The Neracher Wood Trimming Machine Co. was founded in February 1892 to manufacture a patent universal trimmer. The patent in question was granted to Charles Neracher of Cleveland. Neracher died in 1894. The business survived for a time without him but in 1898 the assets of the business were sold at auction.

Information Sources

• We learned of this company from an owwm.org forum post.
• 1890 Cleveland Directory Co.'s Cleveland City Directory lists "Neracher Charles, patternmaker, es. Wason, bet. St. Clair and Superior, rr. 102 Phelps". Also listed is the Neracher Sprinkler & Piping Co., with "Patentee and Pres." William Neracher, and Secretary W. M. Neracher. We found an 1896 sprinkler-head patent granted posthumously to Charles Neracher.]
• 1892-03-05 National Corporation Reporter lists "The Neracher Wood Trimming Machine Co., Cleveland; $25,000. Mfg. and dealing in wood trimming machines, patterns, special machinery, etc.; Feb. 27."
• May 1893 Carpentry and Building has an article on the Neracher Wood Trimming Machine.
• 1893 Cleveland Directory lists "Neracher Charles, gen. mngr, The Neracher Wood Trimming Machine Co., r. 103 Phelps".
• 1894 Cleveland Directory lists "Neracher Wood Trimming Machine Co. The, 1078 Hamilton". Listed as employees are Edward Bopp (foreman) and Frank J. Ellsworth (sec. and treas.)
• 1898-08-11 The Iron Trade Review. "Reade & Bowler, 216 American Trust Bldg., Cleveland, offer for sale all the power equipment and tools in the plants of the following companies: ... Neracher Wood Trimmer Co., Cleveland, O., ..."
• 1909 book, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, by John G. White, in a section on Thomas D. West: " In starting business under the firm name of the Thomas D. West Foundry Company, Mr. West took with him Mr. Samuel Landsdowne, an experienced foreman moulder, and Charles Neracher, a good pattern maker, both now deceased. The money for starting was chiefly obtained by Messrs. West and Landsdowne selling their small homes..."
• Encyclopedia of Cleveland History's biography of Thomas D. West says, "In 1887 West, Samuel Landsdown, and Charles Neracher organized the Thomas West Foundry. Five years later the company moved to Sharpesville, Pa..."
• A genealogy page lists "Charles Karl Neracher 1852-1894 / Marriage: about 1878 / Cleveland... Nellis (Dinnie) Wallace 1858-1942". Another genealogy page does not give a middle name but provides more precise birth date (1852-12-30) and death date (1894-05-19).