During the closing years of the last century, the need of insect control came to the attention of men of Lowell. In a very humble way the production of sprayers and other special items was started. No particular growth or prosperity was noticed on the part of the infant manufacturers until 1905 when the business was incorporated under the name Lowell Specialty Company.

The first meeting of the new corporation was held August 1^st, 1905, with all of the stockholders present. A perusal of the minute book of the company shows the original stockholders as follows: R. B.Loveland, G. G. Towsley, F. W. Hinyon, W. A. Watts, D. G. Look, John S. Bergin, Christopher Bergin, J. B. Nicholson.

Out of these stockholders the name of John S. Bergin was presented as President, D. G. look as vice president, Wm. A. Watts as treasurer and J. B. Nicholson as secretary.

Then came the stringent time of 1907, and even with other larger and better financed organizations going under, the Lowell Specialty kept its feet and was unable to continue some growth.

Gradually, the sues for sprayers became better known. Agriculture and horticulture demanded sprayers, new types were added to the line and soon the distribution of the local company became national. Agricultural colleges, state departments of agriculture, county agents and other such bodies spread the gospel of spraying, not only as a cure of all ills, but as a preventative.

Soon came the manufacture of household insecticide to take its part in the program of sprayer distribution. New sprayers were developed for this purpose and gradually plant and equipment grew to grew to proportions where the Lowell Specialty Company became one of the outstanding industries in town.

Few people realize the effect the Lowell Nu Dav Sprayer had on the sprayer market. Here was a pattern, original in design and adapted better than any other type for the application of household insecticide. Contracts started coming in for solid carloads of sprayers, an unheard-of thing. Plant and equipment was taxed to capacity, employment increased, Lowell sprayers were better known and better advertised.

In the fall of 1928, the Lowell Specialty Company sold their business to a competition, the H. D. Hudson Mfg. Co., of Chicago, Ill. The Lowell Sprayer Company, as now known, then became a manufacturer of diversified farm operating equipment. The Lowell Sprayer company, however, maintain its own individuality and their appearance in the field as competitor of the H. D. Hudson Mfg. Co. has stabilizes prices and to a large extent aided the growth of the industry.

Present officials of the corporation are H. D. Hudson, Chicago, president; R. E. Streckenbach, Detroit, vice president; C. A. Hall, Chicago, assistant treasurer; V. A. Snell, Lowell, secretary; R. C. Seyforth, Lowell, in charge of production; Arthur F. Armstrong, Lowell, plant superintendent.

The future of the Lowell Sprayer Company is unusually bright. Since 1928 new equipment and machinery, etc. have permitted saving to be made which have helped greatly in maintaining a volume in the face of greatly unsettled business conditions.

New patterns are being added rapidly with the promise of a line of poultry equipment to augment the volume and to employ more labor.

Employment varies, due to the seasonal nature of the product. Forces as high as 125 have worked during the Spring and Summer months in 1929. Due to labor saving equipment and better methods of manufacturing, this force has been reduced to approximately 85 at the date of writing.

The investment of the Lowell Sprayer Company is in Lowell. With the settling of economic conditions generally throughout the country, the prospects for expansion and general increase in volume are certain.

No business has a finer outlook than the infant sprayer business. No business has such a fine possibility of earnings. No business is better able to help Lowell and its people and bring to them the comforts of prosperity as a reward for their co-operation and the efforts of prosperity as a reward for the co-operation and efforts than the Lowell Sprayer Company.