Manley Popcorn Machine

1940 Premier Model 

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The company originated in 1921 or 1922 when Julian Burch started making popcorn machines under the name Burch Manufacturing Company.  Shortly thereafter Charles T. Manley joined Julian Burch.  Burch then left and started a new company.  

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Charles T. Manley continued to use the Burch Manufacturing name until 1940.  According to Manley Inc. records from the 1950s, the name changed from Burch Manufacturing to Manley on September 18, 1940.  Around the end of WWII, Manley Inc. purchased a building in Kansas City, Missouri.  He produced a wide variety of models serving a wide variety of markets.  In the 1940s and 1950s one of their markets was movie theatres.  In 1947 they held 70% of the movie theatre market.  For the theatre market the upright or cabinet style popper were preferred.  They also marketed to schools for use in stadiums.  At some point in time, they developed industrial popcorn machines for the packaged popcorn.  The model 315 was developed for making carmel corn.  Many of these machines are still being used today.  

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Factory in Kansas City, Missouri 

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If the Art Deco Grand Theatre in Westfield, New York was still standing and had been restored, I would have found and gifted a Manley Popcorn Machine for the lobby/concession area.

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Grand Theatre lobby with its porcelain water fountain

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"the Grand lady"