Beginning in 1921, Triplex Machine Tool Co., of New York city, manufactured a small combination lathe, milling and drilling machine. In the second half of 1922, machine tool maker B. C. Ames Co. acquired an interest in the business and took over manufacturing of the Triplex combination machine. By 1924 the combination machine was being sold as the "Triplex" model under the B. C. Ames Co. name.

We have seen a few otherwise unbadged machines bearing a "Sold By Triplex Machine Tool Co." label, suggesting that Triplex was also a machine dealer. Companies represented include Hamilton Tool Co., precision lapping-machine maker Ultra Lap Co. of Detroit, and the Swiss jig-borer maker Société Genevoise d'Instruments de Physique.

Information Sources

• issue of American Railroad Journal has a small ad from Triplex Gas Burner Co., 40 Cortlandt Street, New York. We do not know whether there is any connection between Triplex Gas Burner and Triplex Machine Tool.
• Patent 859,719, for a carburetor, was granted in 1907 to Lars Anderson and assigned to Triplex Gas Engine Co. of New York. We do not know whether there is any connection between Triplex Gas Engine and Triplex Machine Tool.
• December 1921 Machinery.

  J. H. Wilhelm, Lloyd E. Larson and John Cetrule, consulting engineers, 18 E. 41st St., New York City, have been elected president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the Triplex Machine Tool Corporation of New York, manufacturer of the Triplex line of combination machines. The new connection will not interfere in any way with their consulting engineering practice.

• October 1922 American Machine & Tool Record.

  B. C. Ames Co., Waltham, Mass., has acquired a substantial interest in the Triplex Machine Tool Corp., of New York City, and the Triplex combination lathe, milling machine and drill press is now being manufactured in the B. C. Ames Co.'s plant at Waltham, Mass. The general office and showroom of the Triplex Machine Tool Corp. will continue to be located at 18 East 41st street, New York City.

• A 1942 issue of Aero Digest mentions Triplex Machinery Co., 125 Barclay St., New York.
• A 1942 issue of Welding Engineer lists trade show exhibitors. For Hamilton Tool Co., of Dayton Ohio, and for Ultra Lap Machine Co., Detroit, it says, "See Triplex Machine Tool Co."
• 1946 issues of Machinery list Triplex Machine Tool Corp. of New York City as a supplier of boring machines, surface grinders and centerless grinders.