Pics of the Brower wooden incubator! DUW

[HappyHatch'en]

It may say it is Brower, but it look's like a Leahy to me....Model 624. Perhaps someone has played with the decal, Brower copied Leahy, or Leahy built it and put Brower name on it.....but my Leahy Favorite brochure show's that this unit you have is in fact a Leahy Model 624. And it is in great shape, I believe it is in better shape than my Model 1200...and yes I changed the cord to a three prong plug just to bring it up to date, but I went ahead and bought two wafers and replaced both adjust threaded rods, one was badly bent and would allow me to adjust the temp. The heating elements where fine on mine, but a GQF heating unit would be a replacement. I cranked mine up and ran it for four days, and it kept perfect temp the entire time and it was outside on the porch.

I will take some additional pic's of mine so you can compare the two incubators.
How about you and I fill them both up with eggs? what fun! We would have to have a feed store sponsor us.

 

[walkswithdog]

It does LOOK nearly exactly like the Leahy 624 only the switch and bulb are in a different place. The Brower label does look like it was in the original varnish but had another label OVER it at some point.

Is there a patent # on yours? Mine does have a patent plate on the incubator and a different number for the trays. The equipment looks identical, do you have a pic of the wiring box?

I'm stripping the old varnish now. Someone dumped a cupric solution of some sort on the lid at some point, and removing the huge green stain is a priority. That and a lot of the old varnish had peeled up and yellowed.

They must have applied the varnish with a trowel it's so think - ugh.

Sticking with low VOC, non-toxic strippers is easier on me and the environment but means a lot of waiting and some extra work.

It would cost a blessed fortune to fill either of them with eggs wouldn't it???

600 - OMG. I can't build enough brooders for that many.

I'm enjoying working with it. It is a nicely done piece of craftsmanship. Pity they're all but unreproduceable.

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I thought I attached pic's, I will keep trying for you....

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I hope these pic's help you...I will take more pic's if you need them, but I'm not where the incubator is, these pic's where taken before I really took it apart. And regarding patents, Leahy had the patent on this and I'm sure back then it was strictly enforced...your egg positioning trays are exactly like mine, not to mention your trays and turners....to many like objects not to be a Leahy. Keep in touch...

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I hope you will be able to read some of this, remember these units where made by hand and each man might have placed switches in different areas...

 

[walkswithdog]

Thanks - yeah it's wayyyyy too similar not to be one, especially the 624 pics, the pan and the wiring. Whatever it is, I'm in love.

Got the top off it today in preparation for cleaning out behind the plenum and treating the back end of the cabinet - clean out the nasty mud wasp nests, the egg fragments, the bug bodies - ugh. Several decades of dirt and dust as well. The wood at the back were all the humidity accumulated is a tad rougher in condition, I'll probably condition and seal it, that way it'll go another 100 years.


It'll be easier to reinstall the wafer and snap with the lid off. Took off the switch plate so I can remove the varnish on the front. Wow was it dirty.

Tried out the stain I'll be using on an unobtrusive spot and grinned like a madwoman... That'll do.

Still more stripping, cannot believe the amount of varnish on the sucker. Weeeee

It won't look new when I'm done - that would offend me. It'll be in great condition, when I'm done. If anyone has a closeup shot of a Leahy label or several I'd appreciate seeing them.

 

[chickentracy]

I am loving this thread.

It's so interesting learning about The Leahy's, especially being I am the proud owner of one too!

The pictures are great!

I'll try to get some of mine on the weekend.

 

[HappyHatch'en]

Hope you folks don't mind me adding from another post of mine...

Leahy Manufacturing Company
Higginsville, Missouri
Established 1883 – 1983

The Past to the Present – Incubators By: Kevin Roth

As many of us have found the hobby of raising backyard chickens, certain research has to be done before one starts out. My search has found two valuable resource of gaining knowledge on raising poultry; the magazine Backyard Poultry and the website: backyardchickens forum. My journey of learning raised my interest in incubators and the components used in manufacturing them.

I also went to craigslist, which caused me more excitement than a room filled with helium party balloons when I found and purchased a Leahy Favorite Incubator Model 1200. I had never owned an incubator and being a backyard cabinet maker, I decided to bring new life to this unit by restoring it. Nothing on today’s incubator market matches the craftsmanship, design and construction that these units have. What incubator manufactured today will last 40 plus years and still produce high incubation rates? This company made thousands of these incubators and many are still in use today. I’ve heard where people have found them in old barns, at auctions and family hand me downs. Some of these people are using them as coffee tables and don’t know what they have or how to use them.

To learn more about this company, my journey directed me to a man in Minnesota that restores incubators, he called these units the “Cadillac of Incubators” and “nothing on the market today is built so well”. Words like that only added fuel towards my desire to learn more about the company. My research travels directed me towards the “Show Me State – Missouri”, specifically Higginsville where the company was headquartered. Here I linked up with the Higginsville Historical Society and Ms Loberta “Bobbie” Runge. She has provided me with newspaper articles; photo’s and company pamphlets to assist me in writing this article. I also found that Brad Legg of Legg Peafowl Farm located in Kansas City, Mo uses the model 1200 exclusively because of the high hatch rate the 14 incubators give him. On his web site you can down load the original operator’s manual for the incubator.

