Burroughs-Ross-Colville Plant For Sale

On October 10, 2017 I stopped at the Burroughs-Ross-Colville handle plant in McMinnville, TN, and learned that the handle plant closed in 2016. It is for sale, and I have scanned an extra sales packet. The contact phone numbers are on page 3:
Burroughs-Ross-Colville Sales Packet

There is a complete equipment list which I didn't get, but the handle plant has a number of Defiance copy lathes, and includes the original line shafts (no longer used).

Defiance lathe at Burroughs-Ross-Colville

Burroughs-Ross-Colville office building 10/10/2017

Handle Maker of the Past, A.H. Leathers Manufacturing Co.

Allison Haupt Leathers

The business that became A.H. Leathers Manufacturing Co. was a handle mill established by John Bitner Leathers (1833-1894) in 1879 in Mount Eagle, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Two of his sons, William Turner Leathers (1856-1904) and Allison Haupt Leathers (1867-1932), continued the handle business after the father's death.

Seeking a more plentiful supply of hickory, Allison H. Leathers established a second factory in 1898 in Dickson, Tennessee. In 1909, a fire destroyed the Mount Eagle mill, although some machinery was saved. Since the building was uninsured, Allison H. Leathers elected not to rebuild, and he moved the machinery to Dickson.

Leathers began manufacturing baseball bats in the 1920's, and their best selling bat was the Dixie Swatter. When Allison H. Leathers died, and his children owned the company until 1955 when Harry R. Leathers, Jr. purchased the business. When their baseball bat sales dwindled, the company returned to making tool handles exclusively. The business closed before 1998, when the buildings on East Walnut St. were demolished. Leathers tool handles can occasionally be found on eBay and at flea markets.

The portrait is from Find A Grave. Thank you to Rocky Bowker for information about Leathers.  

Buy Sears Handles While You Can

Since Sears is closing stores, I suggest you stock up on their tool handles while you can. Most of their handles are stained red, perfect for re-hanging Plumb hammers and hatchets. They sell a 13.5 inch hammer handle, 13 inches finished length, which is the original length for 16 oz. claw hammers. You may need to glue in a couple of extra wedges. Buy a bag of wedges from House Handle or make your own wedges from old handles.
  

The closest Sears store to me

Handle Manufacturer of the Past, J.M. Tatem Handle Co.

J.M. Tatem Handle Company is the only New England handle manufacturer whose catalog I have been able to find. They were located in Eastford, Windham County, Connecticut. The owner was John Melvin Tatem (1860-1935), who brought his sons James Carlton Tatem and Harry Logan Tatem into the business. Tatem was in business as early as 1900 and through at least 1933. Their products included hickory and lignum vitae mallets, wood chisel handles, brush handles, door stops, barrel bungs, wood key faucets, and chalk line reels.

The label photo was sent in by reader J.P. in North Granby, CT - thank you.

J.M. Tatem axe handles

J.M. Tatem label