ANTIQUE A. Y. McDONALD Cast Iron Brass Valve Lining DUBUQUE IOWA HAND PUMP
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:15283041 | Material: Brass, Cast Iron |
ANTIQUE A.Y. McDONALD Cast Iron Brass Valve Lining DUBUQUE IOWA HAND PUMP
Cast and Brass 18" Tall. All Mountings and Threads are Serviceable Approx. 20lbs.
A. Y. MCDONALD MANUFACTURING COMPANY. The company was founded in 1856 by Andrew Young MCDONALD. His small plumbing shop specialized in plumbing and gas fittings.Discontinued when McDonald entered the Civil War. the company reopened when he returned to Dubuque in 1865. McDonald also began selling pumps for a Seneca Falls,... New York, firm. His sales success encouraged him to expand production into the manufacture of pumps.McDonald's first factory was located in rented quarters on the upper story of a building at Sixth and Iowa streets The equipment in the factory consisted of one lathe and a four horse-power engine. McDonald began manufacturing pump cylinders that he bought as rough castings and finished himself using an automatic polisher he invented. The factory was so small, McDonald had to punch a hole in the wall to allow pipe to protrude while he threaded the other end.McDonald employed no salesmen choosing to advertise his product with postcards sent throughout the United States. He announced his company would also send samples, at no cost, to interested customers. When McDonald found that it was difficult to sell cylinders without the pump heads, he decided to completely enter the manufacturing sector of the business.A. Y. McDonald developed the idea of inserting a brass lining in his iron cylinders so that the working parts of the cylinder did not rust. Rust had been the main reason for the leather plunger gasket to wear out--the most common problem in these pumps. The popularity of McDonald pumps led to a tremendous growth in the company.
Cast and Brass 18" Tall. All Mountings and Threads are Serviceable Approx. 20lbs.
A. Y. MCDONALD MANUFACTURING COMPANY. The company was founded in 1856 by Andrew Young MCDONALD. His small plumbing shop specialized in plumbing and gas fittings.Discontinued when McDonald entered the Civil War. the company reopened when he returned to Dubuque in 1865. McDonald also began selling pumps for a Seneca Falls,... New York, firm. His sales success encouraged him to expand production into the manufacture of pumps.McDonald's first factory was located in rented quarters on the upper story of a building at Sixth and Iowa streets The equipment in the factory consisted of one lathe and a four horse-power engine. McDonald began manufacturing pump cylinders that he bought as rough castings and finished himself using an automatic polisher he invented. The factory was so small, McDonald had to punch a hole in the wall to allow pipe to protrude while he threaded the other end.McDonald employed no salesmen choosing to advertise his product with postcards sent throughout the United States. He announced his company would also send samples, at no cost, to interested customers. When McDonald found that it was difficult to sell cylinders without the pump heads, he decided to completely enter the manufacturing sector of the business.A. Y. McDonald developed the idea of inserting a brass lining in his iron cylinders so that the working parts of the cylinder did not rust. Rust had been the main reason for the leather plunger gasket to wear out--the most common problem in these pumps. The popularity of McDonald pumps led to a tremendous growth in the company.
