Starting in 1877, the Lewis Brothers manufactured the "Boss" scrollsaw, which had a patented swiveling-table design that allowed the angle of the table to be adjusted in any direction. The versions of the Boss scrollsaw we have seen have been Victorian gent's scrollsaws, fairly ornate and intended for light work. Reportedly there was also a heavy-duty version intended for use in manufacturing
We have a report of a saw from George E. Lewis, of the same 1878-patented design as the Lewis Brothers saws we have seen. We do not know which name came first. In any event, by about 1884 the business had been sold to Seneca Falls Manufacturing Co., who used the Lewis table-swivel patent on their "Empire" and "Victor" model scrollsaws that were introduced in about 1884 and 1886.
Information Sources
- We learned of this maker from Richard Van Vleck's American Artifacts website.
- The results of the 1877 Fair of the New York State Agricultural Society lists, "Hand Scroll Sawing Machines. Lewis Brothers, Seneca Falls, N. Y., bronze medal; scroll sawing machines for sawing brackets, screens, book-shelves, photograph frames, stands, fancy boxes, etc., 50 pounds, $20 to $35.
- An email correspondent reported a saw labeled with the George E. Lewis name.