Ad from 1899 Boyd's Williamsport Directory

In 1890 the United States Machine Co. was established in South Williamsport to manufacture woodworking machinery, primarily for sawmills. They would also manufacture a metal cut-off saw. The company kept a low profile. In 1917 it was announced that a Williamsport foundry had purchased the premises of the United States Machine Co. to give them more capacity for making automobile engines.

Information Sources

• 1890 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Official Documents, No. 7 page 148, lists payments from newly chartered companies, including the United States Machine Co., Williamsport.
• From the 1892 book, History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, edited by John F. Meginness.

  United States Machine Company is the title of a new industry started on Southern avenue. The officers are Justin J. Pie, chairman; Charles H. Bates, secretary and treasurer; John I. Hales, manager; Robert Eason, superintendent. They manufacture all kinds of woodworking machinery; they are also iron founders.

• 1899 Boyd's Directory of Williamsport, page 430: "United States Machine Co., Charles H. Bates, sec and treas; John I. Hales, mgr; mfrs and dealers in wood-working machinery, "Ball" Shingle Machinery, also iron founders, Southern av c Fleming, S W'msport." An ad on the same page is from this firm and features a small image of a Ball shingle machine.
• February 1901 The Foundry, page 263.

  The plant of the United States Machine Co., at South Williamsport, Pa., was entirely destroyed by fire December 22, entailing an loss of about $20,000 and throwing 25 men out of employment. The company manufacture wood working machinery, and expect to rebuild their plant...

• 1911 Report of the State Treasurer on the Finances, page 112, lists several small bookkeeping items related to United States Machine Co., Williamsport, spanning 1901 to 1908.
• 1911 Automobile Trade Directory lists United States Machine Co., Williamsport, Pa., as a provider of circular saw tables and swing saws.
• 1915 Engineering Directory, Part II lists United States Machine Co., Williamsport, Pa., under Woodworking Edgers, Metal Cutting-Off Machines, Saw Mill Machinery, Woodworking Machinery, Portable Saw Mills, Gang Saws, Swing Cut-off Saws, Table Saws, and Lumber Trimmers.
• 1917-10-20 The Waste Trade Journal, page 24.

  The Lycoming Foundry & Machine Company, Williamsport, Pa., has acquired the plant of the United States Machine Company, South Williamsport, and will convert it to a foundry to provide increased capacity. The company specializes in the manufacture of automobile motors.

• 1921 Lumber's Catalog of Mechanical Equipment and Supplies lists United States Machine Co., Williamsport, Pa., under the categories of Gang Saw Edgers, Lath Mills and Bolters, Shingle Machinery, and Trimmers.