This company was founded in 1890. In 1897 it was one of eleven companies that merged to create the American Wood Working Machinery Co.
Illustration from an article in the March 1899 Carpentry & Building
Not surprisingly, this company made sanders, probably only drum sanders. Model names include "Columbia No. 1" and "Columbia Jr." We have seen several used machines listed as made by "Columbia" since the machines apparently had only the model name cast into them.
One contributor uploaded pictures of a planer knife grinder from this maker, which was our first clue that they made such a product.
Information Sources
- The February 28, 1897 issue of "Northeastern Lumberman and Manufacturers Gazette" features a Milwaukee 4-roll drum sander on the front page.
- Article on the Columbia Jr. single-drum sander in "Carpentry and Building". Vol. XXI, No. 3. March 1899.
- The two patents we have found that were assigned to this company were granted to Frederick E. Schmitt and Matthias A. Beck, respectively.