Founded in 1868 by LeGrand Skinner. In 1875, he formed a partnership with Thomas Wood, and the firm of Skinner & Wood manufactured steam engines until it was dissolved in 1883, Mr. Skinner purchasing his partner's interest. For the next two years Mr. Skinner conducted the business alone, but in 1885 the Skinner Engine Co. was incorporated with Mr. Skinner as president.

• News article at Go Erie.
• More history at Old Time Erie.
• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 221
• Steam Power on the American Farm by Reynold M. Wik, 1953 page 253
• 1885 document, Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia, page 193. The Mexican Concentration company was incorporated at Erie, Pa., to extract gold from ore, with $20,000 capital and 2,000 shares. Le Grand Skinner, James Liley and Thomas C. Wood were among the subscribers with 200 shares apiece. Edward W. Stephens was majority owner with 1,200 shares.
• 1909 book A Twentieth Century History of Erie County Pennsylvania.

  The Skinner Engine Company had its origin in 1873 when L. G. Skinner moved to Erie from Chittenango, New York, and taking a corner of the small Lilley machine shop on State street near Fourteenth, began the manufacture of portable engines. His machinery, built on honor, by a capable engineer, soon came to be known, and in a short time, to obtain more room, the shop of John Coates farther down the street, was taken and a partner as well—T. C. Wood. Skinner & Wood erected the frame machine shop, with foundry addition, at thee corner of Twelfth and Chestnut streets, in 1880-81, and began to build larger and special service engines. In 1905 the Skinner Engine Co. was incorporated; and in 1904 the first large brick building was built; a second brick building was built in 1806, and a third was added in 1909.