Hammond Cleat and Insulator Company

Little is known about this company and some of the available information conflicts.

Location

Tod (1977) indicates the company was located in Boston, Massachusetts. This information was probably based on patent research he did since no additional address or history on the company is provided in his history book and patents assigned to the company are listed in his patent reference. Letters patent 511,611 filed September 1, 1892 and granted December 26, 1893 was for a no-tie cleat that was assigned by Charles N. Hammond of Boston, Massachusetts to the Hammond Cleat and Insulator Company of the same place. Letters patent 511,612 was filed April 12, 1893 and granted December 26, 1893 to Charles N. Hammond of Boston, Massachusetts and also assigned to Hammond Cleat and Insulator Company of the same place. These dates are curious because a stock certificate issued by the company to Alice S. Mitchell dated April 3, 1893 indicates the company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine.

People involved with the company

Charles N. Hammond. The company is apparantly named after Charles N. Hammond who listed his addess as Boston, Massachusetts in patent applications. Besides letters patent 511,612 awarded on December 26, 1893 and letters patent 511,612 also awarded on December 25, 1893. Mr. Hammond also received letters patent 524,850 issued August 21, 1894. This last patent for a guy strain, however, was not assigned to the company.

Willaim R. Rand. The signature on the stock certificate referenced above looks like "Wm. R. Rand" and indicates this person was the president on April 3, 1893.

E.H. Crowell. The signature on the stock certificate reference above looks like "E.H.Crowell" and indicates this person was the treasurer of the company on April 3, 1893.

Alice S. Mitchell. On April 3, 1893, 50 shares of stock were issued to Alice S. Mitchell at a cost of ten dollars per share at a total cost of $500. The stock certificate is number #38 and indicates the company has capital stock of $100,000 unassessable. In the 1880s, it was a common practice for stocks to be "assessable," meaning the company could demand additional money from shareholders.