The J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company vs. the J.I. Case Plow Works Co.

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Detail from an ad from the J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company.

Someone sent me the following email: 'I was just reading an old ad, circa 1928, for the J.I. Case Threshing Machine Co. of Racine, Wis. In fine print at the bottom is this disclaimer: 'We want the public to know that our plows and harrows are not the Case plows and harrows made by the J.I. Case Plow Works Co.' What's this all about?'

As most of you know, Jerome Increase Case became rich and famous by designing, perfecting and manufacturing a machine to separate and clean grain. His company was located in Racine and, as of 1881, was known as the J.I. Case Threshing Company. During the 1870s, Jerome Case, although still company president, virtually withdrew from an active participation in the day-to-day management of the firm, leaving the job to his brother, Stephen Bull, who was company vice president. Case involved himself in cattle farming, banking, Great Lakes shipping and horse racing, among other interests.

About 1876, Mr. Case became interested in and financed a new venture to build a center-draft plow that had been designed by Ebenezer Whiting. Originally named Case, Whiting and Company, the new factory was located right next to the J.I. Case T.M. Co., but was a completely separate firm. After buying out Whiting, Case renamed the firm the J.I. Case Plow Company in 1878 and became company president, meanwhile retaining presidency of the T.M. Co. In 1884, the company became the J.I. Case Plow Works, offering a full line of walking and sulky plows, along with the other tillage tools. In 1890, J.I. Case resigned as president of the Plow Works and named his son, Jackson I. Case to the post. Jackson wasn't really interested in building plows either, so in 1892, Henry M. Wallis became president. H.M. Wallis was married to one of old J.I.'s daughters and ran the J.I. Case Plow Works Company until its demise in 1928.

At the time of his death in 1891, J.I. Case stipulated in his will that his stock in the J.I. Case T.M. Co. be sold, while his stock in the Plow Works Company was to be left to his family. As a result of the will, the Bulls, Stephen (now president of the T.M. Co.) and his son, Frank Bull, managed to acquire all the T.M. stock. Case's son, Jackson I. Case, along with son-in-law H.M. Wallis, and his son, owned the Plow Works.