The Buffalo Forge Company was formed in 1878 to manufacture blacksmith’s forges. Their product offerings were expanded to include drilling machines in 1883, and steam engines and pumps in 1889.
Other products
Brothers William F. Wendt and Henry Wendt founded Buffalo Forge Company in 1878 and started selling a portable blacksmith forge.[1] Henry sold his interest in the company back to William in 1916.[2]
In 1903, the company absorbed all the plants of the George L. Squier Manufacturing Company. It did the same with the Buffalo Seam Pump Company in 1904.[3]
Engineering book published by the company in 1914, edited by Willis Carrier.
The Buffalo Forge Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1941.[2]
The Wendt family retired from ownership of the company in 1981 after it was acquired in a hostile takeover by Ampco-Pittsburgh. The company was then sold to the Scotland-based Howard Group P.L.C. in 1993.[3][2]
In 1997, Buffalo Machine Tools was created from the machine tool division of Buffalo Forge.[5] The Howden subsidiary containing the remainder of Buffalo Forge was remanded Howden Buffalo in 1999.[5]
The Buffalo Forge Co. works, about 1899
Heating equipment, dust collectors, and a range of metal cutting and forming equipment were also manufactured by the company. Buffalo Forge operated several other plants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Buffalo Forge Company (Advertisement)
for a mill exhauster (March, 1919)
Mergers, acquisitions & significant events
1900
Buffalo Forge was incorporated with a capitalization of $500,000.[6]
1902
Geo. L. Squier Manufacturing Company of Buffalo was purchased, opening the company up to a South and Central America market.
1941
It was decided that the company would be best served if the stock was offered on the New York Stock Exchange. A reorganization was made at that time so that The Squier Corporation, Buffalo Pumps, Inc., and the Canadian Companies became wholly owned subsidiaries of Buffalo Forge Company.
1993
Buffalo Forge was acquired by the Howden Group.[7]
1997
Buffalo Machine Tools of Lockport, New York was created from the machine tool division of Buffalo Forge.
1999
The Howden subsidiary containing the remainder of Buffalo Forge was renamed Howden Buffalo.[8]
2006
The company's 14-acre original manufacturing plant located at 490 Broadway St. in Buffalo was razed. This included the six story "Building 3" at 470-474 Broadway St. which was the final building to be destroyed.[9]
2010
The Howden subsidiary containing the remainder of Buffalo Forge was renamed Howden North America Inc..[8]
2010
The Buffalo Machine Tools subsidiary containing the machine tool division of Buffalo Forge was renamed to Buffalo Machines, Inc of Lockport, New York[2]
