The Chattanooga Saw Works was established in 1876 by B. W. Lewis, originally of Dayton, Ohio. Within a couple of years the business was being run by C. C. Lewis & Co., consisting of C. C. Lewis and G. B. Lewis. The Chattanooga Saw Works' primary product lines were sawblades and cutter knives for the woodworking industry. Within a few years of their founding they were also making sawmill machinery, including their Perfection shingle machine, gang rip saws, and a combined lath mill and bolter.

The company survived until at least 1949 and perhaps for a decade or more beyond that.

Information Sources

• 1878-08-03 The Engineering and Mining Journal, page 74, in an article on the industries of Chattanooga.

  Chattanooga Saw Works.—Situated on Railroad avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets. These works were established in July, 1876 by B. W. Lewis, of Dayton, Ohio. They have been doing a fair share of business since that time, according to their capacity, which was not then as large as now. They are now about to enlarge—in fact, have done so—and henceforth will be able to fill all orders sent in. They are manufacturing saws from rough steel which they get from Pittsburg, Pa. They think, when fully under headway, they will have a capacity for making from $50,000 to $75,000 worth of saws per year, and hope to supply the whole Southern trade. The machinery for this work is all on the ground, and a goodly portion of it up. They employ, when running in full capacity, from fifteen to twenty hands. The firm, C. C. Lewis & Co., consists of Messrs. C. C. and G. B. Lewis.

• November 1882 Business Monthly Magazine, page 4, lists "Chattanoona Saw Works, manufacturers and repairers of all kinds of saws."
• 1885 book Past, Present and Future of Chattanooga, Tennessee, page 30, in a listing of "The Manufacturing Interests of Chattanooga": Chattanooga Saw Works / [capital invested] $10,000 / [no. of hands employed] 7 / [annual value of products] $25,000 / [annual wages paid] $3,500".
• Mentioned in an 1885 issue of Manufacturer & Builder.
• February 1904 Packages, page 54.

  Chattanooga Saws.

  The Chattanooga Saw Works, located at 521-523 Broad street, Chattanooga, Tenn., is sending to the trade a neat catalogue and price list of the products of the plant, the book being fully illustrated to show the various saws that are manufactured. The trade this concern has worked up in the saw line, is rapidly growing, and ever effort is made to turn out goods as nearly perfect as they can be made. A bid is made for new trade under the promise of making just as good if not better saws than have been manufactured in the past by the company. Every saw is warranted.

  The book contains valuable information such as practical suggestions of users of saws, standard rules, etc., concerning the use of circular saws, and detailed instructions to prospective buyers. Rules for calculating the speed of saws, pulleys or drums are also printed in the book, and this is something that every sawyer or mill man needs. Other woodworking machinery and supplies manufactured by the Chattanooga Saw Works, particularly the Perfection shingle machine, are shown in additional folders.

  The company has lately decided to reach out for the trade of Packges' readers, and a handsome advertisement of its saws will accordingly be found on our back cover, starting with this issue. The Chattanooga Saw Works has plenty to say that is of interest to readers of this paper, and all it asks is to hear from them.

• 1913 book Chattanooga, page 101, text ad: "The Chattanooga Saw Works / Chattanooga, Tennessee / Manufacturers of / Circular Saw, Heading Saws, Edger Saws, Shingle Saws / Planer Knives and Matcher Bits / Circular Saws of all kinds promptly and satisfactorily repaired / All work guaranteed".
• A correspondent reports a gang ripsaw from this maker.
• 1926 Annual Report of the Tennessee Department of Labor, page 49, in a listing of companies inspected: Chattanooga Saw Works, 4 male employees and no female employees.
• 2004 book, From Then 'til Now, by Carol Peterson, page 84, reproduces a 1949 sales letter from Chattanooga Saw Works, 1512 William Street, Chattanooga, for their Davis Saw Filer.