Taylor-Shantz Co., of Rochester, NY, was founded in 1907. J & H Metal Products Co. was a division of Taylor-Shantz that, in 1932, started manufacturing the Homecraft line of inexpensive portable woodworking machines. We have not seen any evidence of J & H's Homecraft line beyond about 1940.

It appears that the initials "J" and "H" stood for Pharselus Verona Crittenden Jackson (1880-1935; he went by "Crittenden") and Shurly Christey Hodge (1881-1943), respectively. Please contact the Historian if you can provide information on either of these men, or J & H or any of the related companies!

Advertisement from the January 1940 "Popular Science"

The Arcade Manufacturing Co. sold a Homecraft line of inexpensive portable woodworking machines to Rockwell Manufacturing Co. It is possible that Arcade had purchased J & H's Homecraft line, and then resold it a few years later. That is all supposition, however.

Another highly speculative connection is related to Searjeant Metal Products of Rochester. Wilfrid Searjeant joined Taylor-Shantz and eventually, in 1936, acquired a half interest in the company. Then in 1943 he established Searjeant Metal Products, which in 1947 introduced the "PowerCraft" line of inexpensive portable woodworking machines. The PowerCraft machines are distinctly different from the Homecraft machines. Were the PowerCraft machines an evolution of the Homecraft line that was transferred from Taylor-Shantz to Searjeant Metal Products, or were they merely inspired by the Homecraft line? Please let us know if you can shed any light on this minor mystery.

Information Sources

• 1935-1936 Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University (PDF).

  Pharselus Verona Crittenden Jackson, B.A. 1905.

  Born December 26, 1880, in Rochester, N.Y.
  Died December 15, 1935, in Rochester, N.Y.

  Father, Austin Crittenden Jackson, president East Side Savings Bank, Rochester; son of Morris Seymour and Julia Elizabeth (Crittenden) Jackson, of Henrietta, N.Y. Mother, Caroline Minerva (Hodges) Jackson; daughter of Charles Henry and Lamira (Renault) Hodges, of Rush, N.Y.

  Rochester High School and private tutor; attended University of Rochester 1899-1901. First colloquy appointment Senior year; member Psi Upsilon.

  With Niagara, Lockport & Ontario Power Company 1905-06; in chemical department Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 1906-08; treasurer and general manager Taylor-Shantz Company, manufacturers of metal stampings and punch press tools, Rochester, 1908-15, and president and treasurer since 1915; trustee East Side Savings Bank since 1929; member Central Presbyterian Church, Rochester.

  Married June 6, 1919, in Rochester, Natalie Graham, daughter of William Graham and Celia Mary (Foley) Hull. Daughter, Graham Hull.

  Took his own life. Buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester. Survived by wife and daughter.

• June 1936 Machinery.

  New York—Taylor-Shantz, Inc., 485 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y., has succeeded the Taylor-Shantz Co. The new officers are: Shurly C. Hodge, president and treasurer and W. H. Searjeant, vice-president and secretary. The new corporation will continue to manufacture punch press guards, bench tapping machines, stampings and moving picture reels.

• Dana Batory's catalog lists ca. 1933 and 1935 catalogs from this firm.
• July 1943 Steel carried this obituary notice: "Shurly Christy Hodge, 61, president and treasurer, Taylor-Shantz Co., Inc., Rochester, N. Y., died there Aug. 28."
• 1943-08-29 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, p. 19

  Shurly C. Hodge Firm President, Taken by Death—Shurly C. Hodge, 61, president and treasurer of the Taylor-Schantz Inc., manufacturers of metal stampings, died yesterday (Aug. 28, 1943) at his home at 209 Edgerton St. following a heart attack Mr. Hodge, a native of Buffalo, had been identified with the firm for 16 years. In 1936 he acquired the firm in partnership with Wilfred Sarjeant. Recently the company had been expanded as a war plant. He leaves his wife, Katrina M.; a daughter, Nancy Christey; a son, Peter Christey, and a sister, Mrs. Louis E. Wettlaufer of Ridgeway, Ont. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at the convenience of the family.

• Harry Harsha provided us with a scan of his mid-1930s catalog from this firm.
• The Scrollsaws website lists a scrollsaw from this maker.