MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT

 THE STILES & PARKER PRESS

Tool Makers of
Middletown, Connecticut

Norman C. Stiles and Charles Parker

Tools Made:

Working Dates: 1857-1890.

     The company was established in 1871. Two firms, the N.C. Stiles company started in 1857 and the Charles Parker company in 1853. The catalog (ref. #8) has the established date as 1857, the same as N.C. Stiles. I have two locations for them. One was on Mill Street and the other on Walnut Street. N.C Stiles succeeded William Stroud who’s factory was located on Mill Street. Ref# 14 has them on Walnut Street. The 1890 catalog has a drawing of the factory. It shows it as being near the Connecticut river. Probably in the area where the Omo Manufacturing Company was. Some time before 1885 they moved. The catalog stated the factory burned and was rebuilt but it did not give any location.

     The company was bought by the E. W. Bliss Company and moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1890. The Bliss company is still in operation.

     They made presses, drop-hammers, shears, dies and special machinery. Their manufactured products were for industrial use. Also, see N.C. Stiles.

Also, see N.C. Stiles and Stiles and Pollard.

StilesParker1.jpg (22144 bytes)                    StilesParker3.jpg (17133 bytes)

1890 catalogue

     This tin is 3 ½ inches in diameter. It has a nickel finish, mostly gone. The use is unknown to me. The inscription reads: "MADE IN ONE OPERATION ON A STILES & PARKER PRESS. MAKERS OF PRESSES DROP HAMMERS & DIES. MIDDLETOWN, CONN. CENTENNIAL YEAR". Probably made in 1876.

StilesParker4.jpg (33498 bytes)

 

     This is a watchmakers punch press C1880. This photo is from the web site of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. http://www.nawcc.org

 

StilesParker2.jpg (20683 bytes)

 

    The plate below is probably from a piece of machinery. Approximately 3 ¼ X 2 ½ inches, made from brass.

StilesParker5.jpg (38733 bytes)

 

Patents issued or assigned to this company or one of its owners. See ref. 24 for more 
Middletown patents.

Name				Pat. No	Item				Issue Date
Stiles,  Norman C.		56631	      Adjustable press pitman  7/24/1866
Stiles,  Norman C.		71080 		Drop press Stiles 	  	11/19/1867
Stiles,  Norman C.		82042 	      Turning shafting		9/8/1868
Stiles,  Norman C.		84313		Adjustable metal press	11/24/1868
Stiles,  	N.		30877		Drop hammer			8/27/1872
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N.		130878		Metal punching machine	8/27/1872
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N..		35380		Pitmen length adjusting method	
										1/28/1873
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N.		160483		Drop hammer			3/2/1875
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N.		161572		Sheet metal raising die	3/30/1875
Stiles,  	N.		250996		Power press			12/13/1881
Stiles,  	N.		260251		Press copy dampening bath
										6/27/1882
Stiles,  	N.		294698		Pulley center forming 	3/4/1884
Assigned to Indianapolis Machine & Bolt Works Stiles		
Stiles,  N.			297090		Punching machine		4/15/1884
Stiles,  	N.		299290		Sheet metal press		5/27/1884
Stiles,  	N.		306972		Mechanical adjustment	10/21/1884
Fladd, F.			311738		Sprue cutter			2/3/1885
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N.		329236		Power press			10/27/1885
Stiles,  	N.		343505		Copying apparatus		6/8/1886
Homan 	W.			358269		Sheet metal table top 	2/22/1887
Assigned to Stiles & Parker Press Co.
Stiles,  	N.		364142		Power press			5/31/1887
Stiles,  	N.		366897		Tool grinder			7/19/1887
Stiles,  	N.		369970		Sheet metal press & cutter
										9/13/1887
Stiles,  	N..		377583		Copying letters & documents
										2/7/1888
Stiles,  	N.		410746		Die press			9/10/1889
Stiles,  	N.		421327		Drop hammer			2/11/1890
Stiles,  	N.		428969		Fountain pen			5/27/1890
Stiles,  	N.		270146		Drop hammer			1/2/1883
The pictures below are located on Walnut street. They might have been part of their factory.

 

StilesParker6.jpg (224469 bytes)

 

StilesParker7.jpg (93929 bytes)

 

StilesParker8.jpg (110641 bytes)

 

 

 

References:   3, 8, 10, 14, 19, 24, 43.    Back Home

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