Reeves Pulley Co./M.O. Reeves, Pulleys,etc.

[RER]

Reeves Pulleys Were Specially Made To Help Construct the Golden Gate Bridge In San Francisco, California During 1937
7th Street Columbus, Indiana

Reeves Pulley was founded in 1888 and originally the brothers produced only wooden pulleys for national use. As the years progressed pulleys were made of steel and wood.

A big challenge for Milton & Marshall Reeves was several years before the Golden Gate Bridge was to be constructed across the San Francisco Bay. The Reeves brothers built some of the largest pulleys ever, in order for the construction engineers to use them for leverage by power; to erect portions of the bridge. The bridge was finished in 1937.

The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and the United States. The completed length was approximately 9,000 feet.

Since its completion, the span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. It still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City.



Comment: I have driven across this bridge many times over the years. It is approximately 1.7 miles across the water.

Reference & sources: Historical Society of Indiana and Wikepedia Encyclopedia general comments about bridge.

[Deleted]

A 1880's Reeves trade card.

[Deleted]

Back of Reeves trade card.

[richard]

An advertisement for the 2008 Reeves Festival.

[Ricky_Berkey]

[Ricky_Berkey]

[Ricky_Berkey]

Reeves (1888-1988 ) - 100 Years of Excellence

This is an 18 page brocure (written by John Brent Sohn - 6/1/88). It gives an overview of product history of the Reeves Pulley Company. Bartholomew County Historical Society had copies for sale at the Reeves Festival for $5.

[Ricky_Berkey]

Reeves and the Automobile
by George Bradley

This is a 22 page brochure written for the Reliance Electric Company giving a great history of the Reeves contributions to the early automotive industry. The Bartholomew County Historical Society had copies of these at the Reeves Festival for $5. These have been selling for fairly high prices on Ebay.

[RER]

From The Library of Congress Washington DC
(pages A thru C)

Subject: A short historical summary of Reeves Pulley Company, Seventh & Wilson Streets, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Page A

Page B

Page C


Source: All pages from the Library of Congress

[richard]

The following from 1999, is in the Looking Back feature in today’s edition of The Republic newspaper.

A Kentucky collector reported he had found the remains of a 1911-Reeves Octoauto and is planning to restore the eight-wheeled car.

[RER]

Reeves Pulley Advertisements 1890s
Columbus, Indiana

Makers Of: Farming equipment and pulleys






Source: Souvenir and official program: 19th annual encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana and auxiliary societies, Columbus, In., May 17-20, 1898 No copyrights apply because of the age of the picture and booklet.

[Deleted]

A Reeves Trade Card, the date is unknown. The card had been pasted in an album, so the back is in very poor condition.

[RER]

Reeves Steam Farm Tractor Restored & Running
This tractor was built in Columbus during 1903
Columbus Indiana

Operational Requirements: Coal or wood and water

Go here to see all the pictures (scroll down):

www.roadsteam.co.uk/page15.htm

[RER]

A Question Was Asked Related To Reeves Pulley Company Helping In The Construction Of The California Golden Gate Bridge

Comment: During 4/26/08 I had posted the historical comment after extensive research on the subject. Below is a repeat of my post on page three of this thread.
_________________________________________

Reeves Pulleys Were Specially Made To Help Construct the Golden Gate Bridge In San Francisco, California During 1937
7th Street Columbus, Indiana

Reeves Pulley was founded in 1888 and originally the brothers produced only wooden pulleys for national use. As the years progressed pulleys were made of steel and wood.

A big challenge for Milton & Marshall Reeves was several years before the Golden Gate Bridge was to be constructed across the San Francisco Bay. The Reeves brothers built some of the largest pulleys ever, in order for the construction engineers to use them for leverage by power; to erect portions of the bridge. The bridge was finished in 1937.

The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and the United States. The completed length was approximately 9,000 feet.

Since its completion, the span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. It still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City.



Comment: I have driven across this bridge many times over the years. It is approximately 1.7 miles across the water.

Reference & sources: Historical Society of Indiana and Wikepedia Encyclopedia general comments about bridge.

Current Columbus Historical Society Comment:

columbushomestour.blogspot.com/2008/07/524-third-street.html

[RER]

Reeves Made 6 Different Vehicles Up To 1896 Then Vehicles Including The Below Race Cars In 1906 & 1907



Comment: This track in 1906 sure looks like the old long gone 25th Street fairgrounds race track, but I don't know the date that track opened. Anyway, the car in front above is a Reeves Race Car.

