TAKE OFF YOUR HAT TO THE MYERS!

Buffalo: Gies & Co., 1901., 1901. First edition. First edition. 6-1/4" x 6-3/4" bright blue die-cut card in the shape of a cowboy hat that folds to four panels with "Take Off Your Hat To "The Meyers!" on both sides. An advertisement for F. E. Myers & Brothers. "In 1815, Uniontown, Ohio, was little more than a frontier outpost. Less than 100 years later, the town had been renamed Ashland, and boasted 47 factories. As an early manufacturing center, Ashland was home to Reliable Match Co. ('Strike Anywhere Matches'), Kauffman Mfg. Co. (manufacturer of folding chairs used in Union Army encampments), Dr. Hess & Clark (veterinary supplies and disinfectants) and T.W. Miller's Faultless Rubber Co. (rubber sundries, surgical goods and bicycle tires). But Ashland's biggest manufacturer in 1915 was F.E. Myers & Bro., a manufacturer of water pumps and hay tools. In 1870, F.E. Myers went into business for himself and persuaded his brother Philip to join him. The pair first operated a repair shop and sold farm equipment. Every farm family needed water, and F.E. Myers saw an opportunity to build pumps to meet that need. Philip was captivated by the mechanics of the water pump. He secured a patent for a double-action pump that delivered water in a steady stream rather than spurts. Two years later he designed a pump with a unique glass valve seat that would neither corrode nor leak. In 1882, the Myers brothers exhibited their pumps at the Ohio State Fair, winning the highest award for the best pumps. Two years later, Philip won a patent for a hay carrier, which evolved into a lucrative line of Myers hay tools. In 1910 he invented a sprayer used to kill mosquitoes in the Panama Canal Zone, protecting thousands of workers from insect-borne malaria. The company’s products enjoyed tremendous success." The center two panels offer a bright colorful illustration of a young girl who is pumping water as a young boy is carrying a pail of water. In the background stands a barn, haystack, wagon and chicken. Written in black is the following: Myers' Pumps and Hay Tools; Myers "Stayon" Door Hanger; Best Pumps and Glass Valve Cylinders; Best Hay Tools, Door Hangers, etc. Items listed are Hand Force and Lift Pumps, Windmill Pumps, Power Pumps, Tank Pumps, Spray Pumps, Cylinders, etc. Hay Unloaders, Hay Forks, Pulleys, Slings, etc. Hayrack Clamps, Barndoor Hangers, etc. Fine condition. A beautiful advertisement.