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Manufacturers Index - Greenlee Brothers & Co.

Greenlee Brothers & Co.
Chicago, IL and Rockford, IL, U.S.A.
Company Website: http://www.greenlee.textron.com/
Manufacturer Class: Wood Working Machinery & Metal Working Machinery

Patents
This page contains information on patents issued to this manufacturer.

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USPTO = U.S. Patent Office . Images of the actual patent can be viewed on the U.S. Patent Office web site but a special TIFF viewer must be installed with your browser in order properly work. More information on how to configure your computer to view these patents can be found at TIFF image Viewers for Patent Images.
DATAMP = Directory of American Tool And Machinery Patents . A sister site to VintageMachinery.org with information on patents related to machinery and tools. A much easier user interface than the USPTO's for finding information on machinery patents.

Patent Number Date Title Name City Description
29,965 Sep. 11, 1860 Stave jointer Edmund Greenlee Rundels, Summerhill Township, PA Edmund Greenlee was the father of identical twins Robert Lemuel and Ralph Stebbins Greenlee, who founded Greenlee Brother & Co. in 1866. Edmund reportedly developed his barrel-making machines in response to the discovery of oil in their part of Pennsylvania.
30,811 Dec. 04, 1860 Machine for finishing the inside of barrels Edmund Greenlee Rundels, Crawford County, PA Edmund Greenlee was the father of identical twins Robert Lemuel and Ralph Stebbins Greenlee, who founded Greenlee Brothers & Co. in 1866. Edmund reportedly developed his barrel-making machines in response to the discovery of oil in their part of Pennsylvania.
39,268 Jul. 21, 1863 Improvement in machinery for dressing heading for cooper ware Edmund Greenlee Summerhill, PA Edmund Greenlee was the father of the Greenlee brothers, Robert and Ralph, who founded Greenlee Brothers & Co.
43,985 Aug. 30, 1864 Improvement in machines for making heads to barrels Edmund Greenlee Summerhill, PA Edmund Greenlee was the father of the Greenlee brother, Robert and Ralph, who founded Greenlee Brothers & Co.
102,574 May. 03, 1870 Improvement in sash-clamp Benjamin Moore Hart, MI
143,236 Sep. 30, 1873 Improvement in sash and door clamps Robert L. Greenlee Chicago, IL
153,980 Aug. 11, 1874 Improvement in relishing-machines Albert Philipp Clinton, IA An example has been seen bearing this patent date and "Greenlee Bro. & Co. / Chicago Ill.". See also Canada patent 4,802.
    Improvement in relishing-machines Frederick L. Blakely Clinton, IA  
3,767 Aug. 22, 1874 Improvements in sash and door clamps Robert Lemuel Greenlee Chicago, IL This five-year patent was extended for a further five years by 10,367; see also U.S. patent 143,236.
4,802 Jun. 05, 1875 Relishing machine Frederick L. Blakely Clinton, IA "Relishing machine for window-sash blind rails". This is the Canadian equivalent of U.S. patent 153,980, which was used by Greenlee Brothers & Co. This drawing for this Canadian patent is signed by "William Abercrombie, Attorney of Albert Philipp and Frederick L. Blakeley." Abercrombie was also the patent assignee, and he exhibited "relishing and mortising machines, sash clamp" at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
    Relishing machine Albert Philipp Clinton, IA  
4,955 Jul. 07, 1875 Machine for rebating doors William Abercrombie ON, Canada The inventor describes his occupation as "gentleman". The invention is an attachment to "Abercrombie's Relishing Machine".
199,285 Jan. 15, 1878 Improvement in mortising and boring machines Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL The machine in this patent is considered the first successful hollow chisel mortiser design. This machine has two major differences from the typical American-designed hollow-chisel mortiser. First, it's a horizontal machine rather than vertical. Second, the drill and chisel enter the work from opposite sides. This is mechanically simpler but is limited to through-mortises only, plus bad things could happen if either drill or chisel gets deflected.
    Improvement in mortising and boring machines Robert L. Greenlee Chicago, IL  
10,367 Aug. 18, 1879 Sash and door clamps Robert L. Greenlee Chicago, IL Five-year extension to patent 3,767, which is the Canadian equivalent to U.S. patent 143,236.
