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By Bellefonte Through the Years Staff
"In January 1897, Winfield Scott Houser, of Bellefonte, was given a patented on a springless lock, of his invention, the design of which was very simple. It was said to be stronger than any other lock and could be easily opened and closed.
It wasn't until the spring of 1899 that Mr. Houser could arouse enough interest in the manufacture of the lock, to enable him to sell stock in the company and build and equip a factory, which was located near the old car works. During the period of the construction and fitting of the factory, workers were busy making models for the various locks. By June of 1899, all the machinery had been installed, the workers went to work making the dies to be used for the manufacture of the locks. F. B. Weaver, previously associated with the Miller Lock Company, of Philadelphia, was hired as superintendent.
An unfortunate iron shortage delayed the initial manufacturing but by July, 1899, they were able to secure the needed materials and began building the locks.
The factory "flourished for awhile but financial difficulties overtook them" and "for various reasons it did not prove a success. Shortly after that he moved to DuBois.
On July 11, 1903, the machinery and the factory were dismantled and sold to Louis Rosenthal, the then well known junk dealer of Bloomsburg, Pa., as scrap.
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