Trowel and Masonry Tool Collector Resource : History of Iowa Novelty Company

Please note

Because of the lack of published trowel and masonry tool histories, the information here is based on other sources that may be less reliable and certainly are incomplete. These include eBay and tools that I purchase myself that are the starting points for my research. I will write what I know as I learn it. If what you read here interests you, please check back often and look for revisions and corrections. Scanned catalogs are on Archive.org as pdf files. A few are links to other websites. Your photos and information are welcome. Please click on any picture to enlarge it. Comments are welcome, but any with links will be deleted as possible spam.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

History of Iowa Novelty Company

Iowa Novelty Co. of Burlington, Iowa, made average quality cement edgers, groovers, and related tools in nickel-plated cast iron, bronze, and steel. Their other products included the Perfect Fruit Jar Wrench, Genuine Swedish Sleigh Bells, and the Brutus Stove Pipe Holder. Iowa Novelty products were advertised in the 1906-1910 period. Leo Franz Brutus (9 Feb 1863 - 7 Dec 1928), a native of Sweden, was one of the owners of the company.

A brief article in 1910 said that Kewanee Foundry and Manufacturing Co. of Illinois had bought Iowa Novelty Co., but no other details are available. Another Iowa Novelty Co. was in Cedar Rapids, selling slot machines and vending machines.