Buffalo Pitts - Steam Engine Tractors - 1883

STEAM ENGINE TRACTORS. Brayley, James. Illustrations of the celebrated Buffalo Pitts threshing machinery. . . (chromolithograph catalogue). Buffalo, NY: The Pitts Agricultural Works, [1883]. Oblong 8vo. 8 x 5.25 in. which folds out into 16 x 21.5 in. paneled advertisement. 16 pp (unpaginated), color chromolithograph-illustrated title, 7 color chromolith plates, numerous woodcut engraved text illustrations, diagrams. First edition of this exceedingly scarce and wonderfully printed dealer’s brochure for the Pitts Agricultural Works, whose factory on the Erie Canal in Buffalo produced steam traction engines, portable steam engines, and threshers used across the American Midwest. This piece includes well-executed chromolithograph plates for the Buffalo Pitts Straw Burning & Traction Engine, a Coal or Wood Burning Traction Engine; a Buffalo Pitts Apron Thresher Band (patent held by the Pitts Co., and licensed to Case and other manufacturers), the Buffalo Pitts Coal or Wood Burning Plain Engine, and more. Founded originally in Rochester, NY by John A. Pitts (after his twin Hiram Pitts left to found a similar company in Chicago, IL, the company moved to Buffalo, NY before the Civil War, and began producing portable and traction farm machines, the apron thresher, vibrating thresher, and more. After a fire in 1879, the factory was quickly rebuilt, and by 1883 they were producing 300 steam engines, and 700 separators annually. After John Pitts death, his son-in-law eventually assumed ownership of the company, and remained President after incorporation. Minor creasing, couple very minor tears at corners, creases at folds expertly repaired, a VG copy.No copies located in Worldcat; See: Sass, Buffalo Pitts Engines (1987); Szafranski, Buffalo Pitts (2014); Smith, History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, II, pp. 257-258; Asher & Adams, New Columbian Rail Road Atlas and Pictorial Album of American Industry (1875), p. 97.