Photo Index - Crescent Machine Co. - Crescent Hollow Chisel Mortiser

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Crescent Machine Co.
Leetonia, OH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Mortising Machine
Machine Size:
Submitted By:	Keith Rucker

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Crescent Hollow Chisel Mortiser
Date of Manufacturer:	1916-1930's
Serial Number:
Last Updated	5/24/2003 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

This mortising machine was part of the shop of James Silas Williams and was recentely sold with all of the other shop equipment present in the shop. The following is a brief history of the shop in which this saw came from:

In the early 1920's, James Silas Williams, a practicing blacksmith/wheelwright, moved from a rural home to the then active town of Rison, Arkansas. He and his son Melton Everet Williams built a business of building and repairing plows, wagons, wheels, stocks, and other agricultural implements. A traveling farrier would come to the shop on a regular basis to shoe horses and mules.

In 1926, J.S. and Everet acquired a bank loan to build this shop on their land and outfit it with the machines featured in this presentation. After completing the shop the depression hit, devastating small family shops similar to this one. Through God's graces and the mechanical needs of the agricultural environment, the family was able to make the interest payments to the bank and remain in business until the economy came back to strength.

The shop remained in operation until 1976 when Everet Williams, son of J.S., was no longer physically able to safely operate the machines. After Everet?s death, James M. Williams, oldest son of Everet, inherited the shop, and kept the physical building in weather proof condition through the 80?s and early 90?s. During this time the machines were greased and remained unused. When James retired, he reestablished the shop getting the machines and line shafting in running order. The machines are in good condition and have been mechanically maintained.

Photo 1:

Comments:
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments:
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments:
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code