This company began back in 1854, when Albert R. Silver and John Deming formed a company to make agricultural machines, although the "Silver & Deming" name does not date back that far. In the later history of the company, Emmor W. Silver was a principal; he was perhaps a son of Albert.

They began making woodworking machinery in 1866 when they offered Dole's spoke-tenoning and felly-boring machine, patented Oct. 31, 1865. Silver & Deming was created in 1867 or 1868 after L. A. Dole had died, and Dole, Silver & Deming was renamed. In about 1874, Silver & Deming incorporated and became Silver & Deming Manufacturing Co. About the same time that Silver & Deming Mfg. Co. started, they began offering a line of hand operated blacksmiths drills, which eventually expanded into a line of power driven drilling machines. In 1890, the company reportedly split, with one part becoming Silver Manufacturing Co.

Silver & Deming made a variety of machines that were primarily aimed at wheelwrights: hob-boxing machines, spoke-tenoning machines, etc.

Advertisement from 1889-03-01 issue of The Hub

Silver & Deming apparently invented the large-size twist drill bit with a turned-down shaft so they can be used in a chuck smaller than the bit's cutting diameter. They did not patent this idea, so the idea was quickly copied by others, but these bits are still called "Silver & Deming drills".

See the entry for Dole, Silver & Deming for a timeline of the various inter-related companies of Dole, Silver, Felch, and Deming.

Information Sources

• According to a 1911 Silver Manufacturing Co. catalog, that company was founded in 1854. Since Silver Manufacturing Co. was actually created in 1890 with the split of Silver & Deming Manufacturing Co., the 1854 date may be the founding date for Silver & Deming. But see also the entry for Dole, Silver, & Felch.
• A November 1872 article in Manufacturer & Builder about the Fair of the American Institute says, "Silver & Deming, of Ohio, exhibit a number of useful articles, principally hub-boxing machines." Three months later, they noted that the company won a medal at the Fair for their "press saw gummer".
• Listed in a work published by the United States Centennial commission, Official Catalog of the 1876 International Exhibition, as a maker of "hub-boxing machines, adjustable hollow auger, spoke tenoning machines."
• The 1876 work, Draft-book of Centennial carriages, displayed in Philadelphia, at the International exhibition of 1876, has the following entry:

  Silver & Deming Manufacturing Co., Salem, O.—This well-known firm have long made a specialty of machinery adapted for the use of carriage and wagon makers and blacksmiths; their price-list shows a large assortment in this line, and their exhibit at the Centennial gives a very creditable representation of the degree of excellence they have attained in this important branch. It is located at F-8-54 Machinery Hall, and includes the following labor-saving machines: one Silver's Patent Hub-boxing Machine; one Dole's Patent Hub-boxing Machine; one Dole's Patent Self-centering Arm Hub-boxing Machine; one Silver's Patent Taper Hub-boxing Machine; one Dole & Deming's Patent Spoke-tenoning and Felloe-boring Machine, Hand and Power, No. 3; one each No. 2 and 2 Star Hollow Augers; one No. 3 Improved Blacksmith's Drill, for Power; one No. 3 Improved Blacksmith's Drill, for Hand; one No. 2 Improved Blacksmith's Drill, for Hand; one each size (Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9) Patent Adjustable Clamps; one Dole's Water Tuyere-Iron. The Silver & Deming Manufacturing Co. received an award on their Hub-boxing Machines, Spoke-tenoning Machines, and Hollow Augers.

• A brief history of the company is given in American Foot Power and Hand Power Machinery by Ken Cope.
• Carriage and Wagon Makers Machinery and Tools by Kenneth L. Cope, 2004 page 157