Supplee Hdw. Co. – Detroit

The Supplee Hardware Company of Philadelphia was established in 1856, and operated under that name until 1905 when it merged with Biddle Hardware, changing it name to Supplee-Biddle in 1905.

That said, there was a myriad of mergers, buy-outs, and changes for Biddle Hardware, Supplee-Biddle and Supplee Hardware, and according to yesteryeartools.com, the name changes look like this:

Biddle Hardware 1837-1919

Lloyd-Supplee 1854-1867

Lloyd, Supplee & Walton 1867-1889

Supplee Hdw. Company 1889-1905

Supplee, Biddle & King Hdw. Co. 1905-1919

Supplee, Biddle Co. 1919-1950

Whilst at the Just for Openers meeting, TC presented me with a Detroit corkscrew that is marked for SUPPLEE HDW., which falls within the 1889-1905 timeframe, as listed above (the Detroit being the 1891 patent of David W. Davis).

Another variation of advertising that exists on the Detroit corkscrew, and thanks TC for the addition to the collection!

The list of advertising Detroit and Puddefoot is clearly not complete, as other versions have turned up, but here are a few of the known advertisements:

On the Detroit corkscrew:

BRISCOE MFG. CO. AUTO PARTS, DETROIT MICH. — added to the collection recently
CHAS. PICK & CO., CHICAGO (with knife blade)
COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO USA 1893
COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO USA 1893 (with knife blade)
COMPLIMENTS OF GERKE BREWING CO. CINNCINATI
COMPLIMENTS OF JOS. SCHLITZ BREWING CO
COMPLIMENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS BREWING CO. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. “GILT EDGE”
COMPLIMENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS BREWING CO “EXPORT WEINER”
COMPLIMENTS OF PABST BREWINC CO. MILWAUKEE (with knife blade)
COMPLIMENTS OF THE GREENWAY BREWING CO.
I. L. LAMM, WHOLESALE LIQUOR DEALER, WEST SUPERIOR, WIS.
LOCK CITY BREWING CO.
SUPPLEE HDW. CO. PHILADELPHIA, PA – the most recent addition
VOIGT BREWING CO. LTD. DETROIT, MICH. U.S.A.
VOIGT (V IN TRIANGLE AND CIRCLE) DETROIT
THE VOIGT BREWERY LTD. DETROIT, MICH. U. S. A. EXPORT RHINEGOLD
WOOD POLLARD CO. BOSTON, MASS

On the Puddefoot Corkscrew

BROTHERHOOD WINE CO. NEW YORK
COMPLIMENTS OF GREENWAY BREW’G SYRACUSE N.Y.
COMPLIMENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS BREWING CO. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN “GILT EDGE.”
WELCH GRAPE JUICE CO., WATKINS, N.Y.
WELCH GRAPE JUICE CO., WESTFIELD, N.Y. (WITH BOAT HANDLE).

If you have a Detroit Cork Screw with advertising that doesn’t appear on the list drop me a line, at josef@vintagecorkscrews .

And, if you have a Detroit corkscrew advertising Voigt, Lock City Brewing, Puddefoot, or Puddefoot Sheet Metal, I am still on the hunt.

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Briscoe Mfg., Co., Auto Parts Detroit, Mich

A couple of days ago, I was doing sort of random eBay search, and an interesting lot of openers turned up. Nothing truly rare amongst them, but there did look go be a Detroit corkscrew in the lot.

With no description of any markings on the Detroit, I checked each photo and then zoomed in.

Interesting, Briscoe Mfg., Co., Auto Parts Detroit, Mich…

Knowing that I don’t have a Briscoe Mfg Detroit, and since it was pretty cheap, I snapped it up, and then headed off to Google who exactly was Briscoe Mfg.

And, from one search that lead to Briscoe Mfg., and an advertisement that makes mention of their patented products, the story suddenly got a lot more interesting(er).

Taking a step back, on the rare-ish Puddefoot corkscrew with the straight neck stand, the example I have is marked for the “COMPLIMENTS OF THE PUDDEFOOT SHEET METAL WORKS OF DETROIT, M.”

I know, you are asking yourself, where are you going with this Josef?

Puddefoot, was quite the inventor and was awarded multiple patents.

In 1902, he was awarded a patent for a Closure. In 1903, he was awarded patents for a Can Forming and Seaming Machine and a Corrugating Machine.

All three of which were assigned to none other than Briscoe Mfg. of Detroit.

And, clearly the relationship continued as in 1904 our sheet metal man was awarded another patent for a Pail.

This time, the patent was awarded to both Puddefoot and Briscoe.

Adding a different advertising on a Davis / Detroit / Puddefoot, is always a cool thing. Finding the connection between the advertiser and the producers of that corkscrew, just makes for an interesting story.

Do you have a corkscrew advertising Puddefoot Sheet Metal? If you do, drop me a line.