File factoryIn 1864, a U.S. patent for a machine for cutting files was issued to William Nicholson of Providence, R.I. (No. 42,216). This machine was put to use in the first successful U.S. file factory, the Nicholson File Company (1864). Prior to the Civil War, Nicholson had a machine tool business, at which time he developed his ideas on machine file making and built his first file cutting machine. He went to Europe, which at that time supplied most of the files used in America, and studied this industries, including the manufacture and treatment of steel. He opened his plant with the hope of developing to a production of 300 dozen files per day. The goal was not easily met, until he proved the quality of his files matched those made by hand. |
