In 1844, Isaac Crossett of East Bennington, VT, received a patent for a stave cutting machine. His simple and elegant design was later assigned to George E. Crossett of Joliet, IL. The patent was reissued and extended in 1858.

Information Sources

• Illustrated article in the 1858-08-14 issue of Scientific American.
• Small text ad that ran for about one year in Scientific American, beginning in the 1859-02-05 issue.
• Listed in Kenneth Cope's American Cooperage Machinery and Tools. Cope reproduces the illustration from the 1858 article in Scientific American. He also notes that the machine was "later made by Trevor & Co., which offered it as late as 1890."
• One licensee of the Isaac Crossett patent was Isaac Doolittle of Rochester, N.Y. It is unclear whether Doolittle manufactured the machines himself or sold machines built by others. Given the difficulties of shipping during that era, it is most likely that he manufactured them. Here is the data we have on Mr. Doolittle.
  • At the Annual Show of the New York Agricultural Society, September 5-7 1848, Isaac Doolittle of Rochester was awarded a Diploma for a stave machine. He also exhibited staves and flour barrels "made of staves cut by Crossett's machine".
  • From the Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society for the Year 1850:

    Isaac Doolittle, of Rochester, exhibited "Crossett's patent Stave Machine," which is represented as capable of cutting sixty barrel staves per minute, from blocks previously steamed and prepared. We did not see it in operation, but some specimens of work were shown us which appeared well done; Vol. Transactions and $3.

  • Fifth Annual Report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, 1850. List of premiums awarded at the Ohio State Fair, Cincinnati, October 1850: Isaac Doolittle, Rochester, New York, Silver Medal awarded by the State Board for his stave machine. Also, Diploma for "Corsett's stave machine".