From February 1909 National Coopers' Journal

In 1879, Charles A. Lawton and Edward Wilcox Arndt co-founded the Novelty Manufacturing Co. in De Pere, Wisconsin, to manufacture machinery, beginning with a bran separator originally developed by Lawton's father and patented by Lawton and Arndt. The company would eventually change its name to the C. A. Lawton Co. and specialize in tub and pail machinery. As of 2021 they remain in business as a foundry and contract machine shop.

Information Sources

• According to the C. A. Lawton website (see link above), "In 1879, Charles Lawton and his uncle E. W. Arndt established what would become The C.A. Lawton Co. in De Pere, Wisconsin. Their first device was the 'Bran Dresser,' designed by Lawton’s father to separate bran from flour."
• 1881 State of Wisconsin's Governor's Message and Accompanying Document lists new corporations registered during the year ending 1880-09-30, including the Novelty Manufacturing Co. of De Pere, a "General foundry business", capital $25,000, registered January 17, 1880.
• 1882 Polk's Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory lists, under "DEPERE / A thriving village and important manufacturing point on Fox river...and numbers 1870 souls, according to the last census", "Novelty Manufacturing Co., C. L. Lawton, pres."
• 1884-07-04 The Northwestern Miller has an ad on page 15 that lists Novelty Manufacturing Co., De Pere, Wis., as a representative for bolting machinery made by The Lima Mill Furnishing Co., Lima, Ohio.
• 1898-09-15 The Iron Age

  C. A. Lawton & Co., founders and machinists, De Pere, Wis., are manufacturing ten pail lathes for a wooden ware company now erecting a plant at Escanaba, Mich.

• January 1909 National Coopers' Journal.

  The C. A. Lawton Co.—The C. A. Lawton Co., pail and tub machinery manufacturers, De Pere, Wis., are among our new comers this month, and to their quarter page announcement we direction the attention of our readers. The Lawton Co. manufacture and carry a full line of pail and tub machinery, the merits of which having been fully attested by all users. Further reference to our new friends' line of manufacture will be made later by an illustration in our pages.

• March 1909 National Coopers' Journal.

  For the Tube and Pail Manufacturer.—The pail lathe, which is herewith presented, is for butter tubs, candy pails, lard and similar packages. In speaking of their pail lathe, the manufacturers, The C. A. Lawton Co., De Pere, Wis., say: "Special attention is called to the arrangement of our inside and outside slides, they being made in such a way as to automatically withdraw the knife from contact with the package on the return stroke, therefore keeping it sharp much longer. On the cutting stroke, the knife always returns to teh same place, insuring uniformity in the size of the package. The turning arbor is a 7-16 inches diameter, and of the best quality O. H. steel. The screw on the end is made from crucible cast steel, and tempered. The burr is also made of crucible cast steel. The qaulizing and listing arbors are high carbon steel, and very stiff, and run in boxes lined with genuine babbitt. Driving pulleys on counter shaft are 12 x 6 inches, and should run 600 revolutions per minut." The Lawton lathes are made in a variety of sizes and capacities, and illustrated catalogue and prices will be sent upon application.