Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Gripping Tales: Buhl Sons Co.



Christian Buhl started life as a hatter but, finding competition in this industry too great in Detroit, he spent a decade in the fur trade.  In 1845 he became a partner in the hardware firm of Du Charme and Bartholomew, which ultimately became Buhl and Du Charme and, following Du Charme’s death in 1873, Buhl Sons. Co.  He also founded the Michigan State Bank and was Mayor of Detroit from 1860 to 1862.  His sons founded the Buhl Stamping Co., Buhl Malleable Co. and the Buhl Land Co.  The company remained in business until the 1960's.  One of it’s Detroit business was sold at that time to the Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. which made hardware, guns, and razors and which was itself purchased in 1962 for its “True Value” brand name by John Cotter & Co.

Below, an open-ended wrench perhaps made by one of the other Buhl concerns:

 

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