Page History: History of the Crescent Machine Company

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Page Revision: 2008/03/31 00:15

by Keith S. Rucker

In 1893, Clinton Wilderson and Elmer Harrold, two out-of-work, expert machinists, decided to rent a building in the town of Leetonia, Ohio, and offer their services for odd jobs– anything from dressing a cross cut saw to making custom iron castings. Because of their talents, they were soon busy. 1

By chance, Wilderson and Harrold’s business was located in close proximity to the Mellinger and Nold Planing Mill, a prosperous company in the town that specialized in architectural mill work such as windows, doors, and siding for houses. The company would make practically anything out of wood. 2

John Royer, who worked at the nearby planing mill, wanted a band saw. Instead of purchasing a band saw from a company that specialized in making them, Royer decided to make the parts for one himself. Once the small band saw was complete, Royer needed a blade fitted for his saw but did not know how to weld the blade. At that time, endless band saw blades were very unreliable. The blades frequently broke from constant flexing, or the welded joints would not hold. At this point, Royer enlisted Wilderson and Harrold into making a blade for his new machine. 3

Wilderson and Harrold knew very little about welding but were willing to try. After much experimenting, they finally came up with a welding compound that would allow them to weld the blade together. They soon discovered that the welding compound and the procedure they used were superior to others on the market. When they realized there was a market for the band saw Royer had designed, they started making copies of the machine and began production. 4

Early records of the company are few, but several catalogs indicate that the commercial production of band saws began in 1898. The band saws were a hit, and demand for the product was high. With the success of their band saws, they began to expand their line of woodworking machinery to include other products. 5

Around the turn of the century, Wilderson and Harrold named their company the Crescent Machine Company and incorporated. They soon outgrew the makeshift factory and moved into a larger building on Front Street. 6 The Crescent Machine Company was prosperous, but its owners realized they lacked the business sense they needed to run it successfully. They decided to hire Wilber Bess, a Negro and graduate of the Salem Business College, to run the office. Bess turned out to be just what Crescent needed – he had more business sense than both Wilderson and Harrold put together. 7

As the demand for machinery made by Crescent increased so did their workforce. Due to the lack of work in the area, Crescent generally hired new employees at low wages paying an employee “what he was worth.” In 1899, a gentleman by the name of Joe Norman was hired by Crescent. He left behind a notebook that stated that he “started to work for the Crescent Machine Company in December for $0.90 per day but will be paid more if I am worth it.” Six months later he was making $1.25 per day. 8

The earliest Crescent catalog in the authors collection is dated 1903. By this time the Crescent line had expanded from the first band saw to include several woodworking machines. These machines included a 40” combination band saw capable of being used for both ripping and re-sawing lumber as well as smaller band saws in 36”, 32” and 26” sizes. They also offered a band sprue saw (for cutting the “sprues” off metal castings) as well as a smaller 20” band saw that could be powered by either foot or by belt. In addition to the line of band saws, Crescent offered a combination saw table that included a table saw and optional horizontal borer as well as 8”, 12”, 18” and 24” jointers. 9

The 1904 Crescent catalog shows a very similar line of machinery except that the 40” combination band saw had been omitted. Crescent also introduced options for electric motors on their machines. The catalog states, “Since electrically driven machinery is becoming more popular each year, we have arranged to furnish individual motor drive for any of our machines and invite correspondence on the subject.” 10

On January 3, 1905, Harrold and Wilderson were granted U.S. Patent 779,158 for an “Upper Adjusting Device for Band Saws.” 11 Soon after this date, most band saws made by Crescent began to be cast with the words “Patented Jan. 3, 1905” on the base of the saws. They also began to state that their band saws were “patented” in catalogs and other literature, and the wording implied that the entire machine was patented rather than just one small portion. 12 This “deception”, however, was common among manufacturers to discourage competitors from copying their machines.

During the first decade of the twentieth century, the demand for woodworking machinery made by Crescent continued to climb. In 1906, Crescent once again moved its factory to a larger, brand new building located at the end of Cherry Fork Street. The new factory was an imposing structure one full block long and included a new foundry for making castings. The building was strategically located right alongside the railroad and only a few feet outside the village corporation line – a location that would keep the city of Leetonia from being able to collect taxes on the new structure. 13 Early catalogs also boasted that the “location affords unusual advantages, the following materials being produced plentifully within a radius of about one mile; lumber, natural gas, sand, coal, coke and pig iron.” 14

As Crescent moved into the new factory they never actually stopped production. They would move one machine at a time from the old factory to the new factory. As the machine was moved, the worker who worked at that machine helped in the transfer. Once the machine was in place in the new factory and hooked up to the line shaft, the worker went right back to work. 15

A snapshot of how Crescent machines were made is stated in several editions of catalog during the first two decades of the 1900’s:
All the machines are produced in large quantities at a time. A large lot of castings, made in the Crescent Foundry Department, are continuously carried in stock; these are machined up in lots from twenty five to several hundred at a time, according to their size, this system resulting in an enormous saving in the cost of production, as well as in a high standard of quality in the finished article. It is the only way by which duplicate parts can be furnished for repairs, when necessary. 16

