Ford-Smith Machine Co., founded by Percy Ford-Smith, was in business by 1912. In mid-1914 the company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. In 1918 the company re-incorporated with a capital of $500,000. Their early product line included tool grinders plus bench and pedestal grinders. Within a few years they were also making heavy-duty disk sanders, vises, knife grinders, hacksaw frames, etc. By 1921 they had introduced a line of horizontal milling machines.

Detail from advertisement in the 1913-01-02 Canadian Machinery

The company continued to enjoy modest success over the years. At some point, perhaps after World War II, they started making hydraulic hoists for auto shops, which apparently were successful enough that they soon stopped making their other product lines. The company survived until about 2004 before disappearing.

Information Sources

• Ad in 1913-01-02 Canadian Machinery from Ford-Smith Machine Company of Hamilton, Ontario, for their tool grinders and floor and bench grinders.
• June 1914 Mill Supplies.

  The Ford-Smith Machine Co., Ltd., Hamilton, Ontario, has been organized by Percy Ford-Smith, S. W. C. Scott and others, with a capitalization of $100,000, to manufacture machinery, tools, etc.

• Ad in July 1919 issue of Canadian Machinery.
• The 1920-21 Canadian Trade Index

  Ford-Smith Machine Co., Limited, Cavill, Ave., Hamilton, Ont. Machine tools; knife grinders. Reps, W. E. Storey, 3 Arundel St., London, Engl; Alf. Herbert, 54 Dey St., New York, N.Y., U.S.A. Brand, "Ford-Smith." Cable address, Fordsmith, Hamilton, Ont.; Codes, A.B.C., Bentley's.

  Ford-Smith Machine Co., Ltd., is listed under Cylinders, air; Frames, hack-saw; Gears, machine cut and dressed; Grinders, column, pedestal, bench; Grinders, disc; Grinders, emery and corundum; Grinders, planer knife; Grinding and polishing machinery; Index centers; Machinery, special; Milling attachments; Pulleys, iron; Tables, swivel; Tools, machine; Tools, milling; Vises, machinists'.
• 1937-02-13 issue of Kingston Gleaner mentions "Mr. P. Ford-Smith, President and Managing Director of Ford-Smith Machine Co., Hamilton, and Mrs. Ford-Smith".
• From an archived version of the now-defunct fordsmith.com website:

  Incorporated in 1918, Ford Smith has forty years' experience in the design and manufacture of hydraulically operated vehicle lifting equipment. Add to this, thirty five more years as a designer or manufacturer of specialty heavy industrial machinery.

• According to the Industry Canada archive of August 1986 information, the numbered company 674898 Ontario Limited, Toronto, was invested in Ford-Smith Compagnie Limitée, Montreal, QC ("Warehouses and sells heavy metal products") and Ford-Smith Machine Company Limited, Fruitland, ON ("Manufactures and sells heavy metal products").
• From 1913-01-02 Canadian Machinery.

  Ford-Smith Machine Co., Hamilton, Ont.

  Prominent among the smaller firms of machine builders are the Ford-Smith Machine Co., Hamilton, Ont., who are earning an excellent name for the work they turn out. Their grinders in particular are meeting with much favour, and the firm are now making as broad a line of floor and water tool grinders as any of the concerns in the United States.

  The Ford-Smith Co. have, of late, paid a great deal of attention to the standardising of steel safety collars for abrasive wheels, and have finally adopted a standard which they believe meets every requirement. The firm is at present engaged in standardising a line of protective guards and dust exhausts for grinding wheels.

  Since moving into their new factory at the corner of Princess and Earl Sts., Hamilton, at the end of 1911, the output of the firm has nearly doubled; in fact the new premises are already inadequate and considerable extensions are planned for 1913.

• 1918-11-21 The Iron Age.

  The Ford-Smith Machine Co., Hamilton, Ont., is moving into its new premises on Cavell Avenue and expects to have the entire plant in operation within a month. The building, which was erected at a cost of $50,000, will be equipped with new machinery and will be modern throughout.

• 1918-11-19 The Iron Age.

  The Ford Smith Machine Co., Ltd., Hamilton, Ont., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $500,000 by Archibald H. Gibson, Gabriel H. Levy, Charles H. Higgins, provisional directors, and others. The company recently erected a plant on Cavell Avenue and is installing machinery as rapidly as possible. Machine tools will be manufactured.

• From a 1956 issue of Industrial Canada.

  Percy Ford-Smith—Percy Ford-Smith, founder of the Ford-Smith Machine Co. Limited. Hamilton, Ont., died on September 14 at Winter Park, Florida, where he had been living in retirement for the past three years.

• A great-grandson of Percy Ford-Smith, John Hamilton, provided us with some information on Percy.
  • Percy was married in 1905. His wife, Olive Spengler, was half-American and half-English. Her American ancestry is from the Cleveland area.
  • Percy and his wife Olive Louise (Spengler) Ford-Smith lived in Manchester, England until the early part of the 20th century. He had three children - Frances, Helen, and Herbert. Percy went by the nickname Pubby... They lived in Ancaster (near Hamilton) in a Tudor-style weather.
  • Frances died relatively young, without children. Helen had 5, and Herbert had 2, one of whom still lives in Canada.
  • Percy’s father, among other talents, was a painter (artist).
  • I knew Percy was in the machine tool business in Canada. I had thought his family had a machine tool business in Manchester, and he emigrated to Canada to start a branch there. My grandmother was born in 1907, so they (or perhaps just Olive?) were still living in England then.