Founded in 1878 by Israel H. Johnson Jr. to make heavy metalworking machinery. By 1888 it was operating as Israel H. Johnson, Jr., & Co. In or shortly before 1904 the firm incorporated as the I. H. Johnson Jr. Co., Inc. They ceased business in 1926.

36-inch engine lathe, from an article in the May 1888 issue of "Mechanics"

Information Sources

• American Lathe Builders: 1810-1910 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2001 page 82
• Boyd's Co-Partnership and Residence Business Directory of Philadelphia City for 1900 lists "Johnson Israel H jr & Co (Israel H jr and Joshua R jr), machine tools, 1422 Callowhill".
• Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Fiftieth Congress, 1888-89 has a report from the Secretary of the Navy, including expenses related to the purchase of "turning and boring lathes for 6-inch B. L. [breech loading] rifle hoops". Among several makers of such lathes, Israel H. Johnson, jr., & Co. was paid $23,298 for five lathes and a further $43,285 for ten lathes.
• The earliest mention we have seen of "I. H. Johnson Jr. Co., Inc." is in the Mary 1904 issue of The Iron Age Directory.
• Advertisement in the 1909-03-04 issue of The Iron Age: "Lathes / I. H. Johnson, Jr., Co., Inc. / Successors to / Israel H. John, Jr. & Co. / Philadelphia".