DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Another one for the local tool library's vintage group. 
Unfortunately, I can't tell if it works; I'll drop it off tomorrow and someone can test it on one of the grinders or something. It seems to be in decent shape, though.
The Auburn Machine Company first appears in Polk's Providence RI directory in 1943, at 307 Chapman Street, and sticks around until 1976. From 1943 to 1945 it shares the address with the Chapman Manufacturing Co, as well as two employees (founders?), Paul G. Everson and Albin C. Johnson. Chapman Mfg Co doesn't appear from 1946 onwards, while Auburn Machine Co gets a lot more employees; I'd guess they were running two businesses and closed one down.
It's listed under Tool Manufacturers (1943-1960), then under Machinists (1961-1970); in 1970, they're also in the general alphabetical section where they're described as being in Screw Machine Products. After that--in 1972, '74, and '76--they only appear in the general alphabetical section, and they've moved from 307 Chapman St in Providence to 1655 Elmwood Ave in Cranston (which I assume is a suburb, as it's still listed in the Providence directory). There's very little information on what they made; in 1955 and '56, they were selling Honi-Kom parallel bars (little bars for magnetic chucks to hold small or irregular pieces steady for machining/grinding). In 1959 and 1961, the Tool (and Manufacturing) Engineer listed them as suppliers of toolroom parallels and tachometers.
In terms of narrowing the date down further: patent 138,152 is a design patent issued on June 27, 1944 for fourteen years; if the number is only listed on the object while the design patent term is in effect,that would put this between '44 and '58. Wilbert M. Gilman assigned ithe patent to the Standard Machinery Company in Cranston, and I confess I did not go further down that rabbit hole.
I thought the the "Providence 5" on the box was something to do with phone numbers--four-digit phone numbers with a "5-" prefix start showing up in Polk's Providence Directory in 1943--but apparently not. The "Providence #" starts showing up in 1945 and sticks around to at least 1966; it's gone by 1970. (I fully expect this is a very obvious thing that someone will be able to explain.)
So: 1940s to late '50s if the number means it was made during the term of the design patent, up to early-to-mid 60s if that's not a thing.
The box is in slightly better shape than it was. I (carefully) used linen hinging tape on the flaps, and I'm going to put together a frame to hold it square.
Unfortunately, I can't tell if it works; I'll drop it off tomorrow and someone can test it on one of the grinders or something. It seems to be in decent shape, though.
The Auburn Machine Company first appears in Polk's Providence RI directory in 1943, at 307 Chapman Street, and sticks around until 1976. From 1943 to 1945 it shares the address with the Chapman Manufacturing Co, as well as two employees (founders?), Paul G. Everson and Albin C. Johnson. Chapman Mfg Co doesn't appear from 1946 onwards, while Auburn Machine Co gets a lot more employees; I'd guess they were running two businesses and closed one down.
It's listed under Tool Manufacturers (1943-1960), then under Machinists (1961-1970); in 1970, they're also in the general alphabetical section where they're described as being in Screw Machine Products. After that--in 1972, '74, and '76--they only appear in the general alphabetical section, and they've moved from 307 Chapman St in Providence to 1655 Elmwood Ave in Cranston (which I assume is a suburb, as it's still listed in the Providence directory). There's very little information on what they made; in 1955 and '56, they were selling Honi-Kom parallel bars (little bars for magnetic chucks to hold small or irregular pieces steady for machining/grinding). In 1959 and 1961, the Tool (and Manufacturing) Engineer listed them as suppliers of toolroom parallels and tachometers.
In terms of narrowing the date down further: patent 138,152 is a design patent issued on June 27, 1944 for fourteen years; if the number is only listed on the object while the design patent term is in effect,that would put this between '44 and '58. Wilbert M. Gilman assigned ithe patent to the Standard Machinery Company in Cranston, and I confess I did not go further down that rabbit hole.
I thought the the "Providence 5" on the box was something to do with phone numbers--four-digit phone numbers with a "5-" prefix start showing up in Polk's Providence Directory in 1943--but apparently not. The "Providence #" starts showing up in 1945 and sticks around to at least 1966; it's gone by 1970. (I fully expect this is a very obvious thing that someone will be able to explain.)
So: 1940s to late '50s if the number means it was made during the term of the design patent, up to early-to-mid 60s if that's not a thing.
The box is in slightly better shape than it was. I (carefully) used linen hinging tape on the flaps, and I'm going to put together a frame to hold it square.
