In 1897 P. P. Silk left Smith & Silk Machine Tool Co., and by 1898 joined up with the treasurer of J. A. Fay & Egan Co., Larz W. Anderson, to form Silk, Anderson & Co., located at 405 East 2nd Street in Cincinnati. That firm introduced a line of engine lathes with 12 or 14 inch swing. Those early models were superseded by updated models of 16, 18 and 20 inch swing. In 1901 Anderson left the partnership and joined Cincinnati Shaper Co., another firm that had started in 1898.

Silk, meanwhile, continued the business as the P. P. Silk Machine Tool Co. The company remained in business until 1910 but never achieved much of a profile, with hardly any ads or articles to be found in the trade journals of the day. We have seen very few surviving machines. By early 1911, P. P. Silk was running a used machinery business, Cincinnati Machinery Co.

Information Sources

• 1899-02-02 The Iron Age, in an article on the Cincinnati machinery market. "Among the newer arrivals in the field as contestants for a share of the iron working tool trade are the firm of Silk, Anderson & Co., who are just fairly started at 415 and 417 East Second street, this city. The firm are composed of P. P. Silk, well known in this section as a thorough mechanic and formerly of the firm of Smith 8.: Silk of Canton, Ohio, and L. W. Anderson, formerly with the Addyston Pipe 8: Steel Company and until recently with the J. A. Fay & Egan Company. The new firm will devote their energies to the manufacture of engine lathes and screw machines."
• 1902 Williams' Cincinnati Directory: "Silk P. P. Machine Tool Co. 415 E. 2d."
• Article in 1902-09-04 The Iron Trade Review on this company's 21x120 "Cincinnati" lathe.
• Ad in 1902-11-08 The Age of Steel.
• The 1905 book A History of the Stevens Institute of Technology. "Anderson, Larz Worthington (M.E., '88), was born in Cincinnati, O., December 3, 1866. He was employed by the Addyston Pipe & Steel Co., Addyston, O., 1888–93; was treasurer of the J. A. Fay & Eagan Co., Cincinnati, O., 1893–98; member of the firm of Silk, Anderson, & Co., makers of machine tools, at Cincinnati, 1898–1901; and has been secretary and treasurer of the Cincinnati Shaper Co. from 1901 to date."
• Article in 1905-08-24 American Machinist on this company's 24x24x72 planer.
• 1905-1906 Thomas Register of American Manufacturers lists this firm under "Lathes":: "Silk Machine Tool Co., 419 E. 2nd (Engine; Turret)".
• October 1910 Railway Master Mechanic lists exhibitors at that year's Ohio Valley Exposition, including P. P. Silk Machine Tool Co.
• 1911 Williams' Cincinnati Directory lists P. P. Silk as manager of Cincinnati Machinery Co., 309 Johnston Building.
• The February 1911 Popular Mechanics has a pair of classified ads from Cincinnati Machinery Co., one a general ad for second-hand iron-working machinery, wood-working machinery, and gas engines; and one for a pair of small gasoline engines.
• A 1918 issue of Stevens Indicator, in the Obituaries. "LARZ WORTHINGTON ANDERSON, '88—Larz Worthington Anderson, of the Class of 1888, died at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 27,1918, from blood poisoning following an operation. Mr. Anderson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1866, and after attending schools at home, he entered Stevens Institute as a member of the Class of 1888. After graduation he entered the employ of the Addyston Pipe and Steel Company, Addyston, Ohio. He gave up this position to become treasurer of the J. A. Fay and Eagan Company. In 1893 he became a member of the firm of Silk, Anderson and Company. In 1901 he became secretary and treasurer of the Cincinnati Shaper Company. Three years ago he retired from active business and has recently been identified with many of the war work activities."
• Findagrave.com entry for Peter P. Silk (1860-1928). The pages for his two sons indicate that their father was born in Ireland; their mother, Mary Cash, was born in either England or Virginia.