Tenn.-Acme Co. was in business by 1954, making the "Power-Mart" 12-inch planer that strongly resembles the Powermatic Machine Co. planers of that period. A 1954 brochure on the planer says that it was "personally designed and engineered by the former owner and manufacturer of a prominent line of Thickness Planers and Woodworking Machinery", which presumably refers to a member of the Smith family, who established and owned the Powermatic Machine Co.

In 1960, Plastic Industries, Inc., purchased Tenn-Acme, relocated them to Athens, TN, renamed them to Plastic Industries Machine and Tool Co., and changed their focus to custom machine and tool work. So far as we can tell, the planer business ceased when the company changed ownership, if not before.

Information Sources

• A patent search failed to turn up any patents assigned to this firm.
• The 1954 Directory of Tennessee Industries apparently lists this firm—at least, it comes up in a Google Books search. But the directory cannot be viewed.
• A 1954 brochure on the Tenn-Acme Power-Mart 12" planer says, "EXCLUSIVE ENGINEERING. The POWER-MART '12' (12½ inch by 6 inch) Thickness Planer has been personally designed and engineered by the former owner and manufacturer of a prominent line of Thickness Planers and Woodworking Machinery. Twenty-five years of Machine Designing plus Twenty-five years of Manufacturing has all been incorporated into the many extra features now offered in the new POWER-MART '12' PLANER."
• A 1960 issue of Tennessee Industrial Development News reported that "Plastic Industries, Inc., last month purchased two companies and will move the facilities to Athens. The companies are Dixie-Die Casting Co. and The Tenn-Acme Machine Co., both of McMinnville. Plastic Industries manufactures injection molded furniture legs, hosiery collection machines and other hosiery mill items, in addition to custom plastic work including packaging and signs. The Tenn-Acme Machine firm's name will be changed to Plastic Industries Machine and Tool Co. and will do custom machine and tool work. The Dixie-Die Casting firm will be utilized to manufacture a new patented “Barb Nut,” used by the furniture industry. It is expected that the building housing Plastic Industries will be expanded."