Ramsey County History – Winter 2015: “William Boss and His Specialty Manufacturing Company”

William Boss and His Specialty Manufacturing Company
Author: Harlan Stoehr

During his lifetime, William Boss (1869–1965) of St. Paul was a farmer, student, instructor, inventor, professor, administrator, and entrepreneur. This article examines how he came to play so many roles, first at the School of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota, and then, later, as the founder of the Specialty Manufacturing Company (SMC) that developed and sold his many practical inventions. Unlike his older brother Andrew, William had little interest in raising animals or in farming. William had a mechanical bent which earned him a position in agricultural engineering at the university. He began his work as an inventor in about 1901 with the design and fabrication of his Easy Emptying Grass Catcher. Sales of the grass catcher led to the founding of SMC and a long career at the university while also managing SMC and inventing other useful devices for the home and office.
PDF of Munson article