Jeremy Wills Bliss received an 1834 patent for a mortising machine.
An 1848 article ad in Scientific American describes a mortiser designed by C. Bliss; it is a small bench-mounted cast-iron chisel mortiser that can be either foot or hand operated. A patent was applied for, but it appears that no patent was ever granted. Almost five years later, an ad appeared referencing the article, and indicating that the machine is being made by J. W. Bliss. Asking price was $25.
From 1852-12-18 Scientific American