Starline Inc. Records (Harvard)

In 1883, Henry L. Ferris invented and patented a hay carrier while working at his dairy, the Cold Spring Creamery, near Alden, Illinois.  As news ot the carrier spread through the farming community, a number of men visited Ferris with the thought of forming a business venture.  Charles E. Hunt, associated with his father-in-law, Nathan B. Helm, in a hardware store in Harvard, Illinois, suggested that Ferris set up shop in the basement of the store for manufacturing the carrier, and he and Helm would sell the merchandise from the floor above.  Ferris agreed and the Hunt, Helm, Ferris and Company business began.    As Ferris’ engineering skills and inventiveness progressed, the company grew and prospered.  Eventually, Ferris sold his dairy to the Gatman Brothers and moved his family to Harvard.  In 1888 the company built a new and larger manufacturing facility on the south side of Front Street.  Continued prosperity meant continued growth; they built additional buildings, and by 1898, constructed their first three story building.  Product innovation allowed the partners to buy out the Church Hay Tool Company of Harvard prior to the turn of the century.  Finally, Hunt, Helm and Ferris decided to incorporate in 1902.    Through the years, the company manufactured more than 50 products and acquired over 250 patents on equipment designed to streamline farm work.  Ferris invented a windmill regulator, land roller, spring tooth cultivator, a barbed wire stretcher, fence posts, milk house equipment, barn hardware, automatic gutter cleaners and manure spreaders, silo unloaders, and a cattle feeder.  Along the recreational 1ine, Hunt, Helm, and Ferris manufactured a two-wheel bicycle called the “Ferris Wheel”, steel coaster sleds, coaster wagons, and roller skates.    Since farmers referred to the company’s merchandise as the “Star” line of farmstead equipment, Hunt, Helm and Ferris renamed the corporation Starline in 1931.  This preceded a long line of alterations for the company.  In 1943, Starline purchased the Federal Malleable Company of Wisconsin.  Sixteen years later (1959), they sold Federal Malleable to facilitate purchasing 50% interest in the Howard Rotavator Company, an American branch of the British farm machinery manufacturer, Rotary Hoes.  Starline also acquired half interest in the Hawk Bilt Company of Iowa in 1961; a company built around the invention and manufacturer of a patented tank-type manure spreader.  In 1969, Starline merged with Chromalloy American Corporation.  Rotary Hoes declined to be part of the transaction and bought back Starline’s half interest in their American company.  Hawk Bilt Company agreed to the merger.    Today, Starline is part of the Farm Systems Division of Chromalloy Farm and Industrial Equipment Company headquartered in Harvard, Illinois.  S. G. Burritt, the first non-family member elected chairman of the board, strives to keep Hunt, Helm and Ferris’ objective alive--to streamline American farming.

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