photo credit:  Ross Porter Collection

photo credit:  Ross Porter Collection

photo credit:  Ross Porter Collection

HOLMES & GILFILLAN TO MAKE BACKUS PIN SETTERS INDEPENDENTLY BREAK WITH BRUNSWICK CO. 20,000 NOW IN USE Mckean County Democrat - January 10 1929 The local manufacturing firm of Holmes & Gilfillan is preparing to market the Backus Automatic Pin Setters, invented by J. C. Backus, local inventor, and now in use on the majority of bowling alleys in the United States and Canada, independently. An extensive advertising campaign is being launched by the local firm in leading trade papers and plans call for the development of a sales organization to maintain the national popularity and steady demand for the ingenlus bowling alley devices. During the life of the Backus patent in the pin setting machines were marketed by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company, and bore that powerful corporations trade-mark, but the machines were manufactured at the large factory of Holmes & Gilfillan in Smethport. Some time ago the Backus patent expired and the Brunswick company developed a new machine, based on the Backus plan of operation, built a factory for the manufature of the machines in Wisconsin and is now engaged in marketing their own product in preference to the Backus machine. In view of the fact that Holmes & Gilfillan posses a large, modern factory building planned for the exclusive production of the Backus pin setters, and the further fact that 20,000 of the machines are now in active use today, giving splendid service, the localfirm feels that there is sufficient prospects of business in the form of replacement orders from bowling alleys now using the Backus machines and new installations to warrant going after it. When Mr. Backus first developed his in setting device, the first successful one in the history of bowling, Holmes and Gilfillan secured the manufacturing rights to the invention and started to place it on the market. A costly legal tilt ensued between the local firm and the Brunswick corporation, which attempted to prove that the Backus machine infringed upon a pin-spotting device owned by the plaintiff company, which was unsuccessful and had never been marketed. The-- end-- ----- ---- ----mise by the terms of which the Brunswick company sold the Backus machine through its great sales organization while Holmes & Gilfillan manufactured the product at a contract price and Mr. Backus received a substantial royalty from each machine sold This arrangement continued for seventeen years up to a year or so ago. During this time the local factory gave employment to a large force of men and was a splendid industry for the town. The Backus machines are perfect working devices and owing to their simplicity and reasonable selling cost should continue to find a steady sale.

F. L. HOLMES PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT Transfusions Fail to Save Prominent Man’s Life McKean County Democrat Thursday, September 7, 1933 Franklin LeRoy Holmes, aged 70, prominent Smethport manufacturer, died at the Kane Community Hospital last evening shortly before 6:00 o’clock. Mr. Holmes lost a gallant fight to survive after submitting to an emergency operation at the hospital two weeks ago tonight. The Smethport man had been in ill health for some time past and was a patient in the Kane hospital for a period of two weeks last July. He returned to his home here and was again active in his many business affairs, but did not improve satisfactorily. He was stricken with a severe attack of illness Thursday afternoon August 31, while motoring to Eldred. He was attended by Dr. Huff in the latter town and was then brought back home in an ambulance. Later in the same day he was taken to the Kane Community Hospital, where an emergency operation was performed by Dr. W. Blair Mosser, head surgeon of the hospital, and Dr. R. E. Hockenberry of Smethport. Mr. holmes rallied from the serious operation and appeared to improve slowly for a few days. Last Sunday there was a noticeale change for the worse in his condition and he grew steadily weaker. A number of local men volunteered to give blood for transfusion in a last desperate effort to revive the flickering spark of life. One transfusion was given Tuesday morning and another yesterday morning, but to no avail.Friends in Smethport, although fully aware of Mr. Holmes’ critical condition ever since the operation, had hoped that his splendid fighting spirit might triumph. They were saddened when news was received of his passing. The body of Mr. Holmes was brought to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rubin of King street this morning. Franklin LeRoy Holmes, known familiarly as “Roy” Holmes by a multitude of acquaintances in Smethport and throughout this section, was born June 10, 1863, at Selinsgrove, Pa., a son of the late Wells and Rebecca Holmes. He was educated in the public schools of Selinsgrove. On April 13, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Hulett of Rochester, N.Y., in the latter city.Mr. and Mrs. Holmes came to Smethport about forty years ago and the former became an executive of the old Smethport Extract Co. On March 1, 1894, in partnership with the late Alba J. Gilfillan, Mr. Holmes form the firm of Holmes & Gilfillan. The company did a wholesale and retail business in lumber and builder’s supplies. The enterprise flourished under the capable management of Messers. Holmes and Gilfillan. The year 1907 was another important milestone in the career of the subject of this sketch, marking as it did the end of the epochal battle between Holmes & Gilfillan and the late J. Clayton Backus of Smethport on one side and the powerful Brunswick-Balke-Callender Co. on the other. Mr. Backus has invented his famous automatic pin-setters for bowling alleys and had assigned the manufacturing rights to Holmes & Gilfillan when the Brunswick Interests attempted to nullify Mr. Backus’ invention by claim of prior conception. Mr. Holmes displayed his business judgment and fighting nature to good advantage and the result was that Mr. Backus’ claims upheld after long and costly litigation and Holmes & Gilfillan proceeded to manufacture the clever pin-setting devices on a quantity basis shipping them all over the world from the local plant. The Brunswick Co. was selling agent for the pin-setters, according to the final settlement. Mr. Holmes attended most of the National Bowling Tournament for years and was acquainted with many of the leaders of the sport in the country. The business of Holmes & Gilfillan boomed and in 1912 the plant was materially enlarged by the erection of modern brick buildings. In 1919 Holmes & Gilfillan were incorporated. Mr. Gilfillan passed away several years ago but Mr. Holmes continued to be active in the business until his last illness. In addition to the local industry, Mr. Holmes was interested in oil and gas production and coal mining. He was vice president of the Grange National Bank in Smethport and was treasurer of the McKean County Fair Association for many years, always taking a keen interest in the local exposition. For a number of years Holmes & Gilfillan owned the model dairy farm on the Bush Hill Road, near East Smethport, now conducted by Leonard Olson. They made it one of the rural showplaces of the county. A member of McKean Lodge F. & A. M. of Smethport, Mr. Holmes also belonged to the Coudersport Consistory and Zem Zem Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Erie. Surviving are his widow; one daughter, Mary Rubin, of Smethport , and two brothers, Grant T. Holmes, and C. L. Holmes, of Hammondsport, N.Y. Funeral Services will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rubin on King street Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The Rev. W. E. Van Dyke, rector of St. Luke’s Church will officiate. Interment will be made in Rose Hill Cemetery.

photo credit:  Greg Pierotti