The Lowell Area Historical Museum is offering a weekly feature to explore local history. The ABCs of Lowell History continues with a look at Newell, a prominent manufacturer in Lowell for many years. To learn more about Lowell history, visit the museum website to explore its collection of local artifacts and records.
The Newell Manufacturing Company was formed in 1940 by Frank Newell and I. O. Altenburger and was known for making two opposite, very different items – hardware for doors and air fired toy guns.
The company incorporated with Frank Newell as president and general manager and I.O Altenburger as vice-president in charge of production. Mr. Newell had been in sales and Mr. Altenburger was a manager with the Lowell Manufacturing Company, located at 324 W. Main St, where the Shell Gas Station is now. Newell Manufacturing moved into the former West Ward School at 615 Chatham Street when the city consolidated schools and began leasing the building. Eventually the company bought the building and property, and built their own building.
In 1949 Lowell was represented at the 46th annual American Toy Fair in New York City by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Newell. The Newells were exhibiting the company’s toy guns. The toy was an air fire sub-machine gun. It was made with a plastic stock and polished aluminum barrel. Each ‘gun’ sold was packed with three red table tennis balls bearing the Newell Company trademark. In 1949 over 300,000 toy guns were shipped from Lowell all over the world!
The company went through hard times when Frank Newell unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1957, and I.O. Altenburger died in 1960. The company reorganized under the manager, Wallace Hook, with investors from Grand Rapids. The company continued in the field of door hardware.
Mrs. Helen Look Newell was the daughter of Dexter G. Look, successful Lowell druggist and wife of Newell. Upon her death she left her estate to the Lowell Congregational Church and the City of Lowell.
In 1968 the company was acquired by Wolverine Industries of Grand Rapids and in 1981 the Dayton – Walther Corporation of Dayton, Ohio became the owner. The Newell Manufacturing building still stands on Chatham Street and is now home to PURforms.
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Today while helping clean out a garage in Greenwich Ohio I found a ping pong ball gun almost like one I got for Christmas more than 70 years ago. What memories that gun brought to mind. The one I found is in very poor condition and the pump cylinder or tube has been dented and will not move more than about half of the stroke required to eject a ping pong ball. The gaskets and seals are hardened and I doubt that it will ever be used as it was intended, but I can assure you that it will go up on my trophy wall as a well earned example of things I am proud of. I just wanted you to know. Thanks, Barney
What a great find! Thanks for sharing, Barney!