In the 1860s and 1870s, Asahel Davis made box-making and dovetailing machines. He is better remembered, along with his brother Ari Davis, for making scientific instruments and daguerrotype cameras and related equipment.

Information Sources

• Asahel Davis had an ad in the 1867-03-17 issue of Scientific American as a "manufacturer of plain and fancy boxes. Also, Exclusive Maker of A. & A. Davis' Patent Dovetailing Machines. Post-office Box 509, Lowell, Mass." Ari and Ashahel Davis shared an 1856 patent for such a machine. Asahel Davis also received an 1871 patent for an improved dovetailing machine.
• Ari Davis was listed in the EAIA's Directory of American Toolmakers as a "maker of scientific instruments who lived 1811-05-18 to 1885-08-15. He was in Boston 1834-1845, in Washington in 1854, and Lowell 1855-1856. Davis had patents for a box-making machine, and (with Asahel Davis) a dovetailing machine."
• More information on Ari and Asahel Davis, from a website on the history of daguerrotypes: "[Ari Davis was a] manufacturer of daguerreian apparatus and scientific instrument maker. In 1840 he was listed as a daguerreian manufacturer at 11 Cornhill, Boston, Mass., with his brother Daniel. Davis also worked as a daguerreian in Lowell, Mass., in 1841. This may be A. Davis of "A. & A. Davis" noted as daguerreians at 19 Central Street, Lowell, date unknown. Information from a paper sticker attached to a sixth plate image. Another source noted three Davis brothers: Ari, Ashael and Daniel, Jr. in Boston c. 1840-1850. They were reportedly employed by John Plumbe, Jr., and Ashael toured lecturing on the "Plumbe System" and set up Plumbe's gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. Ari Davis also offered daguerreian apparatus for sale, in a September, 1840 advertisement. In an 1841 advertisement in Lowell (April), he also offered daguerreian apparatus and lectures on the process."
• Ben Campbell forwarded us the following listing from an 1869 directory: "ASAHEL DAVIS, Lowell, Mass. Manufacturer of wood-working machinery, includes 4 sizes of dovetailing machines, and 4 sizes of wood planers, with an adjustable attachment for getting stock out of wind, and jointing."
• The 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States, has an entry for "A. Davis" of Lowell, MA: "General and mill machinery." This entry may or may not be for Asahel Davis.