In 1874 Samuel Williams of Bedford, Mass., patented a simple mitre cutting machine of simple design. Later that same year, Williams, along with one Samuel S. Jackson, exhibited the mitre machine at a prominent Boston trade show. The following year Williams and George S. Bryant, of the Boston photography and picture framing supply company George S. Bryant & Co., jointly applied for a Canadian patent on Williams' invention. By 1877—and likely by 1875—Bryant's firm was selling the "patent mitring machines". We do not know for certain who was manufacturing the machines but it was likely Williams, or Williams and Jackson, or Geo. S. Bryant & Co.
In 1880 Bryant left the firm bearing his name and the name was changed to C. H. Codman & Co. So far as we can tell, Codman did not manufacture or sell the mitring machine.
The sole example we have seen of this patent machine is marked only with "PATENT APPL'D FOR", which would date it to 1874 or perhaps early 1875.
Information Sources
- History of Boston From 1630 to 1856, by Isaac Smith Homans, 1856, has an ad for John Sawyer & Co. Geo. S. Bryant is listed as a partner.
- 1868-07-01 Boston Journal of Chemistry: "Geo. S. Bryant & Co. / (formerly John Sawyer & Co.) / Photographic Goods of Every Description, / 123 Washington Street, Boston. / Geo. S. Bryant. Chas. H. Codman."
- From the report on the Twelfth Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, 1874:
S. S. Jackson and S. Williams, Boston, Mass.—One Patent Jackson Ventilating Chimney; two Williams & Jackson's Patent Mitre Machines.—a good article, for which we award a Diploma.
- Ad in 1877 Boston Directory, including "patent mitring machines".
- Worcester County Directory for 1878-79, published by Briggs & Co.: "Mitring machines: George S. Bryant & Co. 34 Bromfield, advt back cover, Boston".
- March 1880 The Photographic Times": "C. H. Codman & Co. are the successors to George S. Bryant & Co.,..."
- September 1883 The Photographic Times and American Photographer has an article on C. H. Codman.