The Hisey Machine Works was in business by 1899—they would later claim "Established 1896". For their first few years they made a small horizontal milling machine. At the beginning of 1902 they introduced a novel new electric grinder that could be held in a lathe's lantern tool post. At about the same time they reorganized as the Hisey-Wolf Machine Co., with $20,000 in capital stock, Charles S. Hisey as president and Joseph Wolf as secretary-treasurer. The new electric grinder and the reorganization presaged a radical change in direction: the company switched their focus to small electric grinders, soon expanding to include handheld electric grinders and drills, as well as a gear-drive portable radial drill. They would later build sensitive drill presses as well.

From 1902-10-02 The Tradesman

In 1908 Walter J. Friedlander became president of the company, succeeding Charles S. Hisey; we don't know what happened to Hisey, who kept a very low profile from about 1905 onwards. In 1912 Joseph Wolf left the business to join a direct competitor, Cincinnati Electrical Tool Co., as vice-president and general manager.

In patents from the 1920s and 1930s Hisey-Wolf is described as "a partnership consisting of Walter J. Friedlander and Joseph A. Friedlander, both of Cincinnati, Ohio."

In 1949 Hisey-Wolf was acquired by Cincinnati Electrical Tool Co., itself a division of the R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Co. of Cincinnati.

One Hisey-Wolf design is a C-frame sensitive drill press with an unusual speed control. The motor is mounted horizontally behind the vertical quill; a metal disk is mounted on the motor shaft, and another metal disk with a rubber rim is mounted on the quill so that its rim is against the surface of the motor's disk. The disk on the quill can be moved up or down to vary the speed, and if the disk goes past the center point of the motor disk then the quill's rotation reverses.

Information Sources

• Our thanks to Brad Metcalf for bringing to our attention information about this company and Mr. Walter J. Friedlander.
• Charles S. Hisey was involved in an 1898 patent lawsuit, Standard Cartridge Co. et al. v. Peters Cartridge Co.. Hisey had applied for a patent on a cartridge loading machine, that application being assigned to Standard Cartridge Co. Before a patent was issued, one George Ligowsky applied for a patent on substantially the same idea; Ligowsky's application was assigned to Peters Cartridge Co. The Patent Office declared an interference, their examiner of interference considered the evidence as to priority and then decided in favor of Ligowsky. The examiner in chief reversed the decision. On appeal to the commissioner, the examiner in chief's decision was reversed in favor of Ligowsky, and a patent was issued to Ligowsky. Standard Cartridge Co. appealed that decision. 3300 pages of testimony and evidence were considered by the court, who affirmed the Patent Office's decision, concluding "that Ligowsky was the inventor, and that the attempt of Hisey to appropriate the invention was fraudulent." Standard Cartridge appealed, and lost again. The decision of the appeals court (see link) is quite enlightening as to Hisey's character.
• 1899-06-29 The Iron Trade Review has an illustrated article on they Hisey Milling Machine, a horizontal hand mill.
• 1901 Annual Reports of the Officers of State of the State of Indiana, in the report from the Department of Inspection, lists Hisey Machine Works, Aurora, makers of milling machinery, with 18 adult male employees and one boy. They were ordered to "Cover or countersink all projecting setscrews in collars on shafting."
• 1902-02-13 The Iron Age.

  The Hisey-Wolf Machine Company have just acquired the plant of the Hisey Machine Works of Cincinnati. The latter shops have ben in operation only 60 days producing the Hisey electric grinder. A fine new equipment has been installed, consisting principally of lathes from the R. K. Le Blond Machine Tool Company and H. A. Gray & Co. planers.

• 1902 The Iron Age Directory lists "Hisey-Wolf Machine Co., Cincinnati, O." as providers of Grinders' and Polishers' Supplies; Grinders, Electrically Driven; Grinders, Lathe Center; Grinders, Portable; Grinders, Reamer; Grinders, Surface; and Grinding Machinery.
• 1903-01-22 The Iron Age.

