| Anyone from Peru Illinois know anything about Peru Plow and Wheel Company?

Anyone from Peru Illinois know anything about Peru Plow and Wheel Company?

FORDMAN asked:


I am interested in antique farm equipment. I recently purchased an antique farm wagon with steel wheels.
The only writing I have found is “Peru” written on the wheels.
I have found that there was at one time a company called Peru plow and wheel company, but I have found almost no other info on the web.
Maybe somebody’s grandparent worked there?
I would like to know roughly how old my wagon is.
If I at least knew what years the company was in business, I would have an idea.
Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

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Comments

One Response to “Anyone from Peru Illinois know anything about Peru Plow and Wheel Company?”

  1. cloothe on May 21st, 2009 3:23 pm

    Thank you for your question. I love doing research on odd topics like this.

    The Peru Plow and Wheel Company operated for 90 years, from 1851 to 1941. They made a number of products, including farm wagons like yours. They apparently also made engines for :”powered” farm wagons. These engines were used by the Hercules company, with which Peru Plow and Wagon seems to have had a long relationship. Hercules and Peru were both eventually taken over by J. I. Case.

    There is a book about the company, called “The Peru Plow Works : Ninety years of farm machinery in Peru, Illinois, 1851-1941,” by Chad Elmore. It was published in 1966. Not surprisingly, the book is owned by the Peru, Ilinois public library, among others.

    Since most libraries will get you any book you want via Interlibrary Loan, you might ask your local public library if they can do that for you.

    I hope this helps. Good luck!!