Interestingly, many have compared the Crescent method of manufacturing to that of Henry Ford and his Model T – only on a smaller scale. 17

At the same time that Crescent’s business was increasing, so was their line of woodworking machinery. A 1908 edition of Crescent’s catalog shows that their line included band saws, table saws, jointers, disk grinders, shapers, planers, swing saws, and boring machines. The catalog also states that they were introducing several new machines in that issue including a double spindle shaper, a planer and matcher, a boring machine and 18- and 24-inch planers. 18

By 1909, Crescent was running short on space. In that year, a new warehouse was added to their factory grounds to accommodate their growth. 19

Patent records indicate that on December 7, 1909 the U.S. Patent Office issued Patent 942,804 to Wilderson a “Pressure Device for Woodworking-Machines.” This was basically a hold down device for jointers which fit into a round hole in the jointer fence. 20

One week later, on December 14, 1909, Harrold received U.S. Patent 943,540 for a “Cutter-Head”. 21

According to the 1910 Catalog, Crescent’s line had had some minor changes in that year. These include new features for their machines such as variable feed planers, safety guards for both jointers and tables saws, as well as improvements to their 20” band saw. 22

Perhaps the most significant new feature of in the 1910 catalog was the addition of a round safety head for jointers. This is what that catalog had to say about this new feature to their line: 23

A cutter head of cylindrical shape, such as the one shown in our illustration, is appropriately called a Safety Head, as distinguished from the common type of square head. The main advantage is that they are safer to the operator. In case of a hand getting in contact with the knives on a Safety Head, a flesh wound would be about the limit of the injury; while with a square head the hand usually drawn in, resulting in the loss of fingers or part of the hand. It is to minimize the extent of the injury that the Safety Head is recommended. 24

The 1912 Crescent Catalog also shows several new features being added to their line in that catalog. Totally new machines included a 30 x 6 Surfacer and a post borer. Addations to their current line up of machinery included a 16- and 20-inch jointer and 5 ½ and 6-foot swing saws. 25

Crescent also offered an option for a special set of pressed steel guards for their bands saws in the 1912 catalog. The guards were embossed with a sun type deteriorative pattern as well as the companies name. Illustrations in catalogs indicated that a patent had been applied for the guards but no actual patents being issued have been found. Evidently these pressed steel guards were discontinued from the Crescent line sometime between 1913 and 1916 as they are still shown in the 1913 catalog but not the 1916 one. 26

1912 also was the year that Crescent apparently introduced one of the most innovative machines that they ever made to their line – the Crescent Universal Wood-Worker. While not actually appearing in a catalog until 1913, 27 several pieces of advertisement literature started showing up on the Universal Wood-Worker have been found dated 1912 including a post card showing the machine with a post mark of December 16, 1912. 28 Since most Crescent catalogs stated that the next years catalog would be available in December of the same year, it would indicated that the Universal Wood-Worker was developed sometime after the issuing of the 1912 catalog but before the 1913 issue was published.

The Universal Wood-Worker was a combination machine that a band-saw, jointer, shaper, horizontal borer and saw table all mounted on a single base. The machines also included many optional attachments such as a knife grinder, disk grinder, emery wheel, hollow chisel mortiser, re-saw gauge, tennoner and panel raiser. 29

While Crescent introduced several models of the Universal Wood-Worker over the years, the 1913 catalog introduced only the models 51-59. Each of these models were similar in basic construction but differed by the size and configuration of the individual machines on the unit. For example, you could configure your Universal Wood-Worker with either a 8-, 12- or 16-inch jointer or 26- or 32-inch band-saw. Some models could also be ordered with no band-saw at all. 30

In addition to the nine new models of Universal Wood-Workers, the 1913 catalog also indicated that self oiling loose pulleys were now standard on all countershafts. 31

On Feb. 14, 1914, U.S. Patent 1,088,501 was issued to C. G. Wilderson and E. Harrold titled "Woodworking Machine." 32 The drawing on the front of the patent is clearly that of a Crescent Variety Wood-Worker – a combo machine that was based on the Crescent jointer and included a “jointer, borer, saw-table, pole-rounder, hand feed molder and emery grinder”. 33 The exact year of the introduction of the Crescent Variety Wood-Worker is currently unknown to the author but would be between the years of 1904 and 1910. The 1914 Crescent Catalog indicated that new features for that issue included the 26 x 8 surfacer being remodeled and changed to variable friction feed and improvements to the fenders on band-saws. This catalog also introduced the new models 101-112 of the Crescent Universal Wood-Worker. These models of the Universal Wood-Worker were similar to the models 51-59 except that they were a bit lighter duty and less expensive. 34

Business for the Crescent Machine Company continued to grow at a steady pace until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Up to this time, Crescent had enjoyed a considerable export market to countries all over the world. One of their best customers was Germany. When the war started, Crescent had two train cars loaded with machinery destin for Germany. The machinery was returned to the Crescent factory and practically all overseas business was stopped. For the first time in the history of the company, Crescent temporarily went on a four day work week.35

