This firm, which made Cleveland milling machines, was formed in 1919 as the Sommer-Adams Co. of Cleveland. The founders were W. H. Reedy, L. A. Sommer, and Frank H. Adams. Their intended focus was "special machinery for the metalworking industry" but they quickly developed successful lines of business in electric hoists, steam shovels, and locomotive cranes. In June of 1920 they increased their manufacturing capacity by buying the assets of Victor R. Browning Co. The purchase necessitated a corporate reorganization and the name changed to Browning-Sommer-Adams Co. The name change was short-lived: in 1923 it changed back to Sommer-Adams Co., and at some point changed to Sommer & Adams Co.

In 1923 the business acquired a line of milling machine cutters as well as a line of horizontal mills.

In early 1946 the business was acquired by Federal Machine & Welder Co. of Warren, OH, for $525,000. In 1947 Sommer & Adams moved to Warren, where most of Federal's other subsidiaries were located. Sommer & Adams was in business until at least 1950 but information is scarce.

Information Sources

• The September 1919 issue of Machinery has the following news item:

  Sommer-Adams Co., has recently been organized In Cleveland, Ohio, with a capitalization of $100,000, to engage In the manufacture of special machinery, gages, tools, and fixtures, for the metalworking industries. The officers of the company are W. H. Reedy, president, L. A. Sommer, vicepresident and general manager, and Frank H. Adams, secretary and treasurer. L. A. Sommer has been connected with the Allen Motor Co. for more than four years, and will still retain his interest in that company, continuing to serve upon the board of directors.

• The 1920-06-24 issue of Iron Age has the following item.

  Victor R. Browning & Co. Taken Over

  Negotiations have just been completed whereby the Sommer-Adams Co., Cleveland, acquired the assets and assumed the debt of Victor R. Browning, doing business as Victor R. Browning & Co., Cleveland, such assets to be paid for in stock of a new company. Negotiations have also been completed whereby the new company, The Browning-Sommer-Adams Co. will receive payment of stock exceeding $100,000 not later than the next 60 to 90 days. In addition to this a contract has just been signed with the Preferred Securities Co., whereby the company will start as soon as permitted by the securities department, selling $623,000 preferred stock of the re-organized company, which amount will provide for working capital, expansion and payment of all indebtedness except part of the borrowed capital which is being deferred over a period of four years.

  By the terms of the merger, from $300,000 to $500,000 of additional assets are put behind the obligations of Victor R. Browning & Co. The new company will discontinue the general engineering business of Victor R. Browning & Co. and devote its entire capacity to producing steam shovels, locomotive cranes and electric hoists. The demand, from all indications, will far exceed the output, owing to great activity in road building.

• The 1922 Engineering Directory lists the "Browning-Sommer-Adams Co." of 17701 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland, as a maker of electric hoists, dredging machinery, locomotive cranes, steam shovels,
• A 1923 edition of Iron Age has the following snippet.

  The Sommer-Adams Co., Cleveland, recently incorporated, has taken over the line of milling cutters formerly made by the Cleveland Milling Machine Co. and later by the Shields Cutter Co., and the line of horizontal mills placed on the market ...

• The June 1942 Technology Review carries an advertisement from the Ohio Gear Co., featuring the Cleveland No. 1 vertical milling machine made by the Sommer & Adams Co., which used head gears from Ohio Gear.
• A January 1946 edition of the New York Times carried the headline, "BUYS SOMMER & ADAMS CO.; Federal Machine & Welder Co. Closes $525,000 Deal".
• From the 1947-08-07 Evening Indepdent news papers:

  MOVING TIME— New Plant For Warren CLEVELAND. (AP)— The Sommer & Adams Co., a special machinery concern which has operated here more than 30 years, will move to Warren, 0., Aug. 15, F. W. King, assistant to the president, announced today. Employing about 100 workers, the firm is wholly owned by Federal Machine & Welder Co. and will be that company's fifth subsidiary operating in Warren.

• Google Books lists a 1950 catalog but the catalog cannot be viewed.