This company appears to have been founded in Big Rapids in 1881, and moved to Kalamazoo in 1883 or 1884. At some point it became Hill-Curtis Co..
Information Sources
- The tentative timeline is derived primarly from patent records (see below).
- Undated catalog of "wood cutting and splitting machinery"; the catalog appears to be from about 1880.
- From The Railroad, Telegraph, and Steamship Builders' Directory, 1888: listings under "Saw Guides—Band" and "Wood Working Machinery" for "Hill, Wm. E. & Co., Kalamazoo, Mich."
- Ad in May 1889 issue of The Wood-Worker. "Wm. E. Hill & Co. Manufacturers of saw mill machinery Kalamazoo, Mich. Specialties: Steam nigger. Steam log unloader. Steam drag saw. Steam tree feller. Steam board trips. Steam cant trips. Steam log stop. Steam pump. Steam wench. Steam cant unloader. Steam dog and log mover. Steam skid lifter. Combination lathe mill and bolter. Combination lath trimmer & binder. Shingle bolter and sapper. Eccentric saw guide. Combination drag and circular sawing machine. Slab slashers. Lumber trimmers. Live rolls. Endless chain jacker. Lath binder. Chicago Ill., 27 West Monroe St."
- Used machine in 1917 catalog: steam drag saw.