Wood & Light & Co's. Manufactory, 1872

      This firm, dating back to 1852, was founded by Aurin Wood and Joseph F. Light. They manufactured machine tools, including drill presses.

We have seen the names Wood, Light & Co. and Wood & Light Machine Co.

The company was dissolved in 1892.

      "Wood, Light & Co., Worcester, Massachusetts, whose reputation for manufacturing Machinery and Tools of a superior quality is second to none in New England, occupy for their Works several rooms one hundred by fifty feet, in the large building known as the Junction Shop. The firm, which dates the commencement of its present style from 1852, is composed of Aurin Wood and Joseph F. Light, both of whom have had a long and varied experience in the construction of Machinery. Mr. Light, who may be called the senior partner, inasmuch as he was connected with firms that preceded the present co-partnership, was formerly employed in the celebrated Foundry of Cyrus Alger, in South Boston, and is a practical Machinist of acknowledged ability. Mr. Wood, previous to his removal to Worcester, was several years Master Mechanic in the workshops of the James Screw Company, at Somerville, New Jersey, and possesses a genius for originating improvements and solving intricate problems in mechanism that entitles him to a high rank among American Inventors.

      The Tools made by this firm are distinguished for good material, care in construction, and a suitable proportion of weight-or, in other words, adaptedness to the work required to be done by them. They include all the usual varieties of Lathes, Planers, Boring Mills, Vertical Drills, Milling and Profile Machines, and a variety of novel machines not ordinarily made in such shops, such as Traverse Drills with an upright attachment, Nasmyth Hammers, and Gun Barrel Welding and Finishing Machines-in fact, this firm seem to possess the ability to construct any kind of Tool that may be required, however special or peculiar the purpose. Most of the Tools made by Wood, Light & Co. have also certain distinctive features and novel devices in their constituent parts, designed to promote the convenience of those who operate them; and many of the improvements that are now generally adopted by Tool builders originated with this firm. For instance, Messrs. Wood, Light & Co. originated the arrangements in Lathes, now used by many Tool builders, for changing the motion of the screw from right to left hand, by the use of three gears upon a plate inside the head-stock, with the hub of plate running through the stock, on which is fastened an arm or lever with index pin attached. When the arm is raised to a certain point, the pin is thrown by a spring into a hole drilled in the head, and holds the gears in connection with the gear on the spindle, giving the screw a right hand direction. When a left hand direction of the screw is required, the pin is drawn and the arm dropped, so that the pin falls into a hole in the headstock and holds the gears in connection therewith. At an early day, this firm also made an important improvement in the friction feed of Lathes, designed to take the place of the chain feed formerly employed. This form of feed is regarded by those practically familiar with its advantages, as among the most simple and perfect in use. To remedy the difficulty frequently complained of by persons using lathes, that the journals cut and grind through neglect in oiling, Mr. Wood has invented and patented a Self-Oiling Attachment, that keeps the journal always lubricated. The cup is so placed that oil always finds its way to the journal until the cup is empty, which can readily be seen, and then easily replenished. Experience has established that the best metals for Lathe heads are cast steel and cast iron; and as, by this attachment, the journals are always kept oiled, the objection to their cutting is effectually removed.

      Mr. Wood has also recently patented an improved Lathe for turning shafting, that is said to do double the work of any ordinary lathe in the same period of time. The bed is cast with a bottom forming a cistern, which is partly filled with soda water, and by an arrangement of a small pump and cup, which admits water to the tool at its cutting point, both the tool and the shafting are kept cool, the result being a great increase in the effective action of the Lathe. This firm also manufacture Lathes for turning irregular forms, of almost any desirable shape, both outside and inside of any piece of metal, and improved machines for turning ends of rods and cutting Screw on the same.

      In the manufacture of Planers, Messrs. Wood, Light & Co. have made important improvements, directing their attention especially to remedy the defects in the "shipper." By a novel arrangement they are enabled to change the feed from fine to coarse in an instant, ranging from a fine cut to one and a half inches wide; and, secondly, the belt shipper is disconnected from the motion of the table, and all the parts placed on the outside of the machine, where they are easily oiled, and, when required, repaired. This firm also manufacture a Planer with crosshead and tool-stock on both the front and rear of the upright. On this machine two pieces of metal may be placed on the bed at the same time, allowing say eight feet between points of tool on the two sides of the upright, and the one will be planed by the forward and the other by the back action of the table. This is, in effect, two Planers in one, requiring only the power of one, but performing the work of two, and peculiarly serviceable in manufactories requiring duplicates of many pieces of moderate length.

      Messrs. Wood, Light & Co. are one of the few firms in this country that manufacture the Nasmyth Steam Hammer. Their Hammers of this pattern are notable for greater weight of material than is ordinarily employed, and also for certain improvements, that give them such solidity and strength, that, though in constant use night and day, for years, in welding railroad bars, they have not suffered from the jar, or required repairs. Instead of casting the posts in one piece from bed-plate to cylinder, as is usually done, they cast two posts, as high as may be desired, and place upon them a heavy iron plate, that firmly holds the machine from spreading or springing. Upon this, again, two other uprights are placed, between which the Hammer slides, and upon these the tablature, and upon that the cylinder. The posts are firmly bolted together, and made in this way there is no strain upon the castings, besides being more easily transported and set up.

      During the late Rebellion, this firm engaged largely in the construction of Gun Barrel Machinery, and supplied the United States Armory at Springfield with a large number of the Milling and Profile Machines they have in use. This branch of their business they continue, and are now supplying Austria and other portions of Europe with Edging Machines. Mr. Wood is the inventor of an ingenious machine for turning grooves in gun-barrel rods.

      About eighty persons are ordinarily. employed in these Works." (Quote from 1868)

Information Sources

• From Volume III of A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860, pp. 354ff, is a 3.5 page article on the company.
• The Massachusetts corporate registry database lists this company's first registration as 1872-06-18.
• A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860, V3, 1868, pgs. 354-357