In 1901 the McWilliams Manufacturing Co. was manufacturing machinery for jewelers and silversmiths. They had acquired the assets of the Willets Machine Co. and H. Blundell & Co.

• 1874 petition to incorporate the McWilliams Machine Co.
• 1889 Providence Business Directory, page 386, lists "McWilliams M'FG. CO., John McWilliams, pres. manuf. jewelers' tools, 111 Orange—see page 997". On page 997 is a text ad, "McWilliams Mfg CO., Machinists and Manufacturers of Jewelers', Silversmiths' and Watch Case Makers' Machinery, Orange, corner Clifford Street, Provide, R. I. Office, 111 Orange Street. John McWilliams, President."
• 1901 book Biographical History of the Manufacturers and Business men of Rhode Island at the Opening of the Twentieth Century, page 120.

  McWilliams Manufacturing Co. Manufacturers of jewelers' and silversmiths' machinery of all kinds, also special machinery. Business established by John McWilliams in 1871 Incorporated in 1875. Capitalized for $20,000. Employs 20 hands. Works located at 237 Eddy street, Providence. Officers John McWilliams, President and Treasurer, Thomas McWilliams, Secretary, who has been a member of the company since its inception. William Cook, Foreman. John McWilliams, the President and Treasurer of the company, was born in the North of Ireland, February 5, 1840. Came to American about 1847. Learned the trade of a machinist in the city of Providence, and after completing his time, he was foreman of a Providence shop for about a year when he resigned to begin manufacturing on his own account .He is one of the pioneers in the manufacture in the class of machinery that he produces, and the plant is one of the larges in the country. Their assortment of patterns is the largest of any firm in the business, they having bought the patterns formerly owned by the Willets Machine Co. and H. Blundell & Co. They have filled some very large orders during their business career. They have sold to the Brooklyn Watch Case Co. of $100,000 worth of watch making machinery, and other concerns nearly as large orders. Mr. McWilliams has been one of the most successful builders of machinery of any in the state of Rhode Island...