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.