The original incarnation of Jenkins Machine Co. was a machine shop and foundry that did general machining and made cast parts for office chairs. In 1887, the company's owner, David Jenkins, was assigned a patent for a "boring, shaping and sanding machine". In the next few years he was granted patents for a wood-bending machine, a mortiser, and planer. In 1916 he purchased Falls Machine Co. and E. B. Hayes Machine Co., and merged them into Jenkins Machine Co.

In 1926 the company relocated from Sheboygan to Sheboygan Falls. In 1935 the company was acquired by Curt G. Joa, Inc. In 1957 the Jenkins product line and factory were purchased by the Carl J. Kohler family. In 1977 Jenkins became the Jenkins Division of Kohler General Corp., and using the name Jenkins Systems. Kohler General entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982 and ceased operations in 2002. Howver, Jenkins Systems, LLC. and Jenkins Support, LLC. continue to manufacture and support Jenkins products. They are operated by members of the Kohler family.

Information Sources

• The Jenkins Systems web site filled in many of the dates in this history. An email from Jenkins clarified their current status.
• Ad for used self-feed ripsaw in 1917 catalog.
• An ad in a 1920 issue of The Woodworker says, "Jenkins Machine Co., successors by purchase to Falls Machine Co. and E. B. Hayes Machine Co."
• 1955-56 Hitchcock's Wood Workers Digest Directory shows a double-end tenoner from this company, dated at "about 1900." In the directory it is listed as Curt G. Joa, Inc., Jenkins Woodworking Division.
• Dana Batory mentions a 1930 Yates-American catalog that lists vocational machinery made by Jenkins.
• A four-head molder for sale on Ex-Factory was described as being from 1926.