Beginning in January 1890 the Chief Manufacturing Co. made a patent self-feeding circular ripsaw with wooden frame. The company's co-founders and owners were Freeman M. Teeguarden, president, and David Lanum, manager and Indianapolis representative. The company re-incorporated in 1905 with a capital of $25,000, having relocated from Colfax to Indianapolis.

By the mid-1920s the company was manufacturing a wood embossing machines but the company increasingly focused on machines for cleaning carpets and other heavy fabric items. The company survived until at least 1946 but by that time they were long out of the woodworking machinery business.

Information Sources

• From the 1893 book, Indianapolis Illustrated: The Capital City of Indiana contains a writeup on this company. "Chief Manufacturing Company.—One of the most important and ably conducted of Indiana's industries is the Chief Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of the famous 'Chief' self-feed rip saw, which is rapidly superseding all other makes, and is preferred by wood-workers everywhere. The factories are located at Colfax, Ind., where the company went into business in January, 1890, and has achieved a great success under the able, energetic guidance of Mr. Teeguarden, the president, and Mr. D. Lanum, the manager and Indianapolis representative. The growing demands of the trade resulted in the company opening an office and salesroom in this city, centrally located at 190 South Illinois street. Here under Mr. Lanum's management is carried full lines of the Chief self-feed rip saws, and mill supplies of every description, specialties being made of circular saws, band saws, swages, files, saw gummers, concave saws, segment saws, wood pulleys, mill dogs, etc., while they are sole agents for the Revere Rubber Belting, Bradford Leather Belting, etc. None but goods of the highest standard of excellence are carried here, while the prices are the lowest. As to the Chief self-feed rip saw, it saves more than 50 per cent of the labor required in hand feeding and gives most perfect results. It gauges accurately, feeds automatically at any rate of speed and runs true, even and with no waste of power. By using a Chief self-feeder the slabs generally thrown away can be cut into small dimension stock for which there is always a good market. The Chief self-feeder is the fastest, safest and handiest rip saw on the market, and the company has hosts of testimonials proving this. Mill men find they can saw from a quarter to a third more lumber with it. Those interested should send to Mr. Lanum for an illustrated catalogue. The company is also sole agents of the 'Little Giant' variable feed for saw mills. It pays for itself in a few days in increasing the mill's capacity. All the 'Chief' machines are produced from the very best materials, put together by experienced workmen. They are simple in construction, fully tested before leaving the shop and can be relied upon in every way to do the work intended. To progressive mill men their can be no further arguments required. They need the 'Chief' self-feed rip saw, and with it can make more money than ever before. Mr. Lanum is one of the most popular and energetic business men in Indianapolis."
• The 1895 book A Portrait and Biographical Record of Boone Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. has a biography of F. M. Teeguarden, who is the patentee on the two ripsaw patents we have found that were assigned to this company. The biography says, "He is the proprietor of the Colfax saw-mill, and also holds a half interest in the chief manufacturing company of Colfax."
• According to a Report of the Secretary of State of Indiana, Chief Manufacturing Co. was incorporated on April 8, 1905, with capital stock of $25,000.
• 1925-02-17 Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office lists Trademark Registration Number 195,016, serial number 60195016, to Chief Manufacturing Company, Indianapolis, Ind., for "Fluff-rug- making machines, rug sizing and stretching machines, carpet beating, dusting, and suction cleaning machines, variable-speed pulleys, driers and drying racks, wood-embossing machines and parts thereof, and trolleys for bakeries." The mark is the head of an Indian chief with head-dress.
• 1926-03-16 Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office lists Trademark Registration Number 210,490, serial number 60210490, to Chief Manufacturing Company, Indianapolis, Ind., for "Machines for scrubbing carpets with water or other suitable cleaning agents, washing machines, and curtain, doily and blanket drying machines."The mark is the head of an Indian chief with head-dress.
• A report of the material in the Caldwell Vanriper, Inc. Collection (PDF) in the William Henry Smith Memorial Library of the Indiana Historical Society, indicates that Box 5 Folder 10 has promotional materials for the Chief Manufacturing Company.