Age 17 became apprentice for uncle Noah Norton at Seth Thomas Clock Co., in Thomaston, CT
1883 - He removed to Bristol, CT Acquired small machine shop which manufactured sensitive drills.
1886 - joined the Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, CT
1890 - joined Gorum Mahine in NYC where in invented the "quick change gear shift lathe" and received US Patient March 8th.
1892 - at request of Henry Hendey - returned to Hendey Machine to become superintendent and worked on the Hendey-Norton engine lathes, and milling machines. Retired 1924.
It is said that the " Norton gear shift" lessened danger for workers hands and fingers.
Inventions US Patients
1882 on steam engine with brother Charles
1892 - lathe
1894 - drill
1894 - screw cutting engine lathe
1899 - friction driving device for shaping other machining
1902 - Speed changing & reversing mechanism
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hartford Courant. 9 August 1955
Torrington Inventor is Dead at 94.
TORRINGTON Aug. 8. — Wendell Phillips Norton, Sr., 94, inventor of machine tool devices famous the world over, died today at his home at 365 Prospect Street after a long illness.
Norton was the inventor of the Hendey-Norton lathe, manufactured by the Hendey Machine Company here. This lathe, which incorporated a quick change gear shift devised by Norton, became the standard of its type and was installed in government arsenals, navy yards and in industries throughout the world.
He was born in Plainville, May 14, 1861, son of John Calvin and Harriet Hotchkiss Norton. He was a descendant of the Rev. John Norton, who came from England in 1935 to settle in Salem, Mass. He is a brother of Charles Hotchkiss Norton.
Norton was educated in Plainville and New
Britain schools. At 17 he became an apprentice machinist, toolmaker and craftsman at the works of the Seth Thomas Clock Company in Thomaston, where he worked under his uncle, Noah Norton, one of the early mechanical engineers in the clock industry in this area.
Starts Own Business.
In 1883 he moved to Bristol and acquired a small machine shop for the manufacture of sensitive drills, automatic clock laths and tool grinders of a design originated by him. At the end of two years he disposed of this business to take charge of production and became draftsman for the Dwight Slate Machine Company of Hartford. At the same time he continued traveling and erecting power clocks for his previous employer, the Seth Thomas Clock Company.
In 1866 he joined the Hendey Machine Company of Torrington as a draftsman and designer, but left in 1890 to become designer for the Garvin Machine Company in New York City. While so engaged he invented the Norton quick change gear shift lathe, a basic invention on which he received a U.S. patent, March 8, 1892.
At the request of Henry J. Hendey he returned to Torrington in 1892 to begin manufacture of his device and to become superintendent and manager of the Hendey Machine Company. The firm thereafter specialized in the production of the Hendey-Norton and other engine lathes and milling machines which he developed later, before his retirement in 1924.
Saved Time, Fingers.
Besides saving innumerable man-hours for machine operators and toolmakers, the Norton gear shift lessened the danger to workers' hands and fingers which existed under the method of removing adjusting and bolting on various gears. Through the manufacture of this device the Hendey Machine Company became the ranking concern in the lathe making industry.
In addition to this invention, Norton secured U.S. patents on steam engines with his brother, Charles H. Norton (1882); a lathe (1892), a drill (1894), screw cutting engine lathe (1894), friction driving device for shaping or other machining (1899) and speed changing and reversing mechanism (1902.)
Held Civic Posts.
He was a town burgess in 1910 and chairman of the Torrington Board of Education in 1911-1912. In politics he was an independent Republican. He was married in Thomaston, December 25, 1883 to Matilda, daughter of Frederick Myers of that town. She died here in October 1936.
He leaves two sons, Wendell P. Norton, Jr. of Springfield, Vermont and John Richard Norton of Hartford; three daughters, Mr. G. H. S. Rollason of New York City, Mrs. Norman T. Thompson of this city and Mrs. Frank T. Morrison of Venice, Florida, 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one niece.
Funeral services will be held from his home on Thursday at 2 p.m., with the rev. Rollard G. Ewing, pastor of Center Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Hillside Cemetery.
