Untitled Document

THE BARNARD & LEAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

The company dates its existence since 1860. H. A. Barnard, a millwright by trade, came to Moline in 1856. For about four years he worked at his trade, combined with that of chair making, when his attention was called to the model of a smut machine, the invention of John A. Woodward. Consulting his partner in the chair business, L. E. Hemenway, the present Post master of Moline, a partnership was formed under the firm name of Woodward, Hemenway & Barnard, for the manufacture of smut machines. The firm prospered, and in 1863, Mr. Barnard having improved the old Woodward mill almost beyond recognition, end obtained the patents on his improvements, Mr. Woodward retired from the firm and Joseph B. Wyckhoff took his place

. In 1864 Mr. Hemenway retired and the firm of Wyckhoff & Barnard was formed. In 1865 they began the manufacture of Barnard's dustless wheat separator. Soon after J. Silas Leas was admitted to the firm. In 1869 a new woodshop and foundry were erected, each of the proprietors contributing $2,000 for this purpose. In 1870 Mr. Wyckhoff retired, the firm then being known as Barnard & Leas. In 1872 Capt. W. C. Bennett was admitted and the Barnard & Leas Manufacturing Company was incorporated.

From 1872, with Mr. Barnard in constant supervision of the mechanical department, Mr. Leas acting as general traveling salesman, and Capt. Bennett as business manager, the company made rapid strides forward. Every new year witnessed either the invention of some new machine, or valuable improvements in those already in use. First appeared the Victor Smutter and Separator, which at once took high rank among machines of that class; then came the renowned Victor Double Brush, with its unexcelled principle of scouring by brush on brush.

In 1877 the manufacturers found themselves so cramped for room that a third enlargement of their works was an absolute necessity, and a substantial four-story brick building, 50 x 52 feet, was erected, the first floor being occupied as an extension to their machine shop, with one end partitioned off for the office, the second for the wood department, the third for var nishing and finishing the pattern making, and the fourth for storage.

During the year 1878 Mr. Leas visited Europe and established an agency with Wm. R. Dell & Son, of 26 Mark Lane, London, E. C., for the sale of their machines abroad. This wise move was the means of widely extending their foreign trade. Every year large numbers of mill separators, brush machines, flour packers, etc., are sent through Dell & Son to millers in Great Britain and on the Continent.

In 1879 the company brought out and patented the Advanced Combined Adjustable Brush and Smut Machine, the Victor Corn-Sheller, Barnard's Dustless Corn-Cleaner, and Victor Combined Corn Sheller and Cleaner, which, with subsequent improvements devised by Mr. Barnard, Mr. Leas and Mr. John B. Cornwall, foreman of the construction department, have won great favor with millers.

A fourth addition to the works, in the shape of a three-story brick wood shop, in 1882, gave their present shops the extensive dimensions they now have. The establishment as it now stands consists of the building, dimensions given above; a wood shop three stories high, 52 x 40 feet, with the new extension, 60 x 90 feet; a machine shop, general construction and storage building, three stories, 54 x 80 ; foundry, 60 x 80 ; warehouse, two stories, 60 x 60 ; sand and storage shed, 48 x 15 ; oil and varnish house, 15 x 15 ; brush factory, 16 x 20; cleaning house, lumber sheds and stables.

Including the foundry, and exclusive of the smaller outbuildings, the entire floor space afforded is something over 67,000 square feet. The establishment is splendidly equipped throughout with first class machinery and tools —the machine shop probably the most complete in its appointments of all similar institutions west of Chicago. The recent addition of the new Daverio three high roller mills to the company's line of manufactures, made it necessary to expend several thousands of dollars in the purchase of heavy machinery, such as gear cutters, shapers, grinders, tool lathes and planers. These include a Brown & Sharpe's Universal Milling Machine, one of Pratt & Whitney's celebrated tool lathes, and a Gleason double-headed iron planer of six tons weight. No less than 150 men are now employed in these works, and the pay roll averages $2,000 weekly.

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