239,497 Mar. 29, 1881 Feed mechanism for circular sawing machines Joseph H. Hermance Toledo, OH The April 1885 issue of Carpentry and Building has an ad for the "Greenlee self-feeding saw table" whose feed mechanism is a good match for this patent. The ad says, "Patented May 29, 1881", which is not a valid patent date. Visible on the feed-arm in the machine illustration is the correct patent date.
283,341 Aug. 14, 1883 Mortising machine Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL Another step in the evolution of the hollow-chisel mortiser. The first Greenlee design can be seen in patent 199,285. Like this patent, the earlier design is horizontal. The major difference is that in the older design, the bit and chisel were separate and entered the work from opposite sides, which limited it to through mortises.
326,640 Sep. 22, 1885 Machine-table Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL This patent was used on Greenlee's No. 2 self-feed saw table, as shown in their 1892 catalog.
    Machine-table Robert L. Greenlee Chicago, IL  
377,749 Feb. 14, 1888 Mortising machine Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL
418,978 Jan. 07, 1890 Mortising-machine Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL
    Mortising-machine Robert L. Greenlee Chicago, IL  
454,730 Jun. 23, 1891 Forming and sanding door panels Eric Gustaf Strom Chicago, IL
    Forming and sanding door panels Ralph S. Greenlee Chicago, IL  
608,877 Aug. 09, 1898 Abrading-wheel Daniel J. Lattimore St. Louis, MO
992,945 May. 23, 1911 Mortising-machine Daniel W. Edwards Rockford, IL
992,946 May. 23, 1911 Wood-Tap Daniel W. Edwards Rockford, IL
1,401,469 Dec. 27, 1921 Mortising-tool Adolph H. Hawkinson Rockford, IL
1,646,955 Oct. 25, 1927 Incising machine Daniel M. Edwards Takoma Park, MD
    Incising machine Judson H. Mansfield Rockford, IL  
1,655,836 Jan. 10, 1928 Saw Toothed Wood Boring Bit Adolph H. Hawkinson Rockford, IL Improved Forstner type bit with a saw toothed cutting edge.
1,672,652 Jun. 05, 1928 Tie-adzing machine Judson H. Mansfield Rockford, IL
1,711,275 Apr. 30, 1929 Double-end tenoner Christy Arthur Wiken Rockford, IL
    Double-end tenoner Judson H. Mansfield Rockford, IL  
1,725,515 Aug. 20, 1929 Method of sharpening hollow or mortiser chisels Adolph H. Hawkinson Rockford, IL
    Method of sharpening hollow or mortiser chisels Erick W. Peterson Rockford, IL  
1,727,452 Sep. 10, 1929 Expansive bit Carl A. Swenson Rockford, IL An example of this adjustable bit has surfaced. One of the patent features is that the shaft the holds the adjusting worm wheel is eccentric, so that after the blade is adjusted to the position desired, turning the screw slot at the end of the shaft 1/4 turn locks the cutter tight in that position.
1,740,055 Dec. 17, 1929 Expansive bit John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL
1,753,103 Apr. 01, 1930 Recessing tool John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL "This invention relates to a recessing tool for woodworking especially designed and adapted for use by carpenters in the hanging of doors to make the recesses on the door and in the door casing for the hinges as well as for the door lock and its striker plate, the invention being, however, not entirely limited to such use."
1,758,069 May. 13, 1930 Bit Extension John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL
1,971,289 Aug. 21, 1934 Screw driver John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL The main claim of this Patent is to encase the ratchet mechanism, for the protection of the workman, his work piece and the tool. Sold as the Greenlee #451,example marked with Patent number, also see Patent 2664126
    Screw driver Edwin C. Swanson Rockford, IL  
1,971,290 Aug. 21, 1934 Ratchet mechanism John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL
    Ratchet mechanism Edwin C. Swanson Rockford, IL  
1,971,291 Aug. 21, 1934 Ratchet device John Herbert Abramson Rockford, IL
    Ratchet device Edwin C. Swanson Rockford, IL  
2,664,126 Dec. 29, 1953 Ratchet spiral screw driver Judson H. Mansfield Rockford, IL This is an improvement to Patent 1971289.The main claim of this Patent is to encase the ratchet mechanism, for the protection of the workman, Their work piece and the tool. Sold as the Greenlee #451,example marked Pat Pending, made with stainless steel and a clear green plastic handle.
    Ratchet spiral screw driver Edwin C. Swanson Rockford, IL