Contributor: East (50018154)
1883 - He removed to Bristol, CT Acquired small machine shop which manufactured sensitive drills.
1886 - joined the Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, CT
1890 - joined Gorum Mahine in NYC where in invented the "quick change gear shift lathe" and received US Patient March 8th.
1892 - at request of Henry Hendey - returned to Hendey Machine to become superintendent and worked on the Hendey-Norton engine lathes, and milling machines. Retired 1924.
It is said that the " Norton gear shift" lessened danger for workers hands and fingers.
Inventions US Patients
1882 on steam engine with brother Charles
1892 - lathe
1894 - drill
1894 - screw cutting engine lathe
1899 - friction driving device for shaping other machining
1902 - Speed changing & reversing mechanism
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hartford Courant. 9 August 1955
Torrington Inventor is Dead at 94.
TORRINGTON Aug. 8. — Wendell Phillips Norton, Sr., 94, inventor of machine tool devices famous the world over, died today at his home at 365 Prospect Street after a long illness.
Norton was the inventor of the Hendey-Norton lathe, manufactured by the Hendey Machine Company here. This lathe, which incorporated a quick change gear shift devised by Norton, became the standard of its type and was installed in government arsenals, navy yards and in industries throughout the world.
He was born in Plainville, May 14, 1861, son of John Calvin and Harriet Hotchkiss Norton. He was a descendant of the Rev. John Norton, who came from England in 1935 to settle in Salem, Mass. He is a brother of Charles Hotchkiss Norton.
Norton was educated in Plainville and New
Britain schools. At 17 he became an apprentice machinist, toolmaker and craftsman at the works of the Seth Thomas Clock Company in Thomaston, where he worked under his uncle, Noah Norton, one of the early mechanical engineers in the clock industry in this area.
Starts Own Business.
In 1883 he moved to Bristol and acquired a small machine shop for the manufacture of sensitive drills, automatic clock laths and tool grinders of a design originated by him. At the end of two years he disposed of this business to take charge of production and became draftsman for the Dwight Slate Machine Company of Hartford. At the same time he continued traveling and erecting power clocks for his previous employer, the Seth Thomas Clock Company.
In 1866 he joined the Hendey Machine Company of Torrington as a draftsman and designer, but left in 1890 to become designer for the Garvin Machine Company in New York City. While so engaged he invented the Norton quick change gear shift lathe, a basic invention on which he received a U.S. patent, March 8, 1892.
At the request of Henry J. Hendey he returned to Torrington in 1892 to begin manufacture of his device and to become superintendent and manager of the Hendey Machine Company. The firm thereafter specialized in the production of the Hendey-Norton and other engine lathes and milling machines which he developed later, before his retirement in 1924.
Saved Time, Fingers.
Besides saving innumerable man-hours for machine operators and toolmakers, the Norton gear shift lessened the danger to workers' hands and fingers which existed under the method of removing adjusting and bolting on various gears. Through the manufacture of this device the Hendey Machine Company became the ranking concern in the lathe making industry.
In addition to this invention, Norton secured U.S. patents on steam engines with his brother, Charles H. Norton (1882); a lathe (1892), a drill (1894), screw cutting engine lathe (1894), friction driving device for shaping or other machining (1899) and speed changing and reversing mechanism (1902.)
Held Civic Posts.
He was a town burgess in 1910 and chairman of the Torrington Board of Education in 1911-1912. In politics he was an independent Republican. He was married in Thomaston, December 25, 1883 to Matilda, daughter of Frederick Myers of that town. She died here in October 1936.
He leaves two sons, Wendell P. Norton, Jr. of Springfield, Vermont and John Richard Norton of Hartford; three daughters, Mr. G. H. S. Rollason of New York City, Mrs. Norman T. Thompson of this city and Mrs. Frank T. Morrison of Venice, Florida, 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one niece.
Funeral services will be held from his home on Thursday at 2 p.m., with the rev. Rollard G. Ewing, pastor of Center Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Hillside Cemetery.
