Established in 1889, this company made sharpening machinery, blade guides, and a few machinist's tools.

In 1912, Victor M. Tuthill and Frank A. Baldwin purchased a 2/3 stake in Oliver Machinery Co., which at that time was in financial difficulty. Tuthill and Baldwin, with the assistance of Baldwin's sons Melvin and Ralph, were successful in bringing Oliver Machinery to profitability. Despite this success, the company founder, Joseph Oliver, became unco-operative and was forced out in 1916. Tuthill, Baldwin, and Ralph F. Baldwin purchased the remaining portion of Oliver Machinery Co. in 1919, and merged the operations of Baldwin, Tuthill & Bolton with Oliver. The Oliver Machinery Co. name was retained.

In 1916 The Machinery Company of America was established in Grand Rapids to act as distributor for Covel Manufacturing Co., Hanchett Swage Works, and Baldwin, Tuthill & Bolton. In 1928, The Machinery Company of America changed its name to the Covel-Hanchett Company. We suspect that BT&B withdrew from Machinery Company of America in about 1919.

Information sources

• Author Dana M. Batory reports that this firm was established in 1889.
• The Grand Rapids Public Library archives possess 1905, 1906, and 1910 catalogs of "Saw and Knife Fitting Machinery and Tools".
• We also have a report of a 1913 catalog.
• Ad in May 1919 issue of "The Wood-Worker" for their bandsaw guides. An ad for Machinery Company of America is right next to the BT&B ad, which does not mention the former name.
• See our entry for Oliver Machinery Co. for more information on the relationship between the firms. The Michigan Supreme Court Decision on Oliver's lawsuit against Tuthill and Baldwin is fascinating reading (seriously).
• 1922 broadside.