During the early part of the 20th century, this company made safety guards for woodworking machines. Their jointer and tablesaw guards are still a common site on older machines—especially those that came from more safety-conscious shops, such as schools and aerospace companies. Many makers offered Surty guards as factory options.

Surty Guard Co. dates back to at least 1914, and perhaps slightly earlier. Surty guards were available into the 1960s and possibly later. The Surty Manufacturing Co. of Gleason, WI, seems to have been the successor to Surty Guard Co. Surty Manufacturing Co. is no longer in business.

Information Sources

• Emerald E. Jones received all five patents known to have been used by Surty; the patents span 1914 through 1922. Jones received a 1924 saw-guard patent that was not explicitly assigned to Surty. A 1927 Gustafson & Scott catalog lists "Jones Guards" which appear somewhat similar in design to the Surty products; the Jones Guards line in the catalog do not include a guard for a swing saw.
• We do not yet have any information on where the "Surty" name came from. A search of patent records came up dry, as did a web search.
• A 1927 Gustafson & Scott catalog of woodworking safety products lists several Surty guards, including models for fixed-arbor tablesaws, tilting-table saws, tilting-arbor saws, double-arbor saws, jointers, grinders, and single- and double-spindle shapers. The guards are available in various mounting styles (floor, ceiling, etc.) and sizes.
• Thanks to Neal Growney for providing the information on Surty Manufacturing Co.