Contributor: East (50018154)
Age 17 became apprentice for uncle Noah Norton at Seth Thomas Clock Co., in Thomaston, CT
1883 - He removed to Bristol, CT Acquired small machine shop which manufactured sensitive drills.
1886 - joined the Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, CT
1890 - joined Gorum Mahine in NYC where in invented the "quick change gear shift lathe" and received US Patient March 8th.
1892 - at request of Henry Hendey - returned to Hendey Machine to become superintendent and worked on the Hendey-Norton engine lathes, and milling machines. Retired 1924.
It is said that the " Norton gear shift" lessened danger for workers hands and fingers.
Inventions US Patients
1882 on steam engine with brother Charles
1892 - lathe
1894 - drill
1894 - screw cutting engine lathe
1899 - friction driving device for shaping other machining
1902 - Speed changing & reversing mechanism
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hartford Courant. 9 August 1955
Torrington Inventor is Dead at 94.
TORRINGTON Aug. 8. — Wendell Phillips Norton, Sr., 94, inventor of machine tool devices famous the world over, died today at his home at 365 Prospect Street after a long illness.
Norton was the inventor of the Hendey-Norton lathe, manufactured by the Hendey Machine Company here. This lathe, which incorporated a quick change gear shift devised by Norton, became the standard of its type and was installed in government arsenals, navy yards and in industries throughout the world.
He was born in Plainville, May 14, 1861, son of John Calvin and Harriet Hotchkiss Norton. He was a descendant of the Rev. John Norton, who came from England in 1935 to settle in Salem, Mass. He is a brother of Charles Hotchkiss Norton.
Norton was educated in Plainville and New
Britain schools. At 17 he became an apprentice machinist, toolmaker and craftsman at the works of the Seth Thomas Clock Company in Thomaston, where he worked under his uncle, Noah Norton, one of the early mechanical engineers in the clock industry in this area.
Starts Own Business.
In 1883 he moved to Bristol and acquired a small machine shop for the manufacture of sensitive drills, automatic clock laths and tool grinders of a design originated by him. At the end of two years he disposed of this business to take charge of production and became draftsman for the Dwight Slate Machine Company of Hartford. At the same time he continued traveling and erecting power clocks for his previous employer, the Seth Thomas Clock Company.
In 1866 he joined the Hendey Machine Company of Torrington as a draftsman and designer, but left in 1890 to become designer for the Garvin Machine Company in New York City. While so engaged he invented the Norton quick change gear shift lathe, a basic invention on which he received a U.S. patent, March 8, 1892.
At the request of Henry J. Hendey he returned to Torrington in 1892 to begin manufacture of his device and to become superintendent and manager of the Hendey Machine Company. The firm thereafter specialized in the production of the Hendey-Norton and other engine lathes and milling machines which he developed later, before his retirement in 1924.
Saved Time, Fingers.
Besides saving innumerable man-hours for machine operators and toolmakers, the Norton gear shift lessened the danger to workers' hands and fingers which existed under the method of removing adjusting and bolting on various gears. Through the manufacture of this device the Hendey Machine Company became the ranking concern in the lathe making industry.
In addition to this invention, Norton secured U.S. patents on steam engines with his brother, Charles H. Norton (1882); a lathe (1892), a drill (1894), screw cutting engine lathe (1894), friction driving device for shaping or other machining (1899) and speed changing and reversing mechanism (1902.)
Held Civic Posts.
He was a town burgess in 1910 and chairman of the Torrington Board of Education in 1911-1912. In politics he was an independent Republican. He was married in Thomaston, December 25, 1883 to Matilda, daughter of Frederick Myers of that town. She died here in October 1936.
He leaves two sons, Wendell P. Norton, Jr. of Springfield, Vermont and John Richard Norton of Hartford; three daughters, Mr. G. H. S. Rollason of New York City, Mrs. Norman T. Thompson of this city and Mrs. Frank T. Morrison of Venice, Florida, 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one niece.
Funeral services will be held from his home on Thursday at 2 p.m., with the rev. Rollard G. Ewing, pastor of Center Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Hillside Cemetery.
