Company history Louden Machinery Company

1 company history

1.1 founding , years
1.2 expansion
1.3 architecture department
1.4 industrial applications louden monorail
1.5 later years

company history
founding , years

william louden s 1867 patent hay carrier

the company founded william louden (1841-1931). louden born in pennsylvania , moved iowa infant. after attending axline university in fairfield, became teacher. in 1867, invented patented hay carrier made two-story barns practical. according 1 description, louden s hay carrier utilized existing hay fork tool broadened use attaching overhead monorail along hay fork , hay moved within barn.

in 1868, opened first shop manufacture hay carriers. in 1868, louden moved manufacturing operation fairfield operated under name louden manufacturing works. despite setbacks resulting in bankruptcy during long depression of 1870s, continued manufacturing hay carriers through 1880s. in 1887, william louden , wife mary jane formed louden machinery company. younger brother robert b. r.b. louden (1857-1939) joined company in 1889 , became company s president when incorporated in 1892. in 1890s, company opened factory in downtown fairfield (at 607 west broadway) still in existence , has been listed on national register of historic places.

expansion

louden cross draft hay carrier (1915)

the company expanded in 1890s , 1900s, r.b. handling business side, william being left free invent new products. william added company s product line inventions of flexible barn door hanger (1895), barn litter carriers , tracks (1898), all-steel cow stalls (1907), individual automatic watering bowls cows (1912), easy feeding hog trough (1914), , industrial line of overhead carrying equipment (1917). albert h. neller, has been described william louden s right-hand-man, credited developing number of products, including automatic watering bowls, , being key company s success during 1910s , 1920s. company expanded geographically opening branches in canada (1900), minneapolis (1903), albany, new york (1912), , chicago (1915). 1915, factory in fairfield employed 100 men, , company operated large factory in guelph, ontario. 1920, louden machinery company had sales of $2.5 million.

the company continued expand product line in 1920s , 1930s, adding wide array of products, including barn cupolas, exhaust , intake hoods , louvers, fans, valves, pulleys, power hoists, concrete mangers, patented garage door hanger (using overhead door tracks ease in opening , closing), playground equipment (including slides, see-saws, gym sets, swing bobs, , whirl-arounds ), , themostats.

architecture department

1920 louden barn plans catalog

in 1906, company established architectural department, referred louden planning service or barn plan department, began offering free barn planning service. company s architects designed barns promote more efficient use of space , labor saving devices, including use of louden equipment. architecture department s projects include homewood farms president of deere & co., several barns have been listed on national register of historic places. architecture department designed specialized dairy barns, horse stables, hog , chicken houses, , farmstead sites. company reported had planned more 25,000 barns 1939. department published catalog of barn plans, including round barns, published in multiple editions in first half of 20th century. architects employed louden architecture department include edward c. peterkie (1879-1940), guy a. carpenter, c. eugene fleming, architecture department ceased operations in approximately 1947.

industrial applications louden monorail

during world war i, louden s monorail litter carrier adapted industrial uses, including manufacture of ammunition. 1920s, company earned of revenue industrial applications of louden monorail carry equipment in factories of companies such allis-chalmers , general motors. company established louden engineers division design custom adaptations of louden monorail in variety of contexts, including factories, foundries, industrial dipping machines, clothing handling, bales of cotton, motion picture lighting.

during world war ii, company reached record production levels, fueled demand company s overhead handling equipment, including improved louden super track monorail systems. military applications of louden monorail included application material handling devices used in manufacture of first atomic bomb @ oak ridge, tennessee, , material handling in b-29 bomber plant in marietta, georgia.

later years

william louden died in 1931, , robert b. louden followed in 1939. william s son, robert bruce louden, took on company s president following death of robert b. louden , continued hold position until death in 1952. arthur clare louden, son of william, served company s president 1952 1953.

in 1956, company purchased mechanical handling systems, inc., of detroit, michigan. william s grandson, william l. fry, served firm s president general manager 1956 1963. in 1965, louden s line of farm equipment discontinued. louden s overhead handling equipment continued operate , became crane & monorail systems division of american chain , cable company (acco). acco-louden continues manufacture overhead monorail conveying equipment.