In 1888 James Edward Costilo opened a machine shop on Adams Street in Brooklyn. By 1893 he was operating as the J. E. Costilo Machine Works and had moved to larger premises at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Concord Street. By the late 1890s he was manufacturing screw machines, hand milling machines, and tapping machines. By 1901 he was also making slotters. In late 1901 or early '02 he moved to new premises at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan. By 1904 the name had changed slightly to Costilo Machine Works, and after 1904 Costilo seems to disappear from the records. We can find no mention of him after that date, nor can we find a death record.

Information Sources

• The 1890 Lain's Business Directory of Brooklyn lists, under Machinists, "Costilo James E. 79 Adams".
• 1893-07-01 The Electrical Age, in "Directory for Buyers / Brooklyn, N. Y.": "Costilo, J. E., Machine Works, Cor. Hudson ave. and Concord st., Brooklyn. Electrical and Experimental Work done promptly."
• A search of mortgage records provides a few data points. 1896-06-20, "Costilo, J E. Hudson av and Concord st.. Prentiss Tool and Supply co. 200", which means that Costilo owed Prentiss Tool & Supply $200, with his shop as collateral. A $125 chattel mortgage between the same parties was renewed. On 1896-01-04, "Costilo J E. 229 Hudson av... R Costilo. Tools &c. 2,541". On 1896-02-15, a chattel mortgage between "Hartford J J. 146 Fulton... J E Costilo". Regarding "R Costilo" the only name we could find was Richard Costilo 1839-1906.August 1899 Machinery has a text ad: "Tapping, Milling and Screw Machines / The J. E. Costilo Machine Works, / Concord St. & Hudson Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A. / Fifteen minutes from the New York end of the Brooklyn Bridge. Take Park or Vanderbilt Avenue cars."
• 1899 Thirteenth Annual Report of the Factory Inspector of the State off New York, in a list of inspections in Brooklyn: "Costilo, J. E. / [Goods manufactured] Tools / [Average Number of employes, Male] 15 / [Hours of labor] 56 / [Changes ordered] 1 / [Compliances ordered] 1".
• 1899 Trow's Business Directory of the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens lists, under Machinists, "Costilo James E 235 Hudson av". Under Tools is listed "Costilo James E 250 Concord".
• 1899-09-03 The Iron Age. "J. B. Costilo Machine Works, Hudson avenue and Concord street, Brooklyn, N. y., report a large and growing demand for their milling machines. They state that they have largely increased their facilities for the manufacture of these machines and their wheel power screw machines."
• 1899-09-14 The Iron Age. "The J. E. Costilo Machine Works of Brooklyn, N. Y., have done a considerable business the past three months on their hand milling machines. They have sold a number of second-hand screw machines and report numerous inquiries from abroad for machinery."
• 1901 Hendricks' Commercial Register of the United States lists "Costilo, J. E. Machine Tool Works, cor. Concord & Hudson, Brooklyn, N. Y." under Grinders (Twist drill), Machine Tools, Slotting Machines, Tapping Machines, Screw Cutting Machines, and Screw Machines.
• Jan-Jun 1902 Index to the New York City Auction Sales, Conveyances, Leases, Mortgages and Projected Buildings, lists, under Chattel Mortgages for May 10, 1902, "Costilo, Jas. E. 60 Centre. Rich Costilo. Machinery. 3,887".
• 1904-02-27 Scientific American has an ad: "Special Machinery / Tools and Dies. Model & Experimental Works. Costilo Machine Works, 60 Centre St., New York.
• 1904 Trow's Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx lists "Costilo Machine Works (R.T.N.) (James E. Costilo) 60 Centre". The "R.T.N." (Registered Trade Name) indicates that the name is registered in the County Clerk's Office.
• American Milling Machine Builders: 1820-1920 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2007, page 76