There were at least two separate and unrelated companies using the name of "Grand Rapids Machinery Co.", or "Grand Rapids Machine Co." This entry is for the company established and operated by Charles H. Tidey, son of Marcus B. Tidey.

For the other, unrelated, company of the same name, see the other entry for Grand Rapids Machinery Co.

Charles H. Tidey established this business in 1904, and continued to operated it until at least 1928. They made a variety of woodworking machines and accessories, including veneer machinery, the Tidey automatic swing saw gauge and the Tidey circular saw setting machine.

Information Sources

• From Polk's Grand Rapids City Directory for 1920 is a listing for this firm: "Grand Rapids Machine Co., C. H. Tidey, mgr. 615 Stanley ter."
• From an online transcription of "A third volume devoted to Kent County", edited by: Arthur S. White, published by the Dayton, Ohio National Historical Assoc., 1924:

  Charles H. Tidey—The name of Grand Rapids has been brought before the eyes of the world through the medium of various wood-working machines manufactured solely by the Grand Rapids Machinery Company, the proprietor of which is Charles H. Tidey, whose inventive genius is responsible for the creation of these machines. He was one of thirteen children born to his parents Marcus B. and Elizabeth (Jerolanem) Tidey, both of whom died in Newark, New Jersey, where the former was a manufacturer of wood working machinery, coming to that city from Canada in 1850. Charles Tidey was educated in his native city and learned the machinist's trade there. It was not until 1904 that he came to Grand Rapids, attracted by the number of furniture manufacturing concerns which formed a potential market for the wood working machinery he intended to manufacture. In that year he founded the Grand Rapids Machinery Company, the plant being located at No. 6 Huron street. He continued operations there until 1909. The need of large quarters caused by the expansion of his business became so acute that in 1909 he moved his plant to its present location. The success of the company is not only due to the high quality of the machines manufactured but also to the fact that Mr. Tidey has invented several machines which have been a great aid to the wood working industry. These machines—the Tidey automatic swing saw gauge and the Tidey circular saw setting machine—are used over the entire world and have been a force in establishing the industrial and commercial prestige of both the city of Grand Rapids and the manufacturer. He married Anna Merhood, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born five children as follows: Marcus B., who graduated from the medical college of the University of Michigan with the class of 1925; Ruth E.; Irene M.; Beatrice, and Charles H., who is serving his apprenticeship, fitting himself to carry on his father's business

• From "Engineers": Listing the Engineers of Corporations with Their Official Duties and Connections, 1928: a listing for Grand Rapids Machinery Co., "(Machinery) / Gen. Offices 113 Michigan N. W. Grand Rapids, Mich."