James H. Brown was a partner, with Charles W. Wilder, in Wilder & Brown, who had acquired the rights to A. D. Waymoth & Co.'s variety lathe in 1872 or '73. By 1875 the Wilder-Brown partnership had ended and James H. Brown was in business making the Waymoth patent variety lathe. Also in business making his own version of the Waymoth lathe was Charles W. Wilder. And to add to the festive atmosphere, A. D. Waymoth himself resumed production of his lathe.

By 1876, Brown had taken a wood-turner, Edwin N. Tuttle as a junior partner, and was now manufacturing an improved version of the Waymoth lathe under the J. H. Brown & Co. name. By 1878, Brown was manufacturing the "patent Wilder lathe" under his own name and was making buttons and other small turned items under the name Novelty Turning Co., which also advertised as making (or perhaps just selling) the Wilder lathe. In any event, the Novelty Turning Company name continued until at least 1904.

Information Sources

• An 1873 Manufacturer & Builder article on the Waymoth patent lathe indicates that A. D. Waymoth & Co.'s successors were Messrs. Wilder & Brown of Fitchburg.
• From 1875 ad in Manufacturer & Builder.
• The Fitchburg Directory for 1876 lists "Brown J. H & Co. (James H. Brown and E. N. Tuttle,) manf'rs Waymoth lathe, and wood turning 49 Water". Edwin N. Tuttle is listed as a wood turner.
• Worcester County Directory for 1878-79, published by Briggs & Co., lists "Novelty Turning Co. (improved Waymoth)" under "lathe manufacturers. A similar entry appears under "Machinists and machinery manufacturers".
• The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer for 1904 lists "Novelty Turning Co. 31 North, Fitchburg" under "Wooden ball manufs." The company is not listed under the categories for wood turning lathes or wood working machinery.