In 1887, Andrew H. Kerkhoff was foreman for Henry Bickford's factory making drill presses. With his brother George plus Charles Hoefinghoff, Kerkhoff formed the Bickford Drill Company and bought out Mr. Bickford. For unknown reasons, the Kerkhoff brothers left that business in about 1891 and formed A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., which began making drill presses. In late 1898 the business failed. The assets—including machinery, patterns and plant—were acquired by the newly formed Cincinnati Machine Tool Co., which was operated by August H. Tuechter (formerly of the Bickford Drill Co.) and Sherman C. Schauer (of the Hamilton Machine Tool Co.).

Information Sources

• A Practical Machinist forum discussion gives some information on the Kerkhoff brothers and their history, including with Bickford Drill Co.
• 1887-04-13 The American Engineer.

  Mr. H. Bickford the well known manufacturer of upright drills and machinists' tools of Cincinnati, O., has sold his business to the Bickford Drill Company composed of Chas. Hoeffinghoff, A. H. Kerkhoff and Geo. J. Kerkhoff, who will continue at the old stand N. W. cor Front and Pike streets, Cincinnati, O. The new owners are all enterprising men, well acquainted with the business and with their increased facilities, they will be able to fill all orders at shortest notice and will be able to keep up the reputation of the well known Bickford drill. We hope to present illustrations of their drills in the near future.

• 1891 Annual Report of the Department of Inspection of Workshops, Factories and Public Buildings for the year 1891: "A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., Western avenue and Dayton street".
• 1892-09-15 Chicago Journal of Commerce and Metal Industries: advertisement for upright drills from A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., 173 to 177 Western ave., Cincinnati.
• 1898-10-25 Hardware.

  Recent Embarrassments.
  Cincinnati.Ohio.—The firm of A.H. Kerkhoff & Co., composed of A. H., George and John Kerkhoff, doing business as tool~ makers at Nos. 1933-1935 Western Avenue. have failed in business.

• 1899-01-02 American Machinist.

  Mr. H. Tuechter, of the Bickford Drill & Tool Company, of Cincinnati, and Mr. Sherman C. Schauer, who has been superintendent of the Hamilton Machine Tool Company, have purchased the business of A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., of Cincinnati, and will build machine tools there under the name of the Cincinnati Machine Tool Company.

• 1899-01-19 The Iron Trade review.

  The Cincinnati Machine Tool Co. has been formed and has purchased the plant of A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., Dayton st. and Western ave., Cincinnati, at assignee‘s sale. The new company will be managed by August H. Tuechter and Sherman C. Schauer. Mr. Tuechter recently severed his connection with the Bickford Drill & Tool Co., and Mr. Schauer, up to Jan. 1 was superintendent of the Hamilton (O.) Machine Tool Co. It is the intention of the new company to add to the equipment of the plant it has acquired and it starts with three months' orders on its books. Its management is in the hands of gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with the business, and their ability and enterprise will no doubt be rewarded with success.

• February 1899 Machinery.

  The Cincinnati Machine Tool Co. have purchased all the machinery, patterns and the whole plant, together with the business formerly operated by A. H. Kerkhoff & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, and will at once proceed to manufacture the tools formerly made by this firm. There will be an immediate enlargement of the plant and the facilities, together with improvements in the took, so as to place them foremost in their line. The personnel of the Cincinnati Machine Tool Co. consist of August H. Tuechter.who for the past fifteen years has been identified with the Bickford Drill and Tool Co. and Mr. Sherman C. Schauer, who for the past ten years has been superintendent of the Hamilton Machine Tool Co. The new concern has many orders ahead and will be glad to have catalogues from all the other manufacturers to place on file for future use and reference.

• 1917–05-14 The Cincinnatian.

  In 1874 Henry Bickford, who had been employed by J. A. Fay & Egan Company, started to build upright drills in a shop at Front and Pike streets. In 1879 he started to build a 24 inch drill to sell for $100, as against the regular price, $300. It was a cheap competition machine, but from it developed the modern products of the Cincinnati-Biekford Tool Company. In 1887 the Bickford Tool Companv was organized by Charles Hoefinghoff, President of the Hoeflnghoft & Lane Foundry; A. H. Kerkhoff. Bickford's foreman, and George K. Kerkhcff. formerly with the Blymyer Iron Works, Cincinnati.

  On February 1. 1893, the company reorganized as the Bickford Drill & Tool Company, with Charles Hoefinger. President; August H. Tuechter, general manager, and Anton Mill, su perintendent. In 1894 Lewis G. Keck was admitted to the partnership and made Secretary-Treasurer. Mr. Mill retired from the company February 9. 1897, and May 17, 1897. Henry M. Morris became its superintendent and engineer.

• From the 1978 book, “Metalworking: yesterday and tomorrow: the 100th Anniversary issue of American Machinist”.

  There must have later been a dispute between the partners at Bickford, because by 1892, Andy Kerkhoff had already pulled out and formed A.H. Kerkhoff & Co to produce upright drills. In 1898, August Tuechter left Bickford and went into ...