In the 1890s Herbert M. Lourie was operating Keokuk, Iowa farm machinery dealer Lourie Implement Co.; he also worked for the Standard Tire Setter Co. In about 1903 he established the National Machine Co. to manufacture his newly designed "Hercules" hydraulic tire setting machine. The West Tire Setter Co. sued them for patent infringement. We're not sure what happened with that lawsuit but in 1905 the National Machine Co. formally incorporated and built a new factory.

In 1908 the National Machine Company reorganized as the National Hydraulic Tire Setter Co. In 1911 two junior partners in the business, J. W. Devere and H. T. Henderson, were bought out by Lourie's two sons. The business again reorganized and changed its name, this time to the Lourie Mfg. Co.; at the same time they relocated to Springfield, Illinois. By this time it was obvious that metal-tired wagon and carriage wheels were going the way of the buggy whip, and in 1912 the company began manufacturing hydraulic presses. Lourie died in 1925 age 74, and the company continued on for a time without him.

Information Sources

• 1899 Farm Machinery and Equipment, page 8, in a report on exhibitors at a State Fair. "Lourie Implement Co., Keokuk, Ia., one Lightning and three hydraulic cream separators. H. E. Ellington in charge of display. Mr. H. M. Lourie, present. Standard Tire Setter Co., Keokuk, Ia., exhibit cold tire setters. Mr. Henderson is in charge."
• 1899-10-05 Farm Implement News page 26, in a report on exhibitors at the St. Louis Fair.

  The Standard Tire Setter Company, Keokuk, Ia., show the Henderson hand power tire setter, in charge of H. T. Henderson, the patentee. H. M. Lowry, of the company, will be here later in the week.

• 1903 issues of American Blacksmith (Volume 2) carried ads from National Machine Company of Keokuk, Iowa, for their tire setter, "It will set a tire pre minute by hand." Also in these issues were ads from West Tire Setter Co.: "CAUTION: On March 31, 1903, The West Tire Setter Company filed a bill in the United States Circuit Court, Southern District of Iowa, against the National Machine Company, at Keokuk, for infringement of the West patents. Users of infringing machines are warned that they are equally liable with the manufacturers."
• 1905 Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory, Volume 13 page 842. "Standard Tire Setter Co The, H M Lourie pres, Y M C A bldg." Page 839: "Lourie Co The, H M Lourie mngr, cream separator mnfrs, 116 S 4th".
• 1905 issue of The Iron Age (Volume 75 page 1331). "The National Machine Company, Keokuk, Iowa, manufacturer of the Hercules hydraulic tire setter, will shortly buy an equipment of machinery for a new plant."
• 1905 issue of Iron and Machinery World (Volume 97 page 24)> "The National Machine Company has been incorporated at Keokuk, Ia., by H. M. Lourie and J. W. Devere. The capital stock is $10,000. The officers are: H. M. Lourie, president; J. W. Devere, vice-president, and M. S. Keppel, secretary and treasurer."
• 1925-06-18 The Iron Trade Review page 1618, Obituaries (N. B. The author of this piece confuses Standard Tire Setter Co. with National Hydraulic Tire Setter Co.)

  H. M. Lourie of the Lourie MFg. Co., Springfield, Ill., manufacturer of hydraulic machinery, died May 14 at the age of 74. About 1900 he obtained a number of patents of different styles of tire setters for setting steel tires on wagons and buggies. The Standard Tire Setter Co. was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and in 1911 it moved to Springfield, Ill. In 1912 the company entered into the manufacturer of hydraulic presses.

• 1925 issue of Iron Trade and Western Machinist (Volume 76 page 1676).

  H. M. Alkire, secretary of the Lourie Mfg. Co., Springfield, Ill., manufacturer of hydraulic machinery, now is general manager, secretary and a director, succeeding the late H. M. Lourie who died May 14.

• Carriage and Wagon Makers Machinery and Tools by Kenneth L. Cope, 2004 page 132