34 October 2014 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com
Anniversary Series Special
Brinly-Hardy Company
Celebrates 175
th
Anniversary
Since the original Brinly plows of 1839, the Brinly-Hardy
Company has been actively listening to the needs of those who
use its products. Celebrating its 175th year in business in 2014,
the company has survived civil and world wars, societal shifts,
economic booms, recessions and depressions. Though so much
has changed, one ideal has remained constant: Maintaining a
constant focus on hearing the voice of the customer is the single
most important determinant of business longevity.
The BrInLy pLow
In the early 1800s, a blacksmith known as "Little" John Brinly
built high-quality handmade plows from his small shop in
Simpsonville, Ky. In 1837, his son, Thomas E.C. Brinly, designed
a new steel plow by modifying a saw blade. By 1839, the new
plow design was ready for sale to the general public. With its new
smooth-scouring moldboard, the Brinly plow became well known
throughout the country for its durability and performance,
cutting through the sticky clay soils of the South.
Demand for Brinly's plows increased quickly, surpassing the
productive capacity of the Simpsonville shop. By moving the
thriving business to Louisville, Ky., and forming a partnership
with businessman James E. Hardy, the company was able to
increase its manufacturing and distribution capacities. Expanding
Hearing the voice of the customer
■ by BrAd Turner
