In the early 1850s, James D. Johnson made Wood's patent shingle mill. These mills were also being made by William Wood.
Information Sources
- Ads in 1853-85 issue of Scientific American.
- From the 1850-01-12 issue of Scientific American, in an ad for machinery dealer Samuel C. Hills: Shingle Machines, Johnson's superior will saw 6 to 8000 per day." Also mentioned in an S. C. Hills ad in the issues of 1850-02-16, 1855-12-29, and 1858-05-01.
- The 1854-02-04 Scientific American has a note from the editors to correspondent "D. S. H., of Indiana": "You can procure a good shingle machines by addressing J. D. Johnson, of Bridgeport, Ct., or Wm. Wood, Westport, Ct."
- The same 1854-02-04 Scientific American has this ad:
Shingle Machines—Wood's patented improvement in Shingle Machines, is unquestionably the best ever offered to the public. The undersigned is now at the West, offering rights in this machine for sale. It is a rare opportunity for a safe and profitable investment in a machine without rival, for the purpose to which it is applied. Parties wishing to correspond with me can do so by addressing J. D. JOHNSON, Bridgeport, Ct.