In 1901 Charles Young of York, Maine, was granted a patent for a saw-filing machine; he would be granted a 1903 Canadian patent for the same invention. He have a report of a filing machine bearing that 1901 patent date and "Charles Young / Boston, Mass."

Information Sources

• Thanks to correspondent Daniel Matthews for reporting this maker to us.
• June 1902 Maine Register, State Year-Book and Legislative Manual No. 33, text ad on page 360: "Sharp Saws. / Chas. Young, Inventor and Manufacturer of Young's Band Saw Filing Machine. Satisfaction given and every Machine Guaranteed. / York, Maine."
• May 1917 Building Age (volume 39, page 282).

  Young's Band Saw Filing Machine

  There is no doubt as to the importance of the position held by the band saw in all woodworking shops, and it is also a well recognized fact that unless the saw is properly filed, set and the guides in fairly good condition, satisfactory work cannot be accomplished. A practical mechanic who has invented many useful machines based upon the results of his own observation and experience, has recently developed a band saw filing machine the use of which has brought great relief from band saw troubles. A general view of the machine is presented in Fig. 11, and the claim is made that it files eighty teeth per minute without help or attention. A 20-ft. band saw with four teeth to the inch can, it is claimed, be accurately filed with this machine in less than 15 minutes, including the time for placing the saw in the machine and making the proper adjustments. It is being placed upon the market by Charles Young, York Harbor, Maine, who points out that the file does most of its work on the short or cutting side of the teeth where it requires by little metal to be filed from the saw in order to leave it perfectly sharp. The saw is set as low as possible in the bise and held rigidly while the file is doing its work. The saw is released while being fed ahead for the next tooth. The file holders are suspended from a universal join situated on the rear of the reciprocating carriage, thus giving a free and easy action to the file which is pressed against the saw of a spring, the tension on every tooth, it is said, being exactly alike. As the file is held in holders by a spring, it is a very easy matter to change the sides of the file without changing the angle. The maker called attention to the fact that it is a good scheme to change the sides of the file after filing four or five saws.

• 1918 Main Register or State Year-book and Legislative Manual, in a listing of Manufacturers in York: "Chas. Young, band saw filing machines..."