Beginning in 1836 Joseph Perry operated a machine shop in Gardiner, Maine. Over the years he manufactured shingle, clapboard and box-board machines, and wood lathes. The business survived for 54 years until his retirement in February of 1890.

Information Sources

• 1869 Webb's New England Statistical Gazetteer,, pg. 50.

  One of the oldest manufacturers of shingle, clapboard, lathe and board machines in the State is Joseph Perry, who occupies one floor, 36 x 60 feet. He commenced in 1838. Employs seven men. A 3½ foot Blake wheel supplies the power. The fall is 12 feet.

• 1873 New England Business Directory lists "JOSEPH PERRY Gardner Maine. Manufacturers of Vertical and horizontal shingle machines, clapboard machines, box board machines, & lathes." Thanks to Ben Campbell for providing this information.
• 1876 shingle-machine patent granted to Joseph Perry of Gardiner, ME
• 1892 Illustrated History Of Kennebec County Maine 1625 - 1892, available online at MEGenWeb.

  Captain Joseph Perry, a retired machinist of Gardiner, son of Joseph M. and grandson of Jonathan Perry, of Scituate, Mass., who later lived in Topsham, Me., was born in Topsham May 4, 1811. He married Olive Gilpatrick, who died leaving children: Clara E. (Mrs. Harry A. Leslie) and Anna J. The Captain's second wife was Mrs. Ann M. (Felker) Peterson, of Wiscasset, Me., who left one son - Fred A. Perry. Captain Perry's military title comes from the bloodless fields of the Aroostook war, where he commanded the Kennebec guards.

• 1892 History of Kennebec County, Part Two, pg. 613.

  Joseph Perry came to Gardiner in 1827, and until 1836 worked at house carpentry, and for Holmes & Robbins. He then hired a building on dam No. 2, near the People's Grist Mill, and opened a machine shop. In 1846 he bought the shop, which was burned in 1880. Two years later he was again burned out in a shop he had rented, but immediately rebuilt on a larger scale than ever— the best machine shop on the river—and in February 1890, after fifty-four years of prosperous business, he sold his plant and retired.