This company, founded by O. P. Smith in 1948, produced a couple of simple but effective molding machines. The machine line was sold to Stetson-Ross Machine Company in 1962, who enjoyed considerable success with it, and then sold it to Tyler Machinery Company in 1983.

Smithway also manufactured other products, including a self-feed shaper, self-feed ripsaw, and a sander for plywood manufacturing. O. P. Smith also received patents for an invalid lift and a stretcher; both those patents were assigned to Smithway Machine Co. Smith also patented a golf target and that patent was not assigned to Smithway.

Information Sources

• A 1948 issue of The Timberman has this mention: "A new self-feed rip saw in the low price field, with unique resaw attachment has recently been placed on the market by Smith Machine Co., 4617 Airport Way, Seattle, Washington. The new machine, called the XL Ripper, does straight ripping of material up to 4 inches thick... and as short as 4 inches in length on a regular production basis..."
• Ad in 1955-56 issue of Hitchcock Publishing's Wood Woodworking Digest Directory.
• A 1957 issue of Veneers and Plywood carried this note, available only in Snippet Mode through Google Books: "Kerf-Saver Band Resaw, New for '57—The Smithway Machine Company, long time specialists in the manufacturing of wood-working machinery (the XL mold-matcher and the XL ripper), have recently placed on the market a new band..."
• The Chandler W. Jones book, Planers, Matchers and Molders in America says that The XL Moldmatcher "captured the imagination of many woodworking plant owners immediately after WWII, because of its utter simplicity and low cost."
• Patents provide some information on the company. O. P.'s first name was Orson but he was, according to correspondence from a family member, called "O. P."