This little-known firm made engine lathes in the early part of the 20th century. The firm was owned by Michael Peterson and was in business from about 1918 to 1922, and perhaps for longer.

Information Sources

• We learned of this maker from a mention in a Practical Machinist forum.
• The August 1918 issue of Machinery lists Summit Machine Works of Worcester as a maker of speed lathes.
• The February 1920 issue of Machinery has the following item:

  Summit Machine Works, Worcester, Mass. Catalogue of lathes, illustrating and describing Summit screw-cutting engine lathes of both the floor and bench types. The lathes shown include 10-inch screw-cutting engine lathes and 10-20 Inch screw-cutting gap engine lathes.

• Sampson & Murdock's The Worcester Directory for 1920 lists "Summit Machine Works (Michael Peterson), 54 Hermon.
• The 1921-09-29 issue of Industry Week has the following news item.

  NEW YORK—The Summit Machine Co. has been incorporated with $10,000 capital stock, by H. R. and E. Blackford, I. Israel and E. C. Cohen, 110 William street.

  An ad in a 1922 issue of Machinery solicits contract machining work for Summit Machine Co., located on Summit Ave. in Jersey City, NJ. So far as we know, there was no connection between Summit Machine Co. and Summit Machine Works.
• The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer for 1922 lists, under Machinery Manufacturers, "Summit Machine Works, 4 Burton".
• owwm.org forum posting on a Summit lathe. Earlier discussion of same lathe, with some photos.