In 1879, Edgar J. Amor was a partner in machine shop Amor & Bowler, with John A. Bowler. The following year Amor was a partner in machine shop Amor & Thompson, with Frank Thompson. By 1880 they were making hand and foot power lathes intended especially for "brass and chandelier work, Electric Light and Telephone Manufacturers". By late 1881 the business had relocated from Canal St. to Centre Street, and by 1884 the lathe was being manufactured on Centre Street by Frank Thompson. Thompson continued in business, in a low profile way, for at least another decade.

From 1881-12-17 American Machinist

Information Sources

• From Kenneth L. Cope's American Foot Power and Hand Power Machinery. Cope's book reproduces an ad but does not provide provenance.
• We have found a couple of hand-tool patents from the 1860s that were granted to Edgar John Amor of New York City. There is no direct evidence connecting that Amor to the titular Amor of this firm. We did not find any other promising candidates for Mr. Amor.
• May 1877 - May 1878 Goulding's New York City Directory lists "Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 330 E. 114th", and "Thompson Frank, machinist, h 12 Sixth av."
• 1878-79 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edward J. machinist, h 330 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  Although there are several entries for /Francis/Frank Thompson, none of them are for a machinist or similar.
• 1879-80 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, 168 Centre, h 330 E. 114th
  • Amor & Bowler, machinists, 168 Centre
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  Although there are several entries for /Francis/Frank Thompson, none of them are for a machinist or similar.
• 1880-81 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, 168 Centre, h 330 E. 114th
  • Amor & Bowler, machinists, 168 Centre
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, 168 Centre, h 334 E. 37th.
  Although there are several entries for F./Francis/Frank Thompson, none of them are for a machinist or similar.
• 1881-82 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. lathes, 168 Centre, h 330 E. 114th
  • Amor & Thompson, machinists, 168 Centre
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Francis, lathes, 168 Centre, h 306 W. 36th.
• 1882-01-21 American Machinist

  Amor & Thompson (Lathes, etc.), 168 Centre Street, New York, write us:

  We have increased our business considerably during 1881, adding about one-fourth more machinery, prices realized on our production being a little in advance of previous years. At the same time, labor and material were correspondingly higher. Our prospects, orders, etc., for 1882 are encouraging, no lack of business or indications of the same being perceptible at present.

• 1882-83 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 330 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, lathes, 168 Centre, h 306 W. 36th.
• 1883-84 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, lathes, 210 Canal, h 306 W. 36th.
• 1884-85 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 210 Canal, h 306 W. 36th.
• New York's Great Industries, by Richard Edwards, 1884, has the following puff piece:

  Frank Thompson, Manufacturer of Lathes, Chucks, Brass Finishers' Tools, etc., etc., Nos. 210 and 212 Canal Street.—It becomes necessary to devote a brief space to the house of Mr. Frank Thompson, which in the line of lathes and machinery generally occupies a prominent position in the industrial community, and is entitled to due consideration. The works are located at No. 210 Canal Street, and are equipped with all the mechanical devices essential to the varied requirements of a perfect establishment. The proprietor, Mr. Thompson, is an experienced and practical workman, and all the operations of the factory are conducted under his personal supervision, thus ensuring to the trade only such machinery as will withstand the most critical tests, both in regard to the materials used in their construction and the workmanship employed. Mr. Thompson is prepared to undertake all kinds of first-class machine work. He has great pleasure in referring those interested to a few of his patrons, viz.: Appraiser's Department United States Government, New York; The Scovill Manufacturing Co., New York: P. Lorillard & Co., Jersey City, N. J.: The J. L. Mott Iron Works, New York; J. F. Rogers & Co.. New York: Salamander Grate Bar Co., New York; E. P. Bullard, New York; City Button Works, New York: Greene. Tweed & Co.. New York. The productions of this concern are equal, if not superior, to those of any other similar establishment. Customers may be assured that all machinery turned out will be as perfect in workmanship and materials as human skill can accomplish. Mr. Thompson is highly respected by the community for his mechanical ability and strict integrity.

• New York (City) Directory for 1885 carries a display ad for "Frank Thompson, Manufacturer of Machinery and Tools." That text is all that we can see of the ad in the Google Books version.
• 1885-86 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 125th (see adv. page 46, com. reg.)
• 1886-87 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 126th (see adv. page 42, com. reg.)
• 1887-88 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinery, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 126th (see adv. page 47, com. reg.)
• 1888-89 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edward J. machinist, h 326 E. 114th
  • Bowler, John A. machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 126th.
• 1889-90 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Bowler, John, machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 126th.
• 1890-91 Trow's New York City Directory lists the following (verbatim):
  • Amor Edgar J. machinist, h 1826 Lex. av.
  • Bowler, John, machinist, h 334 E. 37th.
  • Thompson, Frank, machinist, 178 Centre, h 54 W. 126th.
• Ninth Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of the State of New York, January 1895, lists an inspection of the premises of Frank Thompson, 178 Centre street, makers of machinery and tools, and having 12 employees, all male.