Spencer & Richards, a partnership of John Richards and Smith Spencer, was in business in 1862 and manufactured a patent scrollsaw. So far as we can tell, it was a short-lived business and it was possibly acquired by J. A. Fay & Co.
John Richards would become an important inventor, businessman, and patent attorney. This business represents part of his early history. He subsequently designed machines for J. A. Fay & Co.; Richards, London & Kelley; London, Berry & Orton; and Berry & Orton Co. He later moved to England and worked in the woodworking machinery business there. In his later years he wrote books on woodworking and machinery.
Smith Spencer was the father of Albert N. Spencer and Harry S. Spencer, both of whom would work for J. A. Fay & Egan Co.; Albert later worked for Oliver Machinery Co. of Grand Rapids, MI.
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