T. C. M. Mfg. Co. was incorporated in 1910 by A. Morris Thompson and others. We speculate that the others were James N. Morehouse and Edward O. Chase, their surnames providing the initials T. C. M. (We base this guess on the fact that the three men were all associated with businesses located in the same building at 46-54 Lawrence Street in Newark).

T. C. M. specialized in designing custom machinery, then called "special machinery". The first product we have found from this firm was a "self-piercing bull ring". From that humble beginning they developed a specialty in manufacturing gears. In 1916 they introduced a thread milling machine. In 1919 they introduced a lathe-style relieving machine, which was a rather complex machine for putting relief angles on cutters and gear hobs. In 1921 they introduced an axle-turning machine designed to produce half-axles for automobiles and small trucks

Information Sources

• 1901 Industrial Directory of New Jersey, page 255, lists James N. Morehouse, 46 Lawrence St., Newark, under the category of Electro and Fire Platers. The relevance is that this address was subsequently used by T. C. M. Mfg. Co. September 1907 The Brass World and Platers Guide, page 322, has a paragraph on James N. Morehouse, 50-52 Lawrence St., Newark, who could provide zinc or spelter castings to the trade, and could make the molds if desired. Other businesses located during this era at even-numbered addresses between 46 and 54 Lawrence St., Newark, include the Newark Purse Frame Mfg. Co., Edward O. Chase (Special Machinery), Excel Electric Heating Co.
• 1907-1909 >New Jersey Dept. of State Corporate Certificates, page 119, lists "James N. Morehouse Company—52 Lawrence St., Newark / Manufacturing metal goods / [incorporated under] Corp. Act. / Oct. 23, 1908 / Perpetual / [capital stock authorized] $10,000 / [par value of shares] $100 / [commenced business with] $3,500".
• 1910-08-11 The Country Gentleman, page 746, in "Pamphlets, &c., Received" column. "T. C. M. Mfg. Co., 46 Lawrence St., Newark, N. J. Circular of Self-Piercing Bull Ring."
• 1911 Corporations of New Jersey, page 679. "T. M. M. Manufacturing Co.—46 Lawrence St., Newark, Agent, A. Morris Thompson. / [incorporated under] Corp. Act. / [date of filing] Mar. 19, 1910 / [existence] Perpetual / [capital stock authorized] $100,000 / [par value of shares] $5 / [commenced business with] $4,000".
• 1911-05-04 American Machinist, page 860, in "Miscellaneous Wants" column.

  Gear cutting, spur, bevel, spiral wanted; parts machined and complete machines built. The T. C. M. Manufacturing Co., 46 Lawrence St., Newark, N. J.

• October 1911 The Automobile Trade Directory, page 216, lists, under "Metal Gears and Pinions", "T. C. M. Mfg. Co., 46-54 Lawrence St., Newark, N. J."
• October 1913 Chilton Automobile Directory lists "T. C. M. Mfg. Co., The, Hunterdon & First Sts., Harrison, N. J." in the categories of Automobile Parts, Misc.; Contract Work; Differential Gears; Gear Blanks; Automobile Gear Cases; Gear Cutting; Machine Work, to order; Manufacturers' Sales Agents ("Case hardening steel, nickel steel, chrome nickel steel & chrome vanadium steel"); Special Work ("Experimental"); Speed Change Gears.
• 1915 State of New Jersey: Legislative Documents, Vol. II, page 217, lists businesses in Harrison, including "T. M. C. Mfg. Co., automobile parts; employ 20 persons." On page 663, in a list of Machinery Manufacturers (General), "T. C. M. Mfg. Co. / Hunterdon & First Sts. / Harrison / Hudson [county]".
• February 1917 Machinery, page 547.

  Semi-automatic Thread Milling Machine: T. C. M. Mfg. Co., Harrison, N. J. A machine designed primarily for milling threads on rifle barrels, fuse bodies, etc. This machine has cut in one hour the 14-pitch thread on 120 bronze primers 1/2 inch long and 1 3/16 inch in diameter. The work is held in a collet chuck operated by a hand-lever; the work-spindle is rotated by a worm and worm-wheel acting through a clutch that is automatically engaged by advancing the cutter into the work and is disengaged when the spindle has made a complete revolution and the thread is finished.

  Same issue, page 562, in the "New catalogues and circulars" column.

  T. M. M. Mfg. Co., Hunterdon and First Sts., Harrison, N. J. Catalogue illustrating and describing the Morris Thomson semi-automatic thread milling machine specifically designed for quick, accurate production of threads by the use of multi-cutters on pieces varying from one to twelve inches in diameter. The catalogue illustrates this line of machines and shows examples of the work done, as well as the types of cutters used.

• July 1917 Machinery, page 1040, "New catalogues and circulars" column.

  T. C. M. Mfg. Co., Hunterdon and First Sts., Harrison, N. J. Catalogue of Morris Thomson semi-automatic thread milling machine, made in five sizes or styles. Type 12-E has a capacity of 12 inches diameter by 34 inches long; Type 2-D, capacity 2 inches diameter by 9 inches long; Type 3-B, single-purpose for milling threads in base ends and noses of 3-inch shells; Type 1-A, capacity 1½ inch diameter by 36 inches long, or 2 inches diameter by 9 inches long.

• 1920 White-Orr's Reference Register, under "Newark / Gear Cutting Machines" (page 845): "T. C. M. Mfg. Co., 1st, Harrison. Tel. Harrison 2389". The same entry appears under "Newark / Machine Tool Builders".
• September 1921 Machinery page 76, T. C. M. Axle-Shaft Turning Machine. This article is illustrated and fills most of one page.
• 1927-12-22 The Iron Age, page 149, in classified ads section for Contract Work.

  Special Machinery Designed and built to order. Modern shop in the heart of a large and growing industrial center; foundry facilities at our door. Six trunk railways and waterfront for quick shipment. 18 years specializing in this business. All of which saves money for you, and we guarantee absolutely all our work.
  HARRISON MACHINE WORKS
  "T.C.M." MFG. CO.
  300-306 First St., Harrison, N. J.

• March 1941 The Tool Engineer, page 120, in "New Literature" column.

  Tool Grinder—All-In-One. 8 pp. T. C. M. Mfg. Co., Harrison, New Jersey. Illustrates and describes this equipment for grinding and lapping of cutting tools of all types, including cemented carbide tipped, Stellite, Rexalloy, and high speed steel.