This maker of shoe machinery was founded in 1892 by Louis G. Freeman. It was incorporated in 1908. In the 1990s the name was shortened simply to the Freeman Co. It is still in business and still specializes in machinery for making shoes.
Why is a company that makes shoe machinery listed as a maker of woodworking machinery? Because in 1911 Louis G. Freeman patented a "block planer", a machine for making flat blocks of wood to be used in drying shoe leather. This block planer is a Daniels-style planer that uses a table that moves underneath a rotating horizontal disc or arm that holds the cutters. The cutters create a surface that is flat and parallel to the table.
Please note that we cannot provide information on other products made by this company. Please see the Freeman Co. website for more information.
Information Sources
- We learned of the Freeman block planer from an eBay auction. Thanks to Bill Thomas for bringing the auction to our attention.