By Keith Rucker
Here is a time line of the history of the Crescent Machine Company. This timeline is rather incomplete at this time and I will add to it as I gain more information:
1893
Crescent Machine Company was founded in Leetonia, Ohio
1898
Crescent's first Band Saws were manufactured
1904
Changes to the Crescent Line (compared to 1903 catalog):
- 40-inch Combination Band Saw deleted from line
- First mention of providing motor driven machines
1905
Patent Number 779,158 issued on Jan. 3 1905 to E. Harrold and C. G. Wilderson titled "Upper Adjusting Device for Band Saws."
1906
Built a new factory because they had outgrown their old one
1908
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Double Spindle Shaper
- Planer and Matcher
- Boring Machine
- 18- and 24-inch Planers
1909
A large warehouse was added to the factory
1910
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Variable Speed Planers added to the line
- Round Safety Head Jointers added to the line
- Safety Guards added to Jointers
- Safety Guards added to Saw Tables
- 20-inch Band Saw improved
1912
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- 30 x 6 Surfacer added to the line
- New style guard for band saws
- 5 1/2 and 6 foot swing saws added to line
- 16 and 20 inch jointers added to line
- Post borer added to line
1913
New Features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Crescent Universal Woodworkers Nos. 51 - 59 introduced (other evidence actually dates the introduction to 1912 but this is the first catalog to feature the Universal Woodworkers)
- Self Oiling Loose Pulleys on all countershafts
1914
Patent Number 1,088,501 issued on Feb. 14, 1914 to C. G. Wilderson and E. Harrold titled "Woodworking Machine." The drawing on the front of the patent is of a Crescent Variety Wood-Worker, which was introduced to the Crescent line sometime between 1904 and 1910.
New Features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Crescent Universal Woodworkers Nos. 101 - 112 introduced
- 26 x 8 surfacer, remodeled and changed to variable friction feed
- Improved fenders on band-saws
1916
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Hollow Chisel Mortiser added to the line
- 4-inch Bench Jointer added to the line
- Saw Guards Improved
1918
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- New Cut Off Table added to the Line
- Spreaders added on Table Saws
- Hinged Guards available for Band Saws
- 40-inch Angle Band Saw added to the Line
- Direct Motor Drive option available for Planers and Jointers
- Belt Guard added to Swing Cut-Off Saws
1921
New features to the Crescent Line listed in that years catalog:
- Improvements to the No. 3 Saw Table
- Improvements to the No. 5 Saw Table
- Improvements to the No. 2 Motor Driven Saw Table
- New Motor-Driven Shaper
- Hollow Chisel Mortiser added to the Line
1925
Patent Number 1,528,592 issued on Mar. 3, 1925 to C. G. Wilderson titled "Combined Guide and Support for Band Saws."
1940
Crescent Machine Company sold to Pittsburgh Equitable Meter and Manufacturing Company. The Pittsburgh Equitable Meter and Manufacturing Company is owned by Colonel Willard Rockwell who later formed the much more recognized Rockwell Manufacturing Company. Machinery was still sold under the Crescent name.
1945
Pittsburgh Equitable Meter and Manufacturing Company becomes Rockwell Manufacturing Company. Crescent machinery is now labeled Crescent Machine Division of the Rockwell Manufacturing Company. Rockwell also acquires Delta Specialty Company in 1946 and sometime after that many old Crescent line machines were labeled as Delta/Crescent.
ca. 1950
Rockwell sells most of the old Crescent line to the Enterprise Division of William K. Stamets Co. of Columbiana, Ohio. Rockwell keeps the 8" jointer, 12"-14" tilting arbor saw, and light duty 20" wood cutting bandsaw.
1952
The Crescent Machinery Plant in Leetonia, OH is closed due to a strike led by the employees of the factory. Instead of meeting the strikers demands, Rockwell just closed the plant and moved all production to Bellefontaine, Ohio (the same year they also closed the old Delta Milwaukee plant in Milwaukee due to a similar strike).