Monica Burkholder recently brought into the Community News Brief office an interesting bucket which comes from one of Macomb’s earliest manufacturers. Monica is the owner/operator of Monique’s Antiques and Uniques, located at 345 Monmouth Street, Good Hope, Il.
Makomb Steel Products (spelled with a “K”, researching that spelling) was founded in Macomb in 1905 by Pearl Brainerd and Peter Schell. The plant was located at Lafayette and Washington Streets and their main vocation was to manufacture farm equipment.
As business increased the plant moved to a larger facility at 355 North Lafayette.
In 1913, they moved once again into a new building on Dudley Street at the C.B.&Q tracks.
At that time the founders incorporated the building as The American Steel Products Company, and they constructed a new foundry and warehouse. Products you could have found at the company included harrows, rakes, manure spreaders, hog feeders, chicken brooders and other farm items, which were sold under the brand name “Hi Yield.”
In 1925, Montgomery Wards bought the business and turned the main focus on making poultry equipment, and the company was promoted as “the world’s largest brooder builders.” Pearl Brainerd eventually moved to Monmouth, where he continued to make poultry equipment, and Peter Schell moved to Quincy where he founded the Mitchell Manufacturing Company. In 1930 American Steel Products consolidated with the Globe Stove and Range Company of Kokomo, Indiana, to form the Globe American Corporation.
The consolidated company employed almost 300 people, but in the late 1950s a decline in demand for poultry equipment brought the business to an end.
The bucket Burkholder brought in is quite old and has the model number of CA130.
The sides of the bucket have brackets where it appears a handle may have been, however if the bucket was used upright the metal I.D. tag is upside down. The tag says Makomb Steel Products Co. Makomb, Illinois.
If anyone in the community has information on this bucket or has other items manufactured at this early McDonough County manufacturer please contact the Community News Brief.
Credits: Worth Point Antique Catalog Monica Burkholder Macomb; A Pictorial History by John Hallwas A Souvenir of Macomb booklet published 1902
First known as Makomb Steel Products Co. Here are Monica's bucket pictures.
