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A Brief History of Arcade Manufacturing Company

The Arcade Manufacturing Company, based in Freeport, Illinois, produced various products, including coffee mills, stoves, and other household items. The company was founded in the late 19th century and operated until the mid-20th century.

Arcade Manufacturing Company
From “History of Stephenson County”

The Arcade Company has always made a specialty of coffee mills. Besides the dozens of coffee mills of diverse designs, the Arcade also manufactured hinges, screen door hinges, stove pipe dampers, lid lifters, cork extractors, corkscrews, and numerous small notions and novelties. Multiple children’s toys, such as toy coffee mills, miniature trains, swings, doll carriages, etc., have also been manufactured.

The Arcade Company prided itself on producing the best quality products. Everything started from the finest material obtainable by skilled workers.

Table of Contents

Arcade Manufacturing Company History
The Best Sellers of the Arcade Company

Arcade Manufacturing Company History

1868: Morgan Brothers, Charles Morgan, and Edward H. Morgan founded the Novelty Iron Works on the corner of Chicago and Jackson streets in Stephenson County, Chicago, Illinois, with ten employees.

1874: The old buildings were torn down, and a brand new, $25,000 manufacturing facility was built on the same spot with more advanced features such as a machine shop, foundry, and engine room.

1877: J.P. Easeter joined the company as a partner, and the company began manufacturing a variety of castings as Novelty Iron Works. One of the most dominant castings manufactured was plows and pumps.

1885: The company went out of business in 1885. Edward Morgan, Charles Morgan, and Albert Baumgarten reorganized the company as the Arcade Manufacturing Company in the same facility where the Novel Iron Works company was. The company grew too fast, and it was getting too crowded. They moved to a new factory in East Freeport.

1891: The company moved again to a building that the Emory and Williams Canning Company previously owned. It was a perfect building for Arcade because of the machinery that had already been installed. Charles Morgan’s design of coffee mill was patented on October 20, 1891 (No 461,784)

1892: The new location was burned down to the ground. No one was able to identify the cause of the fire. The fire was the knockout punch to the rapidly growing company. Everything burned, including all supplies and new equipment. Also, the fire destroyed about 40,000 coffee mills. The Arcade Manufacturing Company has accrued a deficit of over $20,000.

1893: The company was quickly reorganized and recovered from the deadly blow. It successfully built a new factory at a place now known as the Arcade Addition. The Arcade Addition was a land that belonged to the Keller- Wittbecker farm. A portion of the land was sold to the Arcade Manufacturing Company. Loyal.L. Munn (who later became the principal stockholder with heavy investment) became a partner.

1897: Started manufacturing a variety of wall-mounted coffee mills.

1900: The United States Patent Office grants Charles Morgan the patent (No 652, 323) on a new type of wall coffee mill known as the Crystal No 1.

1908: The animal banks launched with a horse figure and later expanded production by adding lion, seal, pig, buffalo, cow, rhinoceros, and rat.

1909-1933: Various toy products, such as the famous Yellow Cab and Fordson, were produced.

1935: Arcade introduced a line of inexpensive home-shop tools (Arcade Craft Tools and Craftmaster)

1941: Arcade introduced the Homecraft line of woodworking machinery.

1946: Arcade was purchased by Rockwell Manufacturing Company, mainly for their foundry and machining facilities. Sadly, Arcade stopped producing products, including coffee mills

The Best Sellers of the Arcade Company

In the history of the Arcade Manufacturing Company, the Arcade Crystal Series (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4) was the best-selling coffee mill that they applied for protection of the name.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy Hiner says

    March 11, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    We have an Arcade Mfg. Co. wooden coffee grinder — label also says it is “Favorite No. 67”. It once belonged to my husband’s grandparents. It’s in good condition. Don’t see this particular No. 67 on any for sale on eBay. Any ideas for a value for selling price? The label is in good shape — also says 1898, Freeport IL. Thanks!

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:25 am

      I have seen only Favorite 47, 97 (1892), and 100 personally. But the market price is around $50-$120 (based on actual transactions)

      Reply
  2. al says

    December 25, 2015 at 12:01 am

    I have a imperial mfg. arcade model 707 according to their web site is worth $175.00

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:27 am

      It depends. I’ve been seeing Imperial 707 and other 700 series going for under $100 only.

      Reply
  3. Clyde Davis says

    October 17, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    I have a Crystal No. 3 Coffee Grinder that has need passed down through the family. It was mfg. by Arcade Mcg. Co. I could use an approximate age of my grinder if someone has any idea. Please E-mail me.

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:28 am

      Sure. Crystal 1 through 4 were made from about 1898 through 1930. Crystal 3 was the most popular of all 4.

      Reply
  4. Diane Bernards says

    November 29, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Question: the arcade 4/40 why are some labeled with 4 and others 40, also the difference between the mount 2 screws on each side or the screws behind the catch cup or the coffee bean canister

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:32 am

      Not sure about 4/40 (need to see the pictures) but you are right on the 2 different types. Crystal No 4 was available in 2 different styles for wall-mounting. One had arms to the left and right and the other had behind the grinding mechanism. So both are legit.

      Reply
  5. Kathy Schatz says

    July 19, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    I have an Arcade Crystal No 3 coffee grinder with both original jars in pristine condition looking for a good home.

    Reply
    • Joe Mecca says

      December 1, 2019 at 12:17 am

      Hello. Have you sold the jars?
      Joe
      919-618-3716

      Reply
  6. deb ditella says

    September 5, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    Hi,
    I have a Arcade crystal No. 1 that is all original.
    I am trying to price it to possibly sell, but I can’t seem to find a single No.1 for sale. Any ideas?

    I

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:38 am

      They go for less than $100 and most of them have replacement parts. A lot of sellers think all parts are original, but they are not usually. So if you truely have all original parts I can see it go above $100.

      Reply
  7. Hector Perez says

    March 30, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    Hi,
    I have a Arcade crystal No. 1 that is all original, for sale.
    Never been USED !!

    asking price $350.00

    Reply
    • John says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:35 am

      Not trying to discourage you, but I haven’t seen Crystal No 1 being sold at $350. When you say it was never used, is it in its original condition / refurbished etc? I’d love to see it in pictures.

      Reply
  8. Carol Lindsay says

    March 29, 2024 at 10:28 am

    Any way to tell what year a burr mill was made? Mine has no mark or branding of any kind. I only know it was made by Arcade.

    Reply

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