_________________________________

Another of Reeves weird vehicles was this one with two front wheels and four wheels in the rear. Previously, posted was the vehicle with 4 wheels in the front and rear.

[RER]

The Amazing Reeves Pulley Company Accomplishments Keep Coming To Light



Reeves contributed so much to not only Columbus Indiana; with a steady and volumes of employment, but also a national impact. On the surface I always thought of Reeves making mostly pulleys, transmissions for vehicles, and farm machinery. They even made early automobiles and converted buggies into vehicles, with a certain twist of designs.
Then while back I read that they provided pulleys and machines for the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in California. This was an item I grabbed onto and made a short post to pay a little credit to this former great company of the past.

I have researched many times looking for Reeves and the things they designed, constructed, built and sold to the nation. They have many approved patterns that provided national manufactures and industries unique tools and inventions to process and build their own products and provide services.

The other day I discovered two more of their great projects that helped Chicago IL, and Toledo Ohio. In Chicago they constructed vehicle traffic control units used before and after 1928. Then that same time period they designed and installed an assembly pulley system; that moved two seat vehicles (by rail) during the construction of the motored vehicles.

Now, Reeves Pulley folks were well before our wonderful Cummins engine company and former Arvin Industries. I only wish they had survived as a creative company and maintained the unique inventions and productivity and employment they demonstrated during their Columbus tenure.

Following are two pictures of Reeves Pulley Company unique projects mentioned above in Illinois and Ohio. The first is installed at the Willy-Overland Vehicle Company in Toledo Ohio. The second is the Traffic Light Control Unit in Chicago. Both were installed probably before 1928 and after. It is not known how many of the systems were made and installed elsewhere in the nation.





Many of us only wish they were still around and had all that unique qualities of creativeness.


Picture Sources: Bartholomew County Hisorical Society

[RER]

Have You Ever Seen A Reeves Steam Tractor Running Or In Action?
Reeves Pulley Company
7th Street (former)
Columbus, Indiana

Well, here are several videos or U-Tube Shorts so you can say I have seen the Reeves Pulley Steam Tractor actually being driven. Below you will see in very short videos steam tractors still working in the United States and one operating in England.

The below call-up sites will include the Reeves 40-140 Steam Tractor and the Reeves 20 HP Steam Tractors. Hope you enjoy them as I did. Go here one at a time:


(1) tractors.990businesses.com/watch-video/Iaz9uHedqtI/benz1890/reeves-steam-traction-engine.html

(2) tractors.990businesses.com/watch-video/jBsrgRst7Aw/benz1890/reeves-steam-engine-20hp-first-run.html

(3) tractors.990businesses.com/watch-video/qo6UaO8rVPs/benz1890/20hp-reeves-1910-first-running.html

[RER]

First Reeves Pulley Building & Office Year 1880 (7Th Street)

[jimloesch]

In answer to RER's question, and to anyone else who might be interested, on July 23, 2011 at Bartholomew County Historical Society's Breeding Farm, we'll be having our Annual Reeve's Day. We start with a pancake breakfast at 7:00 am, I believe. The Reeve's will be running periodically during the day, as well as several gas engines, probably a dozen or more. The Breeding Farm is located just off I-65 at the 76 mile marker near Exit 76 Antique Mall and the Outlet Mall at the same exit.

[RER]

The first picture below was taken probably in the first decade of 1900. The Reeves Pulley Company plant on present 7th Street was established in 1888. The rail tracks are the early 1900s Interurban Rail Lines. The Interurban systems included several connecting cities and town including Indianapolis.

Prior to the Interurban rail system John S. Crump had established the Horse & Rail Car system during 1890. Then he developed an electrical company and electrified the rail cars during 1893. Sometime in 1904 Mr. Crump sold the electrical rail systems. After that the Interurban system prevailed.

Notice in the first picture that 7th Street is a dirt road and the overhead antique lights spaced above the road.



The second picture below is dated 1906 when the Interurban Rail Line was running up and down 7th Street. The pictures shows the Interurban Car on the track and the road is dirt. Reeves Pulley Company is also animated in this picture. You will further notice the horse and buggies were still being used in those days.