Ohio Machine history

1877 The first machine was sent for trials to the Central Mining Co. in New Straitsville, Ohio.

They persevered and developed a viable machine, though the hard going in the early years discouraged the first president of the company who resigned in 1880.

In 1882 Lechner resigned as general manager.

The first electrically driven coal cutter was shipped in 1888, as was the first underground electric locomotive, which soon became Jeffrey’s second largest product line.

Ohio Machine Tool Co. was founded in 1897 as a successor to the Smith & Silk Machine Tool Co. by William D. Smith.

By 1905, Cox's dominance of Cincinnati government began to fall apart.

The high bay area, where most of the collection is housed, was built in the 1906.

By 1908, Jeffrey sales had risen to $3.9 million with 30% coming from the chain and materials handling divisions.

He sold the business in 1911 to Walter D. Sayle.

1916 Troop B of the Ohio National Guard, which consisted largely of men from the Jeffrey Mining Co., was mobilized to go to Mexico to fight Pancho Villa.

Sales in the final quarter of 1925 were only $8 million and net income had dropped to $52,000.

In 1926 the company acquired The Diamond Coal Cutter Company Limited of Wakefield, England.

The area housing the compact shelving was built in 1930.

Sales in 1932 were barely $2 million.

A narrow bay, between the high bay area and the Circulation Desk, was built in 1936.

In 1946, the sales of the company’s subsidiaries represented 38% of the total and a corresponding amount of the profits.

1987 Thirty two Jeffrey plant buildings south of East 1st Ave. and east of 4th Street are razed.