Contributor: East (50018154)
1883 - He removed to Bristol, CT Acquired small machine shop which manufactured sensitive drills.
1886 - joined the Hendey Machine Co., Torrington, CT
1890 - joined Gorum Mahine in NYC where in invented the "quick change gear shift lathe" and received US Patient March 8th.
1892 - at request of Henry Hendey - returned to Hendey Machine to become superintendent and worked on the Hendey-Norton engine lathes, and milling machines. Retired 1924.
It is said that the " Norton gear shift" lessened danger for workers hands and fingers.
Inventions US Patients
1882 on steam engine with brother Charles
1892 - lathe
1894 - drill
1894 - screw cutting engine lathe
1899 - friction driving device for shaping other machining
1902 - Speed changing & reversing mechanism
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hartford Courant. 9 August 1955
Torrington Inventor is Dead at 94.
TORRINGTON Aug. 8. — Wendell Phillips Norton, Sr., 94, inventor of machine tool devices famous the world over, died today at his home at 365 Prospect Street after a long illness.
Norton was the inventor of the Hendey-Norton lathe, manufactured by the Hendey Machine Company here. This lathe, which incorporated a quick change gear shift devised by Norton, became the standard of its type and was installed in government arsenals, navy yards and in industries throughout the world.
He was born in Plainville, May 14, 1861, son of John Calvin and Harriet Hotchkiss Norton. He was a descendant of the Rev. John Norton, who came from England in 1935 to settle in Salem, Mass. He is a brother of Charles Hotchkiss Norton.
Norton was educated in Plainville and New
Britain schools. At 17 he became an apprentice machinist, toolmaker and craftsman at the works of the Seth Thomas Clock Company in Thomaston, where he worked under his uncle, Noah Norton, one of the early mechanical engineers in the clock industry in this area.
Starts Own Business.
In 1883 he moved to Bristol and acquired a small machine shop for the manufacture of sensitive drills, automatic clock laths and tool grinders of a design originated by him. At the end of two years he disposed of this business to take charge of production and became draftsman for the Dwight Slate Machine Company of Hartford. At the same time he continued traveling and erecting power clocks for his previous employer, the Seth Thomas Clock Company.
In 1866 he joined the Hendey Machine Company of Torrington as a draftsman and designer, but left in 1890 to become designer for the Garvin Machine Company in New York City. While so engaged he invented the Norton quick change gear shift lathe, a basic invention on which he received a U.S. patent, March 8, 1892.
At the request of Henry J. Hendey he returned to Torrington in 1892 to begin manufacture of his device and to become superintendent and manager of the Hendey Machine Company. The firm thereafter specialized in the production of the Hendey-Norton and other engine lathes and milling machines which he developed later, before his retirement in 1924.
Saved Time, Fingers.
Besides saving innumerable man-hours for machine operators and toolmakers, the Norton gear shift lessened the danger to workers' hands and fingers which existed under the method of removing adjusting and bolting on various gears. Through the manufacture of this device the Hendey Machine Company became the ranking concern in the lathe making industry.
In addition to this invention, Norton secured U.S. patents on steam engines with his brother, Charles H. Norton (1882); a lathe (1892), a drill (1894), screw cutting engine lathe (1894), friction driving device for shaping or other machining (1899) and speed changing and reversing mechanism (1902.)
Held Civic Posts.
He was a town burgess in 1910 and chairman of the Torrington Board of Education in 1911-1912. In politics he was an independent Republican. He was married in Thomaston, December 25, 1883 to Matilda, daughter of Frederick Myers of that town. She died here in October 1936.
He leaves two sons, Wendell P. Norton, Jr. of Springfield, Vermont and John Richard Norton of Hartford; three daughters, Mr. G. H. S. Rollason of New York City, Mrs. Norman T. Thompson of this city and Mrs. Frank T. Morrison of Venice, Florida, 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one niece.
Funeral services will be held from his home on Thursday at 2 p.m., with the rev. Rollard G. Ewing, pastor of Center Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Hillside Cemetery.
Contributor: East (50018154)
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