From 1869-02-06 Scientific American

Starting about 1863, this firm was one of the early makers of reciprocating ship's saws (though considerably preceeded by New York maker James Hamilton). Their machine was a direct predecessor to the Fay & Egan bandsaw-based ship saw. By 1865, Knowlton was on his own and operating as John L. Knowlton. He continued making ship saws, steam engines, and fire engines until his death in 1876 or shortly before.

Information Sources

• We learned of this maker from an article by Dana Batory on ship saws (PDF).
• Scientific American 1864-02-20 (New Series V10 #8 p. 128—Knowlton, Smith & Co.)
• Scientific American 1865-05-27 (New Series V12 #22 p. 34—suggests that Knowlton was on his own)
• Scientific American 1868-11-25 (New Series V19 #22 p. 352—"To Shipbuilders. Knowlton's Improved Bevel Saw—patented April 7th, 1868. Acknowledged by Builder to be the Best in the World. Needed by every Enterprising Shipbuilder. Does it work quickly and perfectly; will save 500 per cent in labor, and effects a very great saving of material. Can be seen in operation at Neafie & Levy's Yard, Philadelphia. Built at John L. Knowlton's Works, 130 Reed st., Philadelphia Send for Descriptive Pamphlet. Address TAYLOR & LEE, Sole Agents, 1701 North st., below Coates, Philadelphia, Pa."
• Scientific American 1869-02-06 (New Series V20 #6, p. 81 (front page; includes etching reproduced by Dana Batory article).
• An 1870 issue of Journal of the Franklin Institute has an ad for J. L. Knowlton, "successors to J. W. Lynn & Co.". His address was "130 Reed Street, Philadelaphia".
• The January 1873 issue of Journal of the Franklin Institute has an ad for "John L. Knowlton, Engineer, Mill Wright and Machinist, Sharon Hill, Del. Co., Pa."
• Listed in "Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States", 1874: "J. L. Knowlton—Steam engines. 130 Reed Street." Also listed as a maker of steam boilers.
• From "History of the Steam Fire-Engine" by William T. King, Lists "John L. Knowlton—1872. John L. Knowlton built several Steam Fire-Engines at Sharon Hill, Delaware Co., Pa., five of which were sold to the Philadelphia Fire Department. These machines were all single pump and steam cylinder, and of the vertical pattern, with link motion. The pumps were 5 and 4 1/4 inches in diameter, with 11 and 12 inch stroke of piston, and weighed about 7,500 lbs. as drawn to fires. The frames were built both straight and crane neck. The boiler was of the ordinary tubular style." In 1885 another firm built five more engines for the Philadelphia Fire Department, all patterned after the Knowlton design.
• From Reports and awards for the Centennial Exhibition, 1876: "Jno. L. Knowlton's Estate, Sharon Hill, Delaware County, Pa., U. S. Jig Saw. Commended for the substantial construction of a 'jig' sawing machine that is intended for sawing ship timbers, in which considerable originality is displayed in the various arrangements for convenient sawing of heavy timber on the skew or otherwise."