From 1853-03-26 Scientific American

In 1849, Junius S. Alcott invented a pattern lathe. He applied for a patent through the offices of Munn & Co., who also published the new journal for inventors, Scientific American, and began manufacturing it with a partner named Couch. The lathe seems to have primarily been sold by mail order through Munn & Co., who continued to sell it for at least four years. After that time the product was sold through S. C. Hills until at least 1864.

Beginning in about 1867 the Alcott lathe was manufactured by the Henderer Bros. in Binghamton, NY as evidenced by this ad. Henderer Brothers was succeeded by A. L. Henderer & Co., who sold their Binghamton business to William Scott who continued to manufacture Alcott's lathe; Augustus L. Henderer and brother Edmond, meanwhile, moved to Wilmington, DE, and continued manufacturing the Alcott lathe under the name A. L. Henderer & Co.

Besides being a mechanic and inventor, Alcott was a poet and transcendentalist. His uncle (and Louisa May Alcott's father) Amos Bronson Alcott, was the founder of the transcendentalist movement. On the 26th of April, 1852, Junius Alcott committed suicide by throwing himself between the water-wheel and pinion of the woolen mill in his town. He was married and had a seven-year-old daughter.

As far as we can tell, no patent was ever granted.

Information Sources

• Several genealogy websites give Alcott's birth date: 1818-07-06. Information on his ancestry is easy to find because he was a first cousin once removed of author Louisa May Alcott. A page lists, "Cameron, Kenneth Walter, 'Junius S. Alcott, Poet and Transcendentalist' [ESQ 14]". The citation may be for Esquire magazine. Yet another genealogy site gives a spouse for Junius: Nancy Jane Pritchard. Some of the sites mention a daughter, Lilliam May, born 1845. One site that lists birth records mentions an unnamed son to Junius and Mary Alcott, born 1850-10-20.
• The only candidate for "Couch" is George W. Couch, who is known to have been postmaster of Oriskany Falls during this era. We could not find any other information on George W. Couch, such as his age and whether he had brothers or sons who could have been Alcott's business partner.
• The 1849-11-10 issue of Scientific American carried a front-page illustrated article about Alcott's pattern lathe. Munn & Co. sold the lathe for $25 each.
• The 1851-04-19 issue of Scientific American carried a brief illustrated article about J. S. Alcott's new mortising machine. Munn & Co. sold the mortiser for $20.
• The 1851-10-04 issue of Scientific American, in response to an inquiry about the price of chisels, refers the query to Messrs. Couch and Alcott.
• The 1852-05-08 issue of Scientific American carried the notice of Alcott's death. The article mentions a Mr. Couch as Alcott's partner.
• An ad in 1858-05-08 Scientific American indicates that Munn & Co., the publishers of Scientific American, "continue to sell Alcott's Concentric Lathe, which is adapted to turning Windsor chair legs, pillars, rods, and rounds; hoe handles, fork handles, and broom handles." No lathe patent has been found for anyone named Alcott.
• An ad in the 1860-05-12 1864-10-15 issue of Scientific American from S. C. Hills features the Alcott lathe: "ALCOTT'S CONCENTRIC LATHES.—FOR BROOM, Hoe, and Rake Handles, Chair Rounds, &c.—Price $25; and all other kinds of Wood-working Machinery, for sale by S. C. HILLS, No 12 Platt street, New York.
• An ad in the 1868-11-04 issue of Scientific American from Henderer Bros. For the Alcott Lathe.