Trade Card For The Challenge Wind Mill And Feed Mill Company

Challenge Wind Mill And Feed Mill Company, Batavia, Illinois

Publication: Privately printed, nd ca 1875, NP

3 3/8" x 5 3/8" double-sided card showing two colorful scenes on front of card ... a town scene on one-half and a farm scene on the other half with both scenes showing windmills. Rear of card offers brief information about the Challenge Wind Mill along with showing an illustration of a windmill at the top of the card. The product line of the Challenge Company, founded in 1867, included their most famous product ... the windmill. By 1869, thirty or forty men were working for the company. In 1872, the factory burned but was soon rebuilt. Before long the company was turning out 2000 windmills a year in addition to other farm equipment. Salesmen carried samples of windmills as they toured the west by train, wagon, and later trucks, visiting farmers and extolling the virtues of windmills made in Batavia. The salesman took an order and telegraphed it back to Batavia. After the mill was manufactured, it was shipped in pieces by train to the customer. It would have to be assembled on the farmer’s land. Card lightly soiled with a 1/4" x 1/4" closed tear to edge and a small crease to one corner. Very good.

Inventory Number: 52236