In 1901, Papec Machine Co. was established in Lima, New York by Billy Hamlin. Although some sources claim that their initial focus was on steam engine repair, the company name is a shortening of Pneumatic And Propeller Ensilage Company, which suggests that their focus was always on silo fillers. After licensing a patented ensilage cutter/filler from the Paris Plow Co., of Paris, Ontario, the company grew quickly. They outgrew their Lima facilities and in 1909 relocated to larger premises in Shortsville. With the additional room they were able to expand their catalog of products. They were almost all related to agricultural machinery in some way, but at some point they made a grinder arbor, which is what qualifies them for listing on this woodworking and metalworking machinery site.

Information Sources

• December 1906 Black Diamond Express Monthly.

  The Papec Machine Company, situated at Lima, N. Y., was built originally for the repair of steam engines and for the sale of the same, handling a large surrounding territory in the repairs of engines, principally for the Pitts Engine Company, of Buffalo, N. Y. The company eventually purchased from the Paris Plow Company of Paris, Ontario, the patent on an ensilage cutter for the sale and manufacture in the United States and South America.

  Later a foundry was erected in addition to the machine shop and this has gradually grown until at the present time upwards of thirty-five men are employed in the foundry alone, and approximately the same number in the machine shop, making a pay roll of upwards of seventy men, the wages paid being about $2,500 per month.

  This company has the advantage of a gas well at their shop, furnishing fuel for motive power and lighting and heating purposes. They are located on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and also an electric connection with the New York Central Railroad from Honeoye Falls. The company was reorganized two years ago with stockholders who are interested in several different banks, and the resources furnishing the working capital for this institution are practically unlimited. All the parts for the manufacture of their ensilage cutters are made at their own shop except the malleable fittings and the knives, which are manufactured at Birmingham, England, by one of the oldest cutlery institutions in the world.

  The output of their ensilage cutters at the present time is about 250 per year, and this trade is increasing at the rate of about twenty per cent, a season. As dairymen and, also, farmers with small dairys, are beginning to realize the benefit derived from feeding ensilage—preserved green corn — throughout the season, thereby giving them much larger returns in milk and butter, with far less fodder than would otherwise be necessary, the increase in demand for ensilage cutters used for the filling of silos is increasing accordingly, and the future demand for this machinery will be very great.

• 1909-06-10 The Implement Age.

  Removal of Factory
  The Papec Machine Company, Lima, Livingstone County, N. Y., have recently purchased the plant at Shortsville, N. Y., formerly occupied by the Empire Drill Company, and have already moved their factory to that point. They expect to change the location of their office in the very near future.

  The Papec Machine Company are manufacturers of the Papec Pneumatic and Propeller Ensilage Cutter.

  They are now adding a number of new machines and with their added facilities it will enable them to largely increase their output.

• The December 1995 Belt Pulley Magazine had an article on this firm, available online.