Tompkins was active from June of 1856 through to his retirement in September 1886. He specialized in molders, matchers, resaws, and sash, blind and door machinery. In the earlier years he operated simply as Charles R. Tompkins. By the late 1870s he was operating as C. R. Tompkins & Co.

Charles R. Tompkins, 1877

In 1862-1863, Tompkins was one of three to introduce molders with cutter-head shafts supported on both ends; the others were C. B. Rogers & Co. and S. A. Woods Machine Co.

Tompkins wrote an 1889 book, A history of the planing-mill, with practical suggestions for the construction, care and management of wood-working machinery, which was a primary source for the 1985 book, Planers, Matchers and Molders in America by Chandler W. Jones. In 1892 Tompkins also wrote The Wood-Workers' Manual, which was distributed at cost by the John A. White Co. of Dover, NH.

Information Sources

• An ad in an 1872 issue of Manufacturer & Builder features the "Champion four-side molding machine, No. 1", which cost $750. Also, listed were "Tompkins' improved Woodworth planers and matchers, re-sawing machines, and sash, blind, door, and molding machinery."
• The 1874 book, Wiley's American Iron Trade Manual of the Leading Iron Industries of the United States, lists "Rochester Wood Tool Co.—C. R. Tompkins. Wood-working machinery. 60 hands."
• The Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club of Baraboo, WI, own a Tompkins planer pictured in our Photo Index. Club members Lyle and Wadena Opperman queried the Rochester city historian, Ruth Rosenberg-Naparsteck, and got back the following:

  The earliest City Directory we have is 1870-71. Charles R. Tompkins is listed as being employed by the Rochester Wood Tool Manufacturing Company. In later years he is the owner of C.R. Tompkins & Co. I did find a newspaper article about the Rochester Wood Tool Company participating in an exhibit in Santiago, Chili in September 1875. There was no other information in the article. I also found a biography of Mr. Tompkins. Unfortunately, it is in a book that cannot be photocopied (History of Monroe County by McIntosh). The article states that Mr. Tompkins was born October 27, 1822 in Fishkill, New York. He was descended from a long line of mechanical geniuses. He went to medical school but decided to be a machinist instead. In spring of 1854 he came to Rochester and took charge of Gibson & Co. until 1856. He then founded his own business. It does not state what the name of the business was, so I can only assume at that time it was the Rochester Wood Tool Manufacturing Co. Mr. Tompkins appears to be a prominent citizen of Rochester.

  The above information is taken from an online version of the club's Spring 2004 newsletter.
• The above-mentioned McIntosh's History of Monroe County, New York, 1877, is available online through archive.org. Here are the relevant extracts (page 151). The biography includes a portrait of Tompkins, reproduced above.

  The Rochester Mechanic, monthly, was started in 1875 by C. R. Tompkins. It is now published by C. R. Tompkins & Co. The object aimed at by this journal is to diffuse a more extended knowledge of mechanics among the class who own and use woodworking machinery. It has a circulation of over five thousand. C. R. Tompkins, editor.

  C. R. Tompkins, one of the prominent manufacturers of Rochester, born October 27, 1822, in the town of Fishkill, New York. His ancestors were all mechanics, and many of them mechanical geniuses, his grandfather belonging to the type and style of General Putnam. When nine years of age, his parents moved to Litchfield, Connecticut, where he was brought up and educated. His father, John G. Tompkins, was by trade a cooper, carpenter, and joiner, but his principal business, in which he engaged very extensively, was the manufacture of packing-barrels for the New Haven market. All the proceeds of his labor, aside from the actual support of his family, were devoted to the education of his children, for whom he manifested the greatest solicitude and interest. The subject of this sketch was early entered into the medical academy at that place (formerly known as the old law-school), at which he graduated when seventeen years of age, for the practice of medicine. After completing his academical studies, his parents wished him to take a thorough collegiate course in that profession, as their choice, and for which his studies had been preparatory; but, with a strong predilection for mathematics, his favorite study, and an inherited genius for mechanical work and appliances predominant, he threw up the study of medicine, already distasteful to him, and determined to perfect himself as a machinist. With this in view, he came to this State, and at Matteawan, on the Hudson, commenced his trade as an apprentice at machine forging. This was his first apprenticeship. After serving his time, he worked six months as a journeyman but while an apprentice, being unusually apt and skillful, he received wages nearly equal to those of a journeyman. After recruiting his health, which had failed him, he served a second apprenticeship at machine finishing, which he completed with great success. His highest ambition then was to be at the head of the machinist trade, and whatever he undertook he grappled with a will and a determination to succeed. Immediately after completing his first apprenticeship, he married Miss Gertrude Dates, of Poughkeepsie, whose grandparents—of Holland—were the first settlers in Hackensack. He was married at the latter place, February 15, 1843, by Rev. C. Van Cleef. He resided about one year with his wife at Matteawan, and then removed to Newburg, where, his health failing him, he was compelled to retire from business. Soon after he removed to Middletown, Orange county, where for four years he was principal of the Middletown Union school. Having then regained his health, he associated himself with the New York and Erie Railroad as engineer, from which he was soon after transferred to the Newburg branch, and given charge of its shops. Here he remained as master-mechanic about three years, when he resigned his position, and in the following fall, about the time of the consolidation of the New York Central Railroads, he accepted the position of engineer on the new line running between Albany and Utica. Not being satisfied with the position, he left it in the winter of 1853, after remaining with the company about six months. In the following spring, in 1854, he came to the city of Rochester, where, a few months subsequently, he took charge of the tool manufactory of Gibson & Co. He remained in this position—as manager—until June, 1856, when he founded his present business, which, by his energy and intelligent management, has grown and been extended to its present proportions, as represented in his work. Mr. Tompkins is one of the solid, substantial men of Rochester, to whose business grasp and energy the city owes its growth in prosperity and wealth for the past twenty years. Since receiving a partner in his business he has transferred to him a great part of the care and responsibility of the enterprise, while he and his family devote themselves more to the enjoyments and comforts of life upon the well-earned abundance of his labors. Mr. Tompkins has four children now living,—three daughters and one son. The eldest daughter is the wife of Thomas Smith, and the second the wife of C. S. Siddons, both living in the city. His mother is still living at the age of eighty-five years, his father having died five years ago at the age of seventy-nine, and kept house to the time of his death. His ancestors were noted for their longevity.

• Tompkins' History of the Planing-Mill provides the September 1886 date for when he "went out of business as a practical manufacturer."
• Article in 1870 Manufacturer & Builder on the Rochester Wood Tool Manufactory. At that time, there were between 50 and 60 men employed.
• Listing in the 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States, as a maker of woodworking machinery, with 60 employees. The name given was "Rochester Wood Tool Manufactory"
• An article that appeared in the 1920 W. H. Field catalog, A short history of wood working machinery, says, "C. B. Rogers, S. A. Woods, of Boston, and C. R. Tompkins, of Rochester, N. Y., were the first to interest themselves in heavy inside machines." The article is unclear as to when these machines were introduced.