MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Otis A. SmithKing & Smith Johnson & Smith Savage & Smith |
Tool
Makers of |
Located in Rockfall, a village of Middlefield. Middlefield was part of Middletown until 1866. The original dates I had on him were after 1866. Map N Historic information and picture Here.
Born 1836 in Mass. Died 1923 in Middlefield.
Tools Made: Washer cutters, Splicing tools,, Wire clamps, Hand vices, Cutting pliers, nippers, Punch awls, counter sinks, Clapboard markers, Planes, Marking gauges.
Working Dates: 1862-1923.
The companies:
King & Smith 1862-67.
King, Charles A.
Smith, Otis A.
Johnson & Smith 1867-8.
Johnson, Ira N.
Smith, Otis A.
Johnson owned the land and factory. The factory burned in 1879 and was rebuilt. It is now a private residence.
Savage & Smith 1868-79.
Savage, Edward B.
Otis A. Smith 1879-1923.
Otis A. Smith
The company was sold to M. W. Robinson of New York City, NY in 1924. Robinson was his agent. I don't have an end date but the company had a catalog in 1957.
The link below shows the Smith home and has information on the history of the factory.
https://patch.com/connecticut/durham/history-saved-in-rockfall
I had a list of material I was interested in located at the Connecticut Historical Society. One was an account book, 1831-1878 for Savage & Smith. When I opened the cover a letter fell out. See below.
Marked "Savage & Smith Successors to Johnson & Smith"
NOTE. The staff at the Historical Society was very helpful. I joined. If you plan to do research there let them know what you want and a date and time you will be there and they will have the material ready for you. Also, if you want to copy anything bring a camera. Nothing over 100 years old can be scanned.
I was at the Connecticut State Library looking at the 1866 Connecticut Business Directory and found the ad below.
King and Smith patented an improved washer cutter. Patented Oct. 24, 1865, #50,600. Patented by Otis A. Smith and Charles A. King of Middletown, CT. Made byKing & Smith, Johnson & Smith, Otis A Smith. The information on the the Globe Trade Card states that the Globe Manufacturing Co. made this cutter also. See patent papers below for more information on this cutter. The patent papers show a movable center pin. The cutter below has a fixed center pin. The last paragraph in the patent states it can have either a fixed or movable center pin.
Marked "KING & SMITH'S PAT. OCT. 24 1865. MFG BY SAVAGE & SMITH, MIDDLETOWN, CT."
The cutter below is the same except for the hole in the center.
Marked "OTIS A. SMITH ROCKFALL CONN. PAT. OCT. 24 1865
This washer cutter has the Middletown mark but the Rockfall design. The information and photos were provided by Lawrence E. Gobrecht, North Chatham NY.
Marked ""KING & SMITH'S PAT. OCT. 24 1865. MFG BY SAVAGE & SMITH, MIDDLETOWN, CT."
References: 3, 20, 24, 62, 70, 74, 80. Back
If you have information to add or comments please email them to me.
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