Incorporated Oct. 1957 by Leo J. Nielsen as Nielsen Saw & Manufacturing Co. of Roseburg, Oregon, the firm moved to Eugene, OR, in 1959. Nielsen's primary machinery product was a saw chain grinder. In 1965-1966, Nielsen Corp. purchased Beaver Manufacturing Co. and the rights to manufacture Beaver's BeMaCo saw setters and filers. Nielsen also made a miter guide for hand saws. In 1968 the company was sold to conglomerate Bell Electronics Corp. (the firm later dropped the "s"), renamed Bell Industries in Nov. 1971. Nielsen was renamed Saw & Machine Division, Bell Industries.
Nielsen's saw chain grinders were models 100 and 100B, and Bell's were models K50, K100B, K100BW, and K150.
Information Sources
- Google Books snippet view, "Forest Industries," Vol. 93, No. 1-7, 1965-1966, pg. 130.
- "Statesman Journal," Mar. 26, 1968, pg. 16
- "Los Angeles Times," Nov. 4, 1971, pg. 69.