  The Hisey-Wolf Machine Company, 75-79 Elm street, Cincinnati, Ohio, manufacturers of the Hisey portable electrically driven grinder, the Hisey electrical driven bench grinder and the Hisey electrical driven hand drill, have leased the adjoining building and will locate their offices and stockrooms at 75 Elm street, while they devote their entire space at 77-79 to the manufacture of their various specialties. They have installed their grinders and drills in nearly all the large shops throughout the country, and reports received they give perfect satisfaction. It is their intention to make further additions in the spring, which will give then one of the best equipped shops in the country.

• 1905 Williams' Cincinnati Directory lists "Hisey-Wolf Machine Co (The) Chas S Hisey pres Jos Wolf secy and treas 2852 Spring Grove Av".
• September 1908 Machinery. "Walter J. Friedlander has been made general manager of the Hisey-Wolf Machine Co,. Cincinnati, Ohio, manufacturer of electric drills, grinders, etc."
• 1909 Annual report of the Secretary of State, State of Ohio.

  WALTER J. FRIEDLANDER.

  Walter J. Friedlander, who in July, 1908, became the president of the HiseyWolf Machine Company of Cincinnati, was born in this city, a son of A. J. and Lisette Friedlander. The father's birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, on the 1st of May, 1830, and in 1848, when a young man of eighteen years, he came to Cincinnati, where he engaged in the business of manufacturing clothing as a partner of the firm of Heidelbach & Friedlander. That connection was continued until his death in 1897.

  Walter J. Friedlander has been a lifelong resident of Cincinnati and in its public schools acquired his education, leaving the high school, however, when sixteen years of age. He then became connected with his father in the clothing business, acting as manager of the establishment until twenty-two years of age, after which he organized The Day & Night Tobacco Company, of which he was president until he sold out to the American Tobacco Company in 1906. However, he still retained the presidency of the Cincinnati plant until 1907. He then bought out the Hisey-Wolf Company, of which he is now the president. They manufacture a general line of portable electric drills and grinders and their output displays the latest improvements in that line. Mr. Friedlander brought to this undertaking strong executive ability and marked enterprise and from the beginning has met with prosperity in its conduct. He now employs eighty men in the factory and does business not only all over the United States but in foreign countries as well, their shipments covering a wide territory, while the volume of their business proves the worth and value of their output.

• 1910-03-31 The Iron Age.

  The Hisey-Wolf Company, manufacturer of portable electric tools and grinders, has purchased a tract at the southwest corner of Colerain avenue and Marshall street, 92 x 162 ft., and will erect at once a new factory. The building will be 80 x 160 ft., brick, two story. The rapid increase in the company's business necessitated taking larger and more commodious quarters, where the force of workmen can be increased. The output, which is at present confined to drills of 2 in. and grinders of 2 hp. capacity, will be doubled, and the line may be added to. The power will be electric throughout, and efforts will be made to have the plant ready for operation this fall. The company has within the past year acquired considerable additional machinery, such as planers, twist drill grinders, internal grinder, lathes, milling machines, upright drills, gear cutters and turret lathes, but may find it necessary to add a few new machines. The president, Walter J. Friedlander, who took hold of the business in July, 1908, and began early in 1909 to increase the line, has made a splendid record, which is all the more notable, recalling the business depression which existed the greater part of the time.

• 1910-05-30 Industrial World. "The Hisey-Wolf Machine Company applied for a building permit to put up a $25,000 two-story brick, concrete, steel and frame factory at Colerain and Marshall avenues."
• 1912-12-01 The Automobile Trade Journal.

  Joseph Wolf, formerly of the Hisey-Wolf Machine Company, has become interested in and is vice-president and general manager of the Cincinnati Electrical Tool Company, makers of portable electrical drills and grinders. He will take entire charge of the management of the business, and will surround himself with competent heads in the different departments. The company will bring out several new and improved tools in the near future."

• 1916-01-14 Metal Worker, Plumber & Steam Fitter. "WALTER J. FREIDLANDER, president Hisey Wolf Machine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been appointed safety director of the city by Mayor George Puchta."
• A patent search from 1920 onwards produced eight patents assigned to this firm. The patents related to various types of grinding machines.
• Findagrave page on Charles Selby Hisey 1861-1936. Findagrave page on Joseph Wolf 1850-1918.