freeze-Proof" Engine
Abram thought he could build his own engine. He wanted it to be lighter and easier to fix and use. By 1900, he had designed his own engine. He even built some test models.
Keeping Engines Cool
Most engines back then used water to stay cool. A special jacket around the engine's cylinder was filled with water. This water would get hot and slowly evaporate. Farmers had to keep adding more water throughout the day.
The Problem of Freezing
In winter, farmers had to drain the water from the engine's jacket. If they didn't, the water would freeze. When water freezes, it expands. This expansion could crack the engine's cast iron parts. A cracked engine was a big problem!
Abram's Clever Solution
Abram's new engine had a special design. Its water jacket was shaped like a bowl. It was wider at the top than at the bottom. If water froze in this bowl-shaped jacket, the ice could expand upwards. This way, it wouldn't crack the engine's parts. Because of this smart design, Abram's new engine was "freeze-proof"!
Starting the Company
With his new engine prototypes ready, Abram wanted to make and sell them. To do this, he needed to start a proper company and get investors. Abram raised $50,000 by selling 500 shares to his neighbors. This is how the New Holland Machine Company officially began in 1903.
Abram Zimmerman became the main leader of the new company. With the new money, the company bought a brick factory on Franklin Street. They hired 40 employees to start making the new engines in large numbers.
Engine Power for Every Need
The New Holland Company eventually made six different sizes of their stationary engine. These ranged from a small ½ horsepower (hp) engine to a larger 5 hp model. The 5 hp engine was the most popular. By 1911, sales of the 5 hp engine had grown by more than 253% compared to 1904!
The different sizes were: ½ hp, 1 ½ hp, 2 hp, 3 hp, 4 hp, and 5 hp.
Growing Bigger and Better
The company was successful right from the start. In its first yearly report in 1904, the company reported profits of $1,859.40. Because their engines sold so well, the New Holland Machine Company decided to make other farm machines too.
The Feed Grinder
Even before the company officially started, Abram Zimmerman's blacksmith shop was selling a special machine. It was a "feed and cob mill" that he designed himself. This machine could grind 10 to 30 bushels of feed per hour. It cost farmers $15.00.
Later, the New Holland Machine Company sold these feed grinders with options. Farmers could get them mounted on a wooden or steel cart. They could also have one of the larger New Holland engines (4 hp to 16 hp) attached to the cart. This made the grinder and engine a single unit that could be easily moved around the farm.
Other Useful Machines
After the company was officially formed, they added more machines to their product line. In 1912, they started making their own rock crusher. By 1914, the New Holland Machine Company also added a wood saw to its farm machinery. By 1911, the company had 150 employees. By 1927, this number grew to 225!
Becoming Sperry-New Holland
The New Holland Machine Company was bought by the Sperry Corporation in 1947. They then became known as Sperry-New Holland. To learn more about what happened next, you can look up New Holland Agriculture.
