This company is not exactly known for their woodworking products: they specialize in stapling and tacking machines and supplies. But we have seen a miter machine from them.
Markwell was founded in New York City in 1919 by brothers Abe and Lou Obstfeld. By the early 1920s they were specializing in staplers and tackers. They moved to Norwood, MA, in 1988, and are still in business, complete with website.
Information Sources
- OWWMer Tim Jackson provided us the first information on this maker.
- The company web site provided the historical information (year of founding, names of founders, locations, etc.)
- Keith MacKinnon, history for Markwell Mfg. Co., notes that they produced items for the office and for shipping. Their first product was a crayon used to mark wooden crates. Related products included scrapers, hatchets, hammers, pry bars, glue machines, labels, and chalk; the miter machine was also aimed at the wooden-crate market. Over time some of these items found their way into other fields such as picture framers and carpenters.