Photo Index - Atlantic Works Inc. - London, Berry & Orton

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Atlantic Works Inc.
Philadelphia, PA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	36"
Submitted By:	Dave Potts

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	London, Berry & Orton
Date of Manufacturer:	1877 (and later)
Serial Number:
Last Updated	8/23/2003 5:48:28 PM

Comments:

Here is another Atlantic Works saw with the name of the then-current principles listed on the casting: London, Berry, and Orton. The saw also lists four patent dates-- the last being 1871.

http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=4145&type=D
http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=104770&type=UT
http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=114043&type=UT
http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=114710&type=UT

These patent dates are from the period in time (1870) that John Richards and William S. Kelley were partners with William E. London and Charles B. Collier following a stint with the J.A. Fay Company. By 1877, however, Kelley had left Philadelphia and moved to Smithville, NJ to work for HB Smith. This was also the time period that Berry and Orton teamed up with London and eventually took over Atlantic Works.

Coincidently,in the 1874-1875 issues of HB Smith's NJ Mechanic newspaper, HB has a running advertisement for a Philadelphia patent attorney by the name of Charles B. Collier... perhaps the same Collier that was one of the originators of the Atlantic Works Company. There is also a Charles B. Collier that was listed as a witness for a John Richards' patent assigned to J.A. Fay & Co. after Richards had relocated to Philadelphia.( http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=103080&type=UT )

This particular saw was used in the Tiediken Carriage shop in Camden, NJ for making carts and wagons. The firm evolved into making truck bodies and the woodworking equipment continued being used for that until about the 1940s. One day the owner said "Boys, we're not gonna work over there in that part of the building. We're gonna do brakes, mufflers and other truck repairs over here in this section of the shop." So the equipment sat exactly as it had been left until the summer of 2002. At that point in time, the owner of the building gave all of the woodworking machinery and metal working equipment to a fellow who is setting up in a private museum in Howell, NJ. The equipment in Camden was still belted to the overhead lineshaft and if some wooden pulleys hadn't received water damage over the years, could have been turned on to run again.

This fellow also owns a Berry & Orton Atlantic Works saw that is nearly identical. The saws contain many examples of parts that are commonly missing from saws, like the shifting lever and belt hoop and the overhead blade guard/deflector.

Photo 1:

Comments: The saw from the rear
Source: My camera, in Howell, NJ

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Photo 2:

Comments: The London, Berry & Orton name
Source: My camera, in Howell, NJ

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Photo 3:

Comments: The saws are nearly complete
Source: My camera, in Howell, NJ

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