A Short History of the A.B. Farquhar Company

By Jack C. Norbeck
Published on March 1, 2002
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A 1922 Farquhar portable, now owned by the Industrial & Agricultural Museum of York, Pa. Once used to run a saw mill, this 100 HP portable was donated to the museum by Fred Rosemiller. Standing with the engine is Pete Adomis, who handles restorations for the museum.
A 1922 Farquhar portable, now owned by the Industrial & Agricultural Museum of York, Pa. Once used to run a saw mill, this 100 HP portable was donated to the museum by Fred Rosemiller. Standing with the engine is Pete Adomis, who handles restorations for the museum.
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A 1924 Farquhar Model K 15-45 HP, owned by Todd L. and Lavere Miller, Glen Rock, Pa.
A 1924 Farquhar Model K 15-45 HP, owned by Todd L. and Lavere Miller, Glen Rock, Pa.
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A 1924 Farquhar Model K 15-45 HP, owned by Todd L. and Lavere Miller, Glen Rock, Pa.
A 1924 Farquhar Model K 15-45 HP, owned by Todd L. and Lavere Miller, Glen Rock, Pa.

In 1856 a young Arthur Briggs Farquhar went to work for the W.W. Dingee & Co., a small manufacturer of agricultural implements in York, Pa.

Born Sept. 28, 1838, Farquhar was not quite 18 years old at the time. In spite of his young age Farquhar took to the business rapidly, and a brief 18 months after joining the W.W. Dingee & Co. Farquhar informed his employers of his intention to start his own business.

“The firm,” Farquhar wrote in his autobiography, “laughed at my notion that I might start in business, but asked me not to leave for a month. At the end of that month, as I was getting ready to leave, they offered me a partnership.” Farquhar’s skills, it would appear, were needed for the company to stay in business.

After a disastrous fire burned down the factory during the period of the Civil War (the exact date is not known), Farquhar took over all liabilities and assets of the W.W. Dingee & Co., and it was evidently around this time that the company became known as the Pennsylvania Agricultural Works.

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