Beginning in the 1840s and continuing until at least 1862, Thomas J. Wells manufactured steam engines and woodworking machinery including sawmills, re-saws, veneer saws and slitting saws. Many ads give the business name as T. J. Wells but a few use the name Wells Machine Works.

Information Sources

• 1847 article and 1848-1850 ads in Scientific American.
• 1850-02-16 Scientific American, page 175, in the "To Correspondents" column.

  "J. C. W. of N. C."—Such machines as you refer to were made in this city by T. J. Wells, not long since, but he has given up the business and gone to California. We cannot tell you where they can be had...

• 1850-03-16 Scientific American page 207, text ad.

  Thomas J. Wells, would respectfully inform his friends and the public in general that although he is executing large orders of planing and saw-mill machinery for San Francisco and Oregon, he has not "gone to California," and if any of his patent slitting, scroll, or timber saw-mills are wanted, he is still "at home," and prepared to fill with promptness any order in his line, at foot of Twenty-ninth st., N.Y.

• 1850-06-08 Scientific American page 303, text ad.

  Saw Mill Machinery.—The subscriber would respectfully informs his friends and the public generally, that he still continues to manufacture, and keeps constantly on hand all kinds of saw mill machinery, consisting of log saw mill, fitted up in the best manner and most approve mechanical mode, patent improved slitting and panel saw mills, (patented by himself and proved superior to any other in use) also for veneering, scroll and circular saw. Shafting and other machinery fitted to order. Persons in want of such machinery will promote their interests by an interview with the undersigned, before engaging elsewhere, articles embraced above, as his long experience both in the manufacture and use thereof, has given him a thorough practical acquaintance with the best models of constructing.
  Thomas J. Wells,
  Foot of 29th St., N. R., New York.

• 1854-02-24 Scientific American page 191, text ad.

  Two second-hand six-horse steam engines for sale, one horizontal with boilers complete, price $300, and one upright, incomplete, good order, good as new, price $175. Also one Two-horse Engine and Boiler, has been but little used, price $150. THE WELLS MACHINE WORKS, 29th street and 11th Ave, New York.

• 1854-09-23 Scientific American page 15, text ad.

  Millwright and Machine Work—The subscriber keeps on hand and manufacturers to order Steam Engines of the following sizes, 3, 4½, 6, 8, 10,12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 horse power. These Engines are of the simplest, most economical, and substantial construction, and will be sold at the lowet possible terms. Also Saw Mills and Saw Mill Machinery of every description. Shafting, Gearing, &c., laid out and put up in the most approved and workmanlike manner. THOS. J. WELLS, Twenty-ninth Street and Eleventh Avenue.

• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 259