This early 20th century maker of machine tools—especially large drill presses—is now nearly forgotten. Superior Machine Tool Co. are also credited as the developer of the "modern" (World War I era) howitzer shell.

Information Sources

• Thanks to correspondent John Powell for first bringing this maker to our attention.
• A patent search from 1920 onwards did not uncover any patents assigned to this maker.
• A web search got numerous references to the same factoid about Superior Machine Tool Co. inventing/developing/manufacturing the first (or first American) Howitzer shell in 1918. In fact, the Howitzer, which is a cannon that fires in a moderate upward arc, was used in the U. S. Civil War. Our suspicion is that they developed a new shell that was more sophisticated than the earlier "can of musket balls with a sabot and a gunpowder charge" shell.
• An owwm.org posting by Jim Kubec shows, among other machines, a drill press labeled as "Kokomo Hi-Speed" and carrying a 1913 patent date. That patent was assigned to Kokomo Nail & Brad Co., but the patentee was Albert P. Weigel, who was superintendent of Superior Machine Tool Co. The most likely scenario is that Kokomo Nail & Brad contracted with Superior Machine Tool to design a drilling machine to meet their particular needs. The resulting machine was patented and was later manufactured by Superior Machine Tool.
• This firm's "Superior" drilling machines, in sizes of 25, 28, 32 and 36 inches, are featured in the September 1917 issue of Boston Blue Bulletin from machinery distributor Hill, Clarke & Co.