Ad from 1873 "Railway Buyers Guide"

This firm was founded as the Presque Isle Factory in 1840, by Vincent, Himrod & Co. They changed their name in 1851 to the Erie City Iron Works. Their primary products were boilers and steam engines, but they also made sawmills. Several ownership changes took place, until Selden, Bliss & Co. assumed control in 1864.

After 1873, their primary—and, perhaps, only—sawmill product was the Carroll's patent gang-saw mill, which was like an overgrown tablesaw with multiple parallel blades for ripping boards. It was patented by Thomas H. Carroll in 1873. It is not presently known when this maker ceased production of sawmills, but it may have been in the late 19th or early 20th century.

In 1966 the company was purchased by Zurn Industries, Inc. In 1997 they were acquired by Aalborg Industries of Denmark.

Information Sources

• According to the company history at the now-defunct Aalborg website, this firm was founded as the Presque Isle Factory in 1840, by Vincent, Himrod & Co. They changed their name in 1851 to the Erie City Iron Works. Their primary products were boilers and steam engines, but they also made sawmills. Several ownership changes took place, until Selden, Bliss & Co. assumed control in 1864.
• Ad in the 1873 Railway Buyers Guide: "Manufacturers of Steam Engines and Boilers / Circular Saw Mills, Eureka Head Blocks,..."
• Listing in the 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States: "George Selden, President; John H. Bliss, Secretary and Treasurer. Steam engines, machinery, saw mills, boilers, etc."
• An 1874 article and 1876 ad in Manufacturer & Builder, both describing Carroll's patent gang-saw mill.
• 1883 catalog describing Carroll's patent gang-saw mill.
• An 1884 history of Erie County itemizes their product line: "The range of work includes horizontal and upright flue and tubular boilers; stationary, portable and agricultural engines; saw mills and mill machinery; steam riveting machinery, etc. The number of boilers built in 1880 was 857; engines, 400; saw mills complete, 48. The business of 1881 shows the following gratifying increase: Number of boilers made and sold, 1,097; engines, 457; saw mills complete, 96; besides other work of a miscellaneous character. The sales in 1882, amounted to $785,098.00."
• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 80
• Steam Power on the American Farm by Reynold M. Wik, 1953 page 252