ROYALTON, N.Y. — A donation by Orange resident David Songer of an antique orchard sprayer has found a new home at the Royalton (N.Y.) Historical Society.
The sprayer was manufactured by the Friend Manufacturing Co. of Gasport, N.Y., a hamlet of Royalton about 30 miles from Niagara Falls, according to Royalton Town Historian Jesse Bieber.
David Songer and his father, Ellsworth Songer, originally found the sprayer on a farm in Barre many years ago. The owner no longer wanted it, so he sold it to the pair. Both Songers had long-term interests in gas engines.
David Songer said his first memory of becoming interested in gas engines was when he attended an engine show in Dublin, N.H., and saw an antique gas engine running. From that moment, he remembers being hooked.
Ellsworth Songer was one of the six founding members of the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association, which formed in 1976. David Songer was also very involved in the group and served as its president for several years.
Friend Manufacturing Co. was founded by the Hull brothers George, Arthur, Warren, John and Albert, according to Bieber.
“The Hull brothers were Quakers, who are also known as the Society of Friends. They wanted a name that would represent their strong religious beliefs,” Bieber said.
The company, which was in business from 1895 until 1997, was located on the banks of the Erie Canal.
Friend Manufacturing Co. originally made the Quaker Bicycle and had a bicycle general repair shop.
“They ended up selling the rights to the name and the bicycles to a company in Pennsylvania. By the late 1890s, they were making hand-powered spray pumps with the Friend name. Just after the turn of the century, they settled on the name Friend Manufacturing Co.,” Bieber said.
Their first gasoline-powered sprayer was built in 1901, Bieber said.
“By 1903, they were listed in their catalog along with hand-powered sprayers. The company was quite large. In its heyday in the 1920s, they had over 200 people working at one time,” he said.
Friend Manufacturing Co. also made three gas-powered automobiles around 1902 and 1903.
The donated sprayer, which runs on a gas engine, was built in 1921 and is intact in its original state.
“The engine is one of Friend’s own design. I believe it is a model CX that was built in 1921. They had different size engines depending on what size sprayer they were meant for,” Bieber said.
Popular sprays used in the sprayer at the time, according to Bieber, were a Bordeaux mixture, containing copper sulfate, lime and water; as well as a spray of sulfur used as a fungicide and arsenic sprayed as an insecticide. The company was very well known for its sprayers and other farm equipment, which was sold as far away as Australia.
The Royalton Historical Society first learned of the antique sprayer when it were contacted by David Songer’s daughter, according to Bieber.
“I was contacted by Mr. Songer’s daughter, Kerry. She explained that he was looking for a place to donate the Friend’s sprayer and had searched the internet and found the town of Royalton Historical Society. The next day, the four of us spoke over the phone about his history with the sprayer and our history within the town,” said Jennifer Bieber, Royalton Historical Society president and wife of Jesse Bieber.
The society was very excited about the donation.
“I originally thought it was something that could be sent to us or put in the trunk of a car. I had no idea the size and the distance that was involved to get it. When reality set in, I was even more excited. This wasn’t something that would sit on a shelf in the museum at Town Hall,” Jennifer Bieber continued. “This is the first donation of Friend Manufacturing equipment the society has received.”
Getting the sprayer from Massachusetts to New York involved a road trip in May.
“Jesse and I decided immediately that we weren’t taking any chances; we would be going on a road trip with our truck and trailer in tow,” Jennifer Bieber said. “We wanted to meet Mr. Songer and be able to make sure we had all the details that went along with this amazing donation. We also wanted to ensure its return to its hometown without any issues.”
The sprayer was on display at a Friend’s festival in Royalton held in June.
“It is a nice, small local show,” Jennifer Bieber said. “Everyone was so excited with our display, and with a little guidance and assistance, it was up and running.”
Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writing focuses on history with a particular interest in the history of the North Quabbin area. Contact her at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.