Tool Types

Agricultural Implements and Machinery

Directory of American Toolmakers Information

N/A

Identifying Marks

HEEBNER'S; HEEBNER & SONS LANSDALE , PA.

General Information
 
David S. Heebner (1810-1900), a farmer by trade, took out a loan against his farm in 1840 to begin production of agricultural equipment. His sons, Isaac D., Josiah D. and Jacob D. were all active in the firm, William being the sole owner from 1887. His early threshing machines were well-received by the relatively primitive farming communities in Worcester. They were made to order and took roughly six weeks apiece to construct. In 1862, Isaac and Josiah Heebner joined on and began manufacturing two-wheeled mower/reapers under a Ball patent. By 1877, the firm was shipping horse powers and threshers as far away as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, with inquiries from South America, Bulgaria and Turkey. By 1882, Heebner & Sons sold fifty percent more machinery than the entire business done by all their local competitors put together. The "Little Giant" thresher was especially popular in Maine.

Photographs

 References

Nelson, Robert E., Ed. (1999). Directory of American Toolmakers: A listing of identified makers of tools who worked in Canada and the United States before 1900. Early American Industries Association.

Blase, Francis Jr. (1984). Heebner & Sons, Pioneers of Farm Machinery in America. Hatfield, PA. Hatfield Publishing Company.

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