Frank W. Lindgren co-founded the Mechanics Machine Company in 1890, which shortly after its founding started manufacturing a friction-feed drill press, and then expanded their line of drill presses to include several hefty belt-feed models as well. In 1912 they sold their complete line of drill presses to Rockford Drilling Machine Company but apparently Mr. Lindgren was not finished with making drill presses. By 1915 he was in business as F. W. Lindgren Co. and was manufacturing a 13-inch belt-feed drill press and a 20-inch gear-feed drill. So far as we can tell, although the drills were a good design the company was very short-lived and relatively few examples have survived.

Information Sources

• The February 1915 issue of Machinery had the following article:

  The Lindgren 20-inch high-speed, all-geared drill which is a recent product of the F. W. Lindgren Co., Rockford, Ill., is particularly adapted for heavy drilling operations. The design has been worked out along lines to provide the necessary power and rigidity to meet the constantly increasing requirements met in the driving of high-speed twist drills. The machine is provided with five geared speed changes which may be instantly made without stopping the drill. The column and base are well ribbed and bolted together with four 5/8 inch cap-screws. All of the bearings in the speed box are provided with ring oilers which insure constant lubrication. The spindle has a ball thrust bearing, and its gravel is 9 1/2 inches. The end of the spindle is extended to bring the drift hole below the sleeve, and the sleeve is graduated in inches to make it convenient for the operator to drill a hole of specified depth.

  Among the features of this drill, the following may be mentioned: A combination feed lever is provided, which is fitted on a separate sleeve that prevents any binding in the cross spindle. A coiled spring, placed between the column and the lever, causes the lever to drop very gradually, thus preventing accidents by the sudden and unexpected dropping of a heavy lever. The wheel and lever feed are independent of each other. The worm is engaged by pulling the hand-wheel down and disengaged by pulling a dog to allow a spring to throw it out of action. The feed lever is operated by a ratchet and pawl which automatically disengage when in a vertical position. Another noteworthy feature is the crown gear which is fitted with a thrust bearing at the end of the hub, where there is a fiber washer to prevent the leakage of oil. The oil chamber is filled with felt for the purpose of retaining the oil, this arrangement insuring constant lubrication of the bearing. The principal dimensions of the machine are as follows: Capacity, sufficient to pull a 1 3/4-inch drill through steel; height of drill, 72 inches; greatest distance from spindle to base, 41 1/2 inches; greatest distance from spindle to table, 28 3/4 inches; distance from column to center of spindle, 10 1/4 inches; hole in spindle, No. 3 Morse taper; diameter of table, 15 1/2 inches; floor space occupied, 16 by 50 1/2 inches; net weight of machines, 670 pounds.

• The June 1915 issue of Machinery had this brief article:

  The F. W. Lindgren Co., Rockford, Ill., has recently placed a 13-inch high-speed drill press upon the market which is suitable for all kinds of light drilling, and is particularly adapted for tool and die work. To provide for operation at high speed, all of the bearings are bronze bushed and equipped with ring oilers, which provide constant lubrication. When worn, the bushings can be readily replaced. The crown gear if fitted with a thrust bearing at the end of the hub, and a fiber washer prevents the escape of oil. The spindle is equipped with ball thrust bearings and the sleeve is graduated in inches. The capacity of the machine is for drills up to 5/8 inch.

  The principal dimensions of this new Lindgren drill are as follows: Height, 63 inches; maximum distance from spindle to base, 47 inches; maximum distance from spindle to table, 34 1/2 inches; diameter of column, 3 1/2 inches; size of table, 9 by 11 inches; hole in spindle, No. 1 Morse taper; width of belt on cone pulleys, 1 3/4 inch; width of belt on tight and loose pulleys, 1 1/2 inch; floor space occupied, 17 1/2 by 26 1/2 inches; and net weight of machine, 170 pounds.

• A 1930 edition of Swedish-American Historical Bulletin had this tantalizing snippet, found through Google Books:

  The Mechanics Machine Company was founded by four mechanics, Levin Faust, Gustave A. Dahlin, Carl Forsberg and F. W. Lindgren, in 1890. Mr. Forsberg and Mr. Dahlin sold out in the nineties to Faust and Lindgren...