The H. J. Averbeck Shaper Co., also known as the Henry J. Averbeck Shaper Co., manufactured metal shapers beginning in 1906, and maybe earlier. Henry J. Averbeck created some patented improvements to metal shapers, especially the mechanism that oscillated the ram back and forth and that regulated the speed so that the return stroke was quicker than the power stroke. Averbeck's brother, Lawrence, was also involved in the business, which started as a machine shop in the same building that became the shaper company.

In 1920 the Averbeck shaper product line and manufacturing tooling was acquired by the Steel Products Engineering Co. of Springfield, OH. Having sold the shaper line, Henry and Lawrence returned to running their general machine-shop business.

Information Sources

• November 1906 Machinery has an article on a 21-inch shaper form the the H. J. Averbeck Shaper Co.. of Covington, Ky...'
• The December 1920 issue of "Machinery" reports that Steel Products Engineering Co. of Springfield, OH, was taking over manufacturer of the shaper formerly made by H. J. Averbeck Shaper Co. "It is the intention of the Steel Products Engineering Co. to continue the manufacture of the 17 and 21-inch sizes, and later to develop a 16-inch shaper for tool-room use, and a 25-inch shaper to take in a larger range."
• 1920-12-02 American Machinist.

  Steel Products Engineering Co. Buys Averbeck Patents—The patent rights and tools of the Henry J. Averbeck Shaper Co., of Covington, Ky., have been purchased by the Steel Products Engineerring Co., of Springfield, Ohio, for the purpose of manufacturing the Averbeck shaper on a big production scale. Henry J. Averbeck was president of the company and was also the inventor and designer of the shaper. He and his brother Lawrence will continue in general machine-shop business at their present address, having kept their standard machine-shop equipment. The Steel Products Engineering Co. also manufactures airplane motors and a universal gage grinder.

• 1922-01-12 The Iron Age.

  The Gem City Machine Co., Dayton, Ohio, which recently increased its capitalization from $25,000 to $225,000 will be merged with the Steel Products Engineering Co., Springfield, Ohio. The Gem company specializes in the manufacture of dies and small tools, while the Steel Products company manufactures various production tools, having recently purchased the rights of the Averbeck Shaper Co., Covington, Ky. J. A. McAdams, Dayton, Ohio, is president of both companies.