Enderes Tool Co., Enderes Manufacturing Co.

Enderes Tool Company of Albert Lea, Minnesota, is best known for making chisels. In their long history, Enderes has also made files and rasps and many other forged steel tools. In 1921 Enderes Tool's output included automobile tools, auger bits, blacksmith and farrier's tools, bricklayer's and mason's tools, butcher tools, carpenter's tools, chisels, crow bars, files and rasps, floral tools, hammer handles, hatchets, hunting and pocket knives, mining tools, nail pullers, plasterer's tools, punches, saw blades, scissors, screwdrivers, sledge hammers, vises, wedges, and wrenches.  

Ernst Enderes (1861-1937), son of immigrants from Saxony, opened a blacksmith's shop in Littleport, Iowa, in 1885. In 1907 he incorporated as Enderes Manufacturing Co., and in 1910 Enderes affiliated with Albert Lea Manufacturing, 150 miles away in southeast Minnesota. In 1916, Enderes moved all operations to Albert Lea after constructing a new plant. By 1919, Enderes had 4 companies, with Enderes Manufacturing Co. and Enderes Tool Co. making tools, Harris-Enderes Co. making knives and cleavers, and Enderes, Inc., a hardware manufacturer's agency. At an unknown date, the business consolidated as simply Enderes Tool Co. Enderes Tool's current offices are at 1103 Hershey St. and its plant is at 924 E 14th St., Albert Lea. Enderes changed owners in 2012, but remains locally owned with American production. In addition to making tools with their own name, Enderes has done contract manufacturing for Sears and other brands.

Here is a scan of Enderes Catalogue B, 1921.

As a side note, in 1921 Carl A. Palmgren, plant superintendent of the Enderes Manufacturing Co., left to run newly-formed Damascus Steel Products Co. in Rockford, IL.

From History of Clayton County, Iowa, Volume 1, 1916, by Realto E. Price:

Ernst Enderes holds a place of prominence as one of the representative business men of his native county, as he is president of the Enderes Manufacturing Company, which is engaged in the manufacturing of various types of tools at Littleport. The company has a well equipped plant and certain of the high-grade tools manufactured were invented and patented by the president of the corporation, who has long been known as a man of fine mechanical ability.

Mr. Enderes was born on the old homestead farm of his father, near Communia, this county, and the date of his nativity was March 9, 1861. He is a son of John and Barbara (Prupst) Enderes, both natives of Germany and both honored pioneer citizens of Clayton county at the time of their death. John Enderes was one of the earliest settlers in the community about Communia, this county, where he established his home about the year 1849 and where he reclaimed and improved a good farm. He was a nailsmith by trade and prior to coming to Clayton county he had followed the work of his trade. Of the three children the eldest is William, who is a resident of Littleport; and Ernst and Emiline were twins, the latter being now deceased.

Ernst Enderes was reared under the invigorating discipline of the farm and made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools of the locality and period. In his youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, and at the age of twenty years he left the parental home and engaged in the work of his trade in Postville, Allamakee county. There he remained about four years, and he then, in 1885, established his home at Littleport, where for the ensuing twenty-six years he vigorously and successfully applied himself to the work of his trade, as the owner of a blacksmith shop.

In 1907 he became the founder of the prosperous manufacturing enterprise of which he is now the executive head, and his associates as stockholders and directors of the company are Ernst and John W. Enderes, Christ C. Pust, Elmer L. Gifford, and George C. Ruegnitz, Jr. In politics Mr. Enderes gives his allegiance to no definite party but supports the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He is affiliated with the local organizations of the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. On the 18th of September, 1883, Mr. Enderes wedded Miss Louisa Hupp, who was born in Allamakee county, this state, and they have three children: John is associated with the manufacturing company of which his father is president; Rose is the wife of George Ruegnitz, of Volga township; and Elise is the wife of Seymour Lalleyer, of Littleport.

From Enderes Tools website:

Enderes Tool Company was founded in Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1910, the result of a merger between Albert Lea Machinery Company, which was founded in 1908 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, by Joe Pihl; and Enderes Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1896 in Littleport, Iowa and was owned by Ernst Enderes. Enderes Manufacturing Company produced three tools – a 14" cutting nipper, a staple puller, and a drop forged cold chisel. The Albert Lea Machinery Company sold those three tools for Enderes Manufacturing Company.

Sales soon outstripped production capabilities, and an expansion was required. The entire operation was relocated to a new plant in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The old octagon tool plant burned to the ground in 1966, and we built our present plant. Enderes has always been a family-held corporation.