This short-lived company, headquartered in New York with its works located in Charlotteburg, NJ, made a patent drilling machine that was designed mainly for working metal. They also made punch presses and shears.

The business was active until roughly 1874. We do not know the identify of Mr. Biddle, but it appears that he got into financial difficulty and was forced into bankruptcy.

Information Sources

• From the Library Company of Philadelphia, a listing for an 1872 catalog: "Catalogue of the Biddle Mfg. Co. : Lyon’s patent self-feeding hand-drill, punching press and shear and other cutting tools manufactured solely under their own patents. 1872 Works at Charlotteburg, New Jersey office and warehouse No. 78 Chambers Street, New-York."
• Mentioned in February 1873 Manufacturer & Builder, in an article on the "Official List of Premiums Awarded by the American Institute, at the 41st Annual Exhibition, 1872": "Biddle Manufacturing Co., 78 Chambers street, Nipper, Drill Press, Punching Press and Plumbers Traps".
• The October 1873 Manufacturer & Builder has an article on the exhibitors at the New York Industrial Exhibition of the American Institute, including the following: "The Biddle Manufacturing Co., of New York, exhibits a fine display of power drills, shears, and punches, which are remarkable for their appearance, evidently combining great power and strength, with a handsome exterior, which latter quality will never be despised by any intelligent mechanic."
• Ad in 1873 Railway Buyers Guide, including "Patent Self-Feed Hand Drills".
• From the document, Premiums Awarded at the Forty-Second Annual Exhibition of the American Institute, 1873: "Biddle Manufacturing Co., 102 Chambers street, New York, for a combined press and shear punching press, drill press and shears for round and plate. Diploma."
• From Digest of the Official Opinions of the Attorneys-General of the United States, 1885: "...in the case of the Biddle Manufacturing Company referred to (see opinion of August 2, 1875), ..." Much later, it says, "The Biddle Manufacturing Company contracted with the Government to manufacture a gun, payment therefor to be made in installments as the work progressed, and afterward subcontracted with the South Boston Company for the performance of the work; the latter also to be paid by installments as the work progressed. The former company was in fact an individual only, who subsequently became insolvent and against whom a petition in bankruptcy was then filed... Opinion of July 27, 1874, 14 Op. 424."