Vtg Antique Wells Bros & Co Little Giant Measuring Wheel Wood Handle Blacksmith

This listing is for a Wells Bros. & Co. Little Giant Measuring Tool. The wheel has numbers and dashes for measuring units on one side with the words Wells Bros & Co, Greenfield, Mass and Little Giant on the other side. It is in excellent condition with some wear on the handle but no cracking or chips. The metal measuring wheel has no chips or defects and the numbers are still visible most of the way around. It also has a metal arrow indicator that still moves and works properly. This is apparantly a blacksmithing tool to measure the circumference of Wagon wheels. We have a low opening bid on this item, so don't miss your chance to win!

In 1876 the brothers Frederick E. Wells and Frank O. Wells left Wiley & Russell Manufacturing Co. to start their own business. They located in a small building on the North bank of the Green River, a short distance upstream from Wiley & Russell. Under the company name of Wells Brothers and the brand name of "Little Giant" they made thread cutting tools, i.e., taps and dies.

In 1879 Franklin E. Snow entered the Wells Brothers organization and the firm became known as Wells Brothers & Co. Through his efforts the company grew rapidly, competing with Wiley & Russell. Tools and machinery for farriers, blacksmiths and wheelwrights were added to the product line. This included manual and powered drilling machines under the "Little Giant" trademark.

In 1888 the company moved to a new and larger factory and incorporated under the name of Wells Brothers Co. In 1900 Frederick E. Wells left, and, with his son, formed the F. E. Wells & Son Co. to manufacture pipe threading tools and lathes.

In 1912 Wells Brothers Co. was acquired by the Greenfield Tap & Die Corp. Tools and machinery not related to thread cutting and the Wells Brothers Co. name were discontinued after 1916.