Economy Baler Company was incorporated on May 1, 1913. In 1967, Economy Baler of Michigan merged into American Hoist & Derrick Company (Amhoist).

In the news

• Economy Baler: A fortune built on waste paper, Grace Shackman, Ann Arbor Observer, September 1996

In 1911, George Langford took out a second mortgage on his house in order to start Economy Baler. The company, headquartered on North Main Street, grew to be the largest business of its kind in the world. In a 1943 Ann Arbor News article, Langford claimed that its success was "a direct result of the old system of free enterprise which not only permitted but encouraged the plowing of profits back into the business."

Patents

• 1637543 Bale-dividing device, inventor Alford C. Barrows, 1927
• 1868752 High density compress, inventors George W. Langford and Harold L. Haines, 1932
• 2181019 Baling Press, inventor George W. Langford, issued Nov. 21, 1939
• 2292688 Chain sprocket accessory, inventors Harold L. Haines and Alford C. Barrows, 1942
• 3170642 Box crusher and paper shredder, inventor John V. Haidler

Directory listings

• Economy Baler listings in 1921 Polk Directory

Litigation

• 343 F2d 187 Aftanase v. Economy Baler Company, April 1965

Arthur H. Aftanase, a Minnesota resident and an employee of Eastern Supply Company, was injured in Minneapolis in January 1962 while at work at his employer's scrap metal baling machine. He instituted this diversity suit in the District of Minnesota against Economy Baler Company, the manufacturer of the baler. He would rest liability on breach of implied warranty and on negligence in design and in failure to provide proper safety devices, suitable guards, and adequate warnings.

• Van Slambrouck v. Economy Baler Co., 475 NE 2d 867 - Ill: Supreme Court 1985

The procedural history of Van Slambrouck is long and involved. Because of our holding in the case it is not necessary to set forth the Van Slambrouck facts in detail. Michael Van Slambrouck worked for a janitorial service, Lein Chemical Company. Marshall Field and Company (Field's) hired Lein Chemical to service its Old Orchard store. On November 10, 1973, Van Slambrouck's 465 left foot was amputated while using a paper-baling machine at work. Economy Baler Company (Economy) manufactured the baling machine, Field's owned the machine, and Lein Chemical used the machine.