I have two old gas engines (early 1920's) era that I have recovered and restored from my in-laws ranch near Ft.Stockton. I've tracked the engines history from the company's original shipping records in Illinois that they were shipped to Findlater Hardware Co. in San Angelo in 1925 and 1927. I'm assuming that that is where my wife's great grandfather purchased them from etc.

Anyone know of this hardware store? I don't think they are still in business. I which I could get a receipt/store record of the purchase but that's probably not going to happen. FYI the larger of the two engines sold for $219 which was a good deal of money in those days.

Also via the interweb I've found out that Findlater Hardware was bought out by Hicks and Puckitt Hardware sometime around 1949?

My FIL bought Spivy Hardware on N. Chadbourne in 59. There used to be a Wilson hardware on S. Chadbourne. Not sure of the one that bought Findlater.

I am in Angelo now and will ask him in the morning. He came to Angelo right after WWII to go to college, so he may know.

EMC77 any word from your dad? TIA!

Shameless bump. If nobody has any info I will let this thread die peacefully this time. Thanks all!!!!!!

Post up pictures of your engines. I will ask my Grandfather what he knows...

'98- I got completely side tracked at Christmas and honestly don't remember if I asked him you question.

Will see if I can make my dead elephant mind remember to ask him next time we talk.

Sorry for the delay.

From the Tom Green County Records:
The owner of the store. Doesn't help with store information.

Tom Green County, TX - Deaths: Findlater, John, 1935

Standard Certificate of Death

County, Tom Green
City, or Precinct One
Residence No. 523 S. Jefferson
Full name: John Findlater
Spouse: Mrs. Edith Findlater
Occupation: Hardware Merchant

Male, White, Married
Date of Birth: Oct. 29, 1858
Age: 76y 5m 0d

Birthplace: Ireland
Name of Father: John Findlater
Birthplace of Father: Ireland
Name of Mother: Mary Johnson
Birthplace of Mother: Ireland

Informant: J. Mart Findlater
San Angelo, Texas

Date of Death: Mar 29, 1935
Place of Burial or Removal: Fairmount Cem.
Date of Burial: Mar. 31, 1935
Undertaker: Robert Massie Co.
Address: San Angelo, Texas

More info about Findlater
From: "J L Mikeska " <jlmikeska@tex-is.net>
Subject: Re: San Angelo....
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 12:31:54 -0500


I've been reading over both your shoulders with interest re San Angelo, and I was hatched and raised in San Angelo. Attended Santa Rita grade school, thru San Angelo Jr. High and San Angelo High School, which is now tore down! I am now living in Beaumnt, TX, 450 mi south-east of San Angelo.

There was a Findlater Hardware Co in downtown San Angelo as I progressed through school. Believe it was on Twohig, and and between Chadbourne and the old Cactus Theatre/Greyhound Bus station and same side of the street. I have a 98 Angelo telephne directory and do not find a listing for this firm, so they must be out of business now. There is no Findlaters listed in the residential pages.

Try this link for old motor information.

http://books.google.com/books?id=hioLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA189&lpg=PA189&dq=findlater+hardware+sanangelo&source=bl&ots=wDD9iv0q8m&sig=pzDrPmnr9MN8k65TruHmFV5iCok&hl=en&ei=mCyxSYrVKY-Etg***IDDBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPR5,M1

Evidently FindLater's Hardware was involved in a suit that helped define certain garnisments in case law.

http://books.google.com/books?id=5ym5AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA443&lpg=RA2-PA443&dq=findlater+hardware&source=bl&ots=Uaq992dHS-&sig=AoPN5vSIAVQ8jbfqZM6RrPYn0Vw&hl=en&ei=WzKxSaLTKKGbtweeyqm7Bw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result

Jeez, you get started and can't stop

More info about early SA at this link

http://cvcbsa.org/trails/concho.htm

Thanks for the help. I did a bunch of that google searching before I posted the thread.

From what I was able to gather it Findlater hardware was sold and became Hicks and Puckitt Hardware around 1949 or so...