In 1877 Francis Curtis was manufacturing a patent machine for making machine screws, what could be considered to be the first automatic screw machine that took in wire stock and spit out finished screws. By the standards of the day this machine was quite complex, and Curtis would continue to improve his design, with financial assistant from a wealthy local man, Henry Devens. An 1883 patent for improvements to his original screw machine was granted to Francis Curtis and son Albert B. Curtis.

Information Sources

• 1877 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 54, lists Brattleboro manufacturers, including "screw machines, F. Curtis".
• An 1871 patent was granted to Francis Curtis of Brattleborough, VT, for an "Improvement in machines for making machine screws". The patent was reissued in 1880 and was 3/4 assigned to Henry Devens of Brattleborough.
• 1909-09-02 American Machinist pages 406-7 has an article on "The Infancy of the Automatic Screw Machine" by H. E. Curtis. A PDF of those pages is available among our Publications documents. The following is an extract of the complete article.

  In the village of Brattleboro, Vt., in the year 1871, the first automatic screw machine was made. The inventor and maker of this machine, Francis Curtis, was a cabinetmaker, born in Canada, where he lived until 1865, when he came to the "States" with his family, and finally settled in the above named village to follow his trade.

  He had his own little shop, and made spindle bedsteads, which were so popular at that time, and other furniture. He always had an inclination to tinker with machinery, and was ever anxious to take up this line of work in preference to cabinetmaking.

  The opportunity finally presented itself, as he had, by industry and careful saving, succeeded in accumulating $1000 besides paying for his home. He invested this in some machinery, among which was a planer, an engine lathe and speed lathe, and he set about making a few velocipedes. He built a dozen or more of these velocipedes... but before he started on another lot his plans were diverted by a remark made to him by a man for whom he was doing some work. This man picked up a screw from off the bench, and after looking at it a moment, said:

  "Frank, why don't you make a machine for making these screws automatically?"

  That was all the hint my father needed, and he said after a moment or so:

  "I can and I will."

  His mind was made up, for in those few moments he saw the machine which has proved to be one of the greatest labor-saving devices of the 19th century. He went about at once to plan the machine, with the result that within 11 months from the day it was suggested he had a complete machine finished and running. It was built without drawings, except for a few pencil sketches of some of the details...