In 1881, John C. Fiester patented a solid-chisel mortising machine that used a secondary curved "chisel" that helped extract the chips that were cut by the main chisel. An illustrated article in the October 22, 1881 issue of Scientific American describes the machine and says, "Further information may be obtained by addressing Messrs. Fiester & Ammon, 320 South Eleventh street, Reading, Pa." The patent was partly assigned to Jacob S. Ammon.

There is no evidence confirming that Fiester & Ammon ever manufactured the machine.

Information Sources

• The March 2005 issue of the Mannheim Preservation Foundation's "Our Heritage" newsletter contained the following article, written by Janet Atkinson Strauss:

  The Apostolic Clock

  The Apostolic Clock, now the property of the Hershey Museum, was once a part of the Danner Museum in Manheim. In 1867, 21 year old John Fiester of Strasburg, Lancaster County, began to build the Apostolic Clock. The clock is so complex that it took him eleven years to complete!

  He carved and painted the nine inch high figures of Jesus and the Apostles. There are other figures which depict stages in the life of man. This clock not only records the hour, minute and second, but the day of the week, month, the phase of the moon and the signs of zodiac.

  Mr. Fiester built a wooden case in three sections to house the gears and clock works. By doing this he could haul his clock on a flat bed wagon and travel from town to town so people could see it. People were willing to pay the 10¢ admission to see this wondrous clock.

  Soon after Mr. Fiester began his travels, he became ill. He was befriended by George H. Danner and in appreciation for his help, Mr. Fiester gave the clock to Mr. Danner to be displayed in his museum. The clock has to be seen to be appreciated. One can not imagine the intricate figures, the movements and animation of it. Be sure to see it at the Hershey Museum.

• The 1880 U.S. Census lists John C. Fiester of Reading, Pa., age 33, as a coach maker. There are several Jacob Ammons listed in the 1880 census but none in Reading, and none with occupations that seem promising (most were coal miners or farmers).
• The Book of Biographies of Leading Citizens of Berks County, Pa. has a biography of Jacob S. Ammon. It is too long to quote here in its entirety, but the relevant information is as follows: he was born November 11, 1836, in Berks County, Pa. His father was a miller. He studied medicine and then practiced as a physician beginning in 1870. He specialized in obstetrics. In 1881 he also opened a drugstore. In short, he would not have been directly involved in making and selling a mortising machine. Rather, he was likely an affluent local citizen who bankrolled Fiester's patent application.