Soon business briefly looked brighter for Crescent as they received orders to make war material for England and France. However, when these countries discovered that Crescent had done so much work for Germany and had close ties to the country, they refused to do business with Crescent. It was not until the U.S. entered the war in 1917 and Crescent supported their country whole heartily that overseas war contracts began to come in. For the rest of the war, Crescent once again enjoyed good business.36

Even though business may have dwindled during the early war years, Crescent continued to improve and add to their line of woodworking machinery. The 1916 catalog featured two new additions to the Crescent line: a hollow chisel mortiser and a four-inch bench top jointer. In addition the catalog also indicated that improvements had been made to their saw guards.37

New machines introduced in the 1918 catalog included a Cut-Off Table Saw and a 40-inch Angle Band Saw. Other new features for that year were spreaders on saw-tables, hinged guards for band saws, belt guards for swing cut-off saws and options for a direct motor drive on planers and jointers.38

In 1920 the molders in the foundry began a strike for more money and company recognition. The strike forced the entire plant to be shut down for several weeks before an agreement could be reached.39

Also in the 1920’s the demand for band-saws and other woodworking machinery began to decline. As a result of this, the company was frequently forced to resort to a three or four day work week.40

In 1921, Elmer Harrold decided to retire from Crescent and sold his stock in the company to his nephew. Harrold’s nephew did not have the cash to buy the stock outright so in a gester of kindness, he worked out an agreement where he would be paid for his stock over a period of time from the profits of the company. Unfortunately, this scheme resulted in little money ever being paid to Harrold. Elmer Harrold died in 1931 a relatively poor man.41

1921 also marked the last of the yearly full line Crescent Catalogs. After this time, Crescent changed over to individual circulars for the different types of machines that they made. Several improvements were featured in that years catalog including: improvements to the number three and number five saw tables, the number two motor-driven saw table, and the hollow chisel mortiser. Crescent also introduced a new motor driven option for it’s shaper in the 1921 catalog.42

On March 3, 1925, Patent Number 1,528,592 was issued to C. G. Wilderson titled “Combined Guide and Support for Band Saws.”43

End Notes

1. John S. Norman, letter written to Dick Downing on February 13, 1987, regarding the history of the Crescent Machine Company, 1.
2. Norman, 1.
3. Norman, 1-2.
4. Norman, 2-4.
5. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog (Cleveland, OH: The Corday & Gross Co., 1910), 5.
6. Grace C. Allison, “Crescent Woodworking Machines,” Antique Woodworking Power Tool Association Journal 15 (1990):9.
7. Norman, 4.
8. Norman, 5.
9. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1903 Catalog (Akron, OH: Werner Publishers, 1903), 1-24.
10. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1904 Catalog (Akron, OH: Werner Publishers, 1904), 1-24.
11. Elmer Harrold and Clinton G. Wilderson. Upper Adjusting Device for Band-saws. U.S. Patent 779,158, January 3, 1905. (Washington, DC: U. S. Patent Office, 1905), 1-3.
12. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20.
13. Norman, 7.
14. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 5.
15. Norman, 7.
16. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 5.
17. Norman, 3-4.
18. Allison, 10.
19. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 5.
20. Clinton G. Wilderson. Pressure Device for Woodworking-Machines. U.S. Patent 942,804, December 7, 1909. (Washington, DC: U. S. Patent Office, 1909), 1.
21. Elmer Harrold. Cutter-Head. U.S. Patent 943,540, December 14, 1909. (Washington, DC: U. S. Patent Office, 1909), 1-2.
22. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 3.
23. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 49.
24. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 49.
25. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1912 Catalog (Boston, MA: Griffith-Stillings Press, 1912), 3.
26. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1912 Catalog, 27-28.
27. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1913 Catalog (Boston, MA: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., 1913), 93-112.
28. Postcard featuring the Crescent No. 51 Universal Wood-Worker (Philadelphia: Chilton Co., postmarked Dec. 16, 1912).
29. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1913 Catalog, 93-112.
30. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1913 Catalog, 93-112.
31. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1913 Catalog, 93-112.
32. C. G. Wilderson and E. Harrold. Woodworking Machine. U.S. Patent 1,088,501, February 24, 1914. (Washington, DC: U. S. Patent Office, 1914), 1-2.
33. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1910 Catalog, 59.
34. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1914 Catalog. http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/library.html (September 21, 2002).
35. Norman, 9.
36. Norman, 9-10.
37. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1916 Catalog (Boston, MA: Griffith-Stillings Press, 1916), 3.
38. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1918 Catalog (Cleveland, OH: The Calvert-Hatch Company, 1918), 3.
39. Norman, 10.
40. Norman, 10.
41. Norman, 11.
42. Crescent Wood-Working Machinery: 1921 Catalog (Hamilton, OH: The Republican Publishing Company, 1921), 3.
43. C. G. Wilderson. Combined Guide and Support for Band Saws. U.S. Patent 1,528,592, March 3, 1925. (Washington, DC: U. S. Patent Office, 1925), 1-3.