Mead Specialties Co. was in operation 1941-1987, at least. The owner was Theodore E. Mead, who seems to have been the originator of the narrow-belt sander sold as the Bandsander. The patent for the sander was issued in 1942. The early sander had a cast frame, and the 1956 model was pressed steel with quick belt changing. An unusual model with direct-drive using a rubber coupling sold on eBay April 28, 2019.

Mead also made air actuated presses, clamps and vises. From about 1949 through the mid '50s they made the "Mighty Mouse" crawler tractor, a tiny track loader with a roughly 5 HP engine.

From April 1954 Popular Mechanics

Information Sources

• July 1941 Popular Science has the earliest mention of this company we can find: an ad for new band-sander. Mead Specialties Co., 15 So. Market St., Chicago.
• The January/February 1948 issue Popular Homecraft has an ad for Mead's "new wonder tool", the narrow-belt sander. The company name was Mead Specialties Co.
• According to a 1949 issue of 1949 Popular Mechanics, the company address was 4114 N. Knox Ave, Chicago 41, Illinois.
• Modern Metals, Vol.12, 1956, pg. 102
• According to the Jan 7, 1968 edition of The Los Angeles Times , Mead Specialties company was bought by Stanray Corp.
• Los Angeles Times, Jan 7, 1968, pg. 73