The Samuel B. Schenck of Woodworth planer infamy was Samuel Blackwell Schenck, 1806-1861. He established Schenck Machine Co. One of Samuel's younger brothers was John Blackwell Schenck, 1818-1870, whose firm, John B. Schenck & Sons, seems to have succeeded Schenck Machine Co., a change that occurred in 1868 or '69. John B. Schenck's died in August 1870, and a year or two later the firm name changed to John B. Schenck's Sons. The business seems to have disappeared in 1872 as we have found just one data point in March 1872 and nothing after that.
Information Sources
- We have seen ads for Schenck Machine Co. from 1869, but an 1870 New York State directory lists the firm under the name of John B. Schenck & Sons. Subsequent directories do not list any such firm in Matteawan.
- From the results of the Twenty-Ninth Fair of the American Institute, 1870: "John B. Schenck & Son, 118 Liberty street, for the best four roll siding saw. First premium." The firm also received honorable mentions for a side tool set and a knife grinder.
- The 1872-03-02 issue of Scientific American has an article on an "improved circular resawing machine and siding saw" from John B. Schenck's Sons.