John J. Spilker received an 1879 patent for a miter machine, which he subsequently manufactured. The company was, at one time, known as McFarlan & Spilker. Another name we have seen on Cincinnati-made miter machines is B. J. Spilker Manfacturing Co. Based on very limited data, the order seems to be

1. J. J. Spilker (1879-1887-)
2. B. J. Spilker Manufacturing Co. (-)
3. McFarlan & Spilker (-1905-1909-)

Ad from October 1887 issue of "Carpentry & Bulding"

The miter trimmer was once sold by Oliver Machinery Co.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Keith O'Boyle, who spotted a Spilker trimmer for sale and contacted trimmer expert Jeff McVey. Jeff was able to provide the information here, including a scan of an Oliver catalog page showing the Spilker trimmer.
• Ad in the July 1887 issue of Building Age.
• Ad in the October 1887 issue of Carpentry & Building.
• The 1891 Annual Report of the Ohio. Dept. of Inspection of Workshops and Factories mentions the workshop of J. J. Spilker.
• The 1901 Annual Report of the Ohio. Dept. of Inspection of Workshops and Factories mentions the workshop of the B. J. Spilker Manufacturing Co.
• The February 1905 issue of Carpentry and Building has an ad for McFarlan & Spilker Manufacturing Co.
• The September 1909 issue of Wood Craft lists McFarlan & Spilker Mfg. Co. as a maker of miter machines.
• The 1916 Industrial and Shippers Guide lists McFarlan & Spilker Manufacturing Co. as a maker of "machinery and engines".
• The 1920 Anglo-American Year Book lists "McFarlan & Spilker Mfg. Co., Cincinnati, O. See Buck & Hickman, Ltd." Apparently Buck & Hickman were their British agents.