Richard B. Leahy in 1867, being raised in New York on the shores of the Atlantic, was a ten year old boy who had earlier lost his mother and now had to deal with loosing his sea captain father to drowning. For the next 11 years he followed his fathers love for the sea, starting out being a cabin boy. Having the opportunity to visit many different countries gave him a diverse education. In 1883 Mr. Leahy headed west, landing in Higginsville to make his home with a new bride. Starting off in a small 14’ x 20’ shop with one foot powered saw, he began manufacturing beehives for a local farmer. The business started to grow and in 1888, with financial help from James E. Gladish, the inventions and product they made where greatly accepted in the bee industry.





Page 2

Leahy Manufacturing Company By: Kevin Roth
Higginsville, Missouri



Mr. Gladish wife was very fond of Leghorn Chickens and it was probably her interest and persuasiveness that directed the company to diversify and start manufacturing redwood incubators in 1905. Their employee’s where all master cabinet makers with strong work ethics and it showed in the quality and craftsmanship in their products.

The incubator was made using 2 layers of tongue and groove. The outside was Redwood, divided by an air space and Celotex moisture barrier. By utilizing redwood in both the bee hives and incubators required the company to receive by rail, 65 carloads of lumber per year. Rapid growth found it necessary to incorporate the business in 1890 as the Leahy manufacturing Company, with capital investment of $12,500.00, employing 25 men and in busier months running two shifts with 150 men. During those months, it was never a question if they would receive orders, rather if the orders could be filled in a timely manner. The large safe in the office was testimony of the required cash on hand and at times held more money than all the banks in Higginsville. It was a good thing the bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, never caught wind of this loot.

Over time, Mr. Leahy became the authority of Bee Keeping in the United States, capturing 90% of the beekeeping business. They shipped bee supplies and incubators worldwide. Leahy Incubators where shipped to Australia, Cuba, India, Peru and thru the United Nations. They had contracts to provide both Sears and Montgomery Wards with incubators thru catalog sales. In 1927 Sears Roebuck was shipping 30,000 incubators each year and the company expanded with a new two story, 30 x 80, equipped with Grinnell Sprinkler System

In 1905 Mr. James E. Gladish bought Mt. Leahy’s interest in the company. Mr. Leahy died in 1906 at the age of 49.

Although the company bares the Leahy name, it was the four generations of the Gladish family that provide the capital, managerial skills, longevity and vision for the company to prosper over the years. And let us not to forget, behind every good man there is a greater woman, Margaret Gladish was the company bookkeeper in 1908 and held the position for 64 years.







Page 3

Leahy Manufacturing Company By: Kevin Roth
Higginsville, Missouri




The company converted their machinery from steam power to electricity in 1912. The plant produced its own electricity from a diesel powered generator; it was the first electricity to be used in Higginsville.

The business was sold in 1978 to James Sopczyk (pronounced “subject”) who already had been selling bee keeping supplies in Minnesota. His enthusiastic attitude inspired the now failing company to make a last stand at producing a quality products. Retired employee’s came back to offer their expertise, rekindling the spark for success for the first few years under the new ownership. But no one could have anticipated that the commercial beekeepers would sell out their equipment at bargain prices; half of the company was now starting to die. By 1981 the incubators were keeping the business afloat, showing $80,000 in gross profits in 1983. Mr. Sopczyk believed the incubators alone would have made a good business, but the bank wouldn’t sell it separately. The end result being the doors closed for the last time December 1983, falling just months short of 100 years in business. The bank scheduled the auction of the machinery and anything else that wasn’t nailed down in July of 1984. The old building sat vacant, a monument to the past, dedicated to talented employees over the past 100 years, demolition of this building however was in 1993.

These are well crafted incubators that have withstood the test of time, with all components still readily available today. OK, I hear you folks that are talking about electronic controlled thermostats apposed to the wafer. Allow me to ask, how many chickens have been hatched using the wafer thermostat in the past 100 years? Today’s hobbyist seem to be looking for the “set and leave it alone” incubators, not the tried and true. These jewels are really a beautiful piece of furniture with the capabilities to bring new live into this world.

 

[walkswithdog]

The label that was over the Brower name on mine ended in Illinois in red ink, on a gold background. When I removed some varnish that much was apparent.

My wiring harness is older than some I'm seeing as is the box and mounts. Smaller and more crowded and probably an earlier model. I'm glad I have small hands, tiny crowded mounts.

I got much of the copper solution off the top but don't think I can get up the whole green stain of it. Will see what some sanding will do. But I'm probably stuck with most of that. This may inspire me to get a better orbital sander or a mouse. The grooved planks are maddening.

 

[Davaroo]

Excellent. It looks like it has been at least re-varnished at some point.
Once working, it should be an awesome piece.