Manufacturers Index - Pray Manufacturing Co.
Pray Manufacturing Co.
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
Manufacturer Class:
Wood Working Machinery
This page contains information on patents issued to this manufacturer.
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295,991
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Apr. 01, 1884
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Circular-saw mill
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
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336,631
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Feb. 23, 1886
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Nose-guard for saw-mill head-blocks
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
Charles Esplin was born in Scotland and moved to Canada in 1846. He studied engineering at McGill University in Montréal, and then established a business erecting grist and saw mills. He moved to Winnipeg in 1878, and, not having achieved the hoped-for success there, he moved to Minneapolis in 1883. He moved to Seattle, then Victoria, then back to Winnipeg in 1897. Source: "Engineering expertise and the Canadian exploitation of the technology of the second industrial revolution", by Marvin McInnis of Queen's University. |
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339,539
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Apr. 06, 1886
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Bandsaw mill
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
Another patent to this inventor apparently covers the use of a idler-wheel rim that is independent of the rest of that wheel: yet another way of reducing the momentum of the idler wheel so as to minimize blade buckling. This invention covers the use of a friction-brake on the independent rim, with the brake optionally being used to drive accessories to the saw, such as blowers or bark-rossers.
D. C. Prescott's 1910 monograph, "The Evolution of Modern Band Saw Mills for Sawing Logs", says, "Early in 1886 Mr. Charles Esplin, of the Pray Mfg. Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., built a Band Mill upon an entirely new principle, and one of them was operated that year by the Superior Lumber Co., of Ashland, Wis. It was illustrated and advertised in 1887 as 'the only perfect Band Mill in use.' It transpired, however, that the analysis of band saw troubles and their causes as published by Mr. Esplin was truly perfect, but the Band Mill built by him to correct the troubles was imperfect to the extreme, as will be seen; and the wonder is that he did not see it himself, when clearly on the right track..." See the link for the rest of Prescott's critique of Esplin's design. |
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340,943
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Apr. 27, 1886
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Bandsaw mill
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
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341,376
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May. 04, 1886
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Band-saw mill
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
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344,366
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Jun. 29, 1886
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Saw-mill set-works
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Charles Esplin |
Minneapolis, MN |
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