Enterprise Manufacturing Company Historical Memorabilia

A very well made Grinder from Philadelphia dating to the late 19th/ Early 20th Century. By Enterprise Mfg. Co., Phil, U.S.A. With a hand crank and footed base. Dimensions: H. 20", ...

This is the Cadillac of the commercially manufactured coffee grinders of the late 19th century, and a great piece of Victorian Americana. It is one of the largest of the counter top grinders, made for the country general stores by the “Enterprise Manufacturing Company” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1876. It was especially made to be presented and exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 where inventors and manufacturers were encouraged to bring their newest and most outstanding innovations to show the public, such as telephones (Thomas Edison), sewing machines (Singer), and this coffee grinder by Enterprise. With that in mind they produced a particularly fancy model (No. 10 as indicated on the wooden draw front), incorporating prolific decorative and elaborate multi colored stenciling throughout, and it was hand painted brightly in red and blue. This double wheeled coffee grinder is made of cast iron and very heavy, thus, the stenciling takes on a floral motif designed to soften the hard look of the cast iron to encourage the purchase of coffee. Another unusual aspect of this particular coffee grinder is the large solid urn...