Jeffrey Manufacturing Company
 | |
| Industry | Industrial equipment manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1878 |
| Founder | Joseph A. Jeffrey |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Dresser Industries |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Coal cutting equipment, mining locomotives |
The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company was a prominent American producer of industrial machinery, recognized as the foremost global manufacturer of coal cutting devices and mining locomotives during its prime. Established in 1878 under the name Lechner Mining Machine Company in Columbus, Ohio, it was responsible for launching the first power-operated coal cutter in the United States.
History
Joseph Andrew Jeffrey, born in Clarksville, Ohio in 1836, shifted his career from banking to industrial innovation after investing in Francis Lechner’s compressed-air mining apparatus in 1876. Two years later, Jeffrey partnered with F.C. Sessions to obtain the patent rights and created the Lechner Mining Machine Company to produce the pioneering practical coal cutter utilizing chain drive technology—a mechanism that later found applications in feed mills and Mississippi paddle boats.
The company adopted the name Jeffrey Manufacturing Company in 1880 and moved its operations to a new facility located in Columbus’s Milo-Grogan neighborhood, formally incorporating in 1887. It was at the forefront of developing early conveyor belt systems derived from its chain drive design and was among the first to implement electric motors, manufacturing one of the earliest overhead wire-powered mining locomotives in 1888. This electric innovation was also applied to coal mining machinery.
By 1911, the plant in Columbus covered more than 30 acres and featured a network of internal railways extending approximately 10 miles. The company’s offerings included conveyor belts, power transmission equipment, mining machines, and locomotives. At the outbreak of World War I, it held the position as the largest global manufacturer of mining locomotives and coal cutting equipment. By 1920, its workforce had grown to nearly 4,000 employees.
After Joseph Jeffrey’s passing in 1928, control of the business transferred to his heirs. Pursuing growth strategies, the company inaugurated a $2.5 million manufacturing facility in Woodruff, South Carolina, in 1962, along with another plant specializing in steel thimble roller chains located in Morristown, Tennessee.
In 1974, Dresser Industries, based in Dallas, acquired Jeffrey Manufacturing’s operational assets, marking a major consolidation within the industrial machinery sector.
Acquisitions
In 1904, Jeffrey Manufacturing expanded by acquiring the Ohio Malleable Iron Company, an essential supplier of chain components. The company further grew by purchasing the insolvent Kilbourne and Jacobs Manufacturing Co. in 1923. In 1926, it acquired The Diamond Coal Cutter Company Limited, a British coal machinery manufacturer, subsequently renaming it British Jeffrey-Diamond Company. That same year also saw the acquisition of Galion Iron Works, known for producing road rollers and graders. Between 1951 and 1962, these two subsidiaries accounted for approximately 80% of Jeffrey Manufacturing Company's revenue, underscoring a strategic emphasis on broadening its range of industrial products.
Office building
The headquarters of Jeffrey, located in Columbus, Ohio and known as the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company Office Building, gained recognition for its historical importance by being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and later included in the Columbus Register of Historic Properties in 2015.
Products
Throughout its existence, Jeffrey Manufacturing concentrated mainly on equipment designed for the mining industry.
Coal cutting machines
The company’s beginnings are tied to the Lechner coal cutting machine, which was the first effective mechanized coal cutter. This machine was first utilized at Central Mining Co. in New Straitsville, Ohio, securing Jeffrey’s position as a leader in mining machinery innovation.
Chains
By the early 1960s, Jeffrey had earned a reputation as the world’s largest chain producer, demonstrating its strong foothold in this market segment.
Mining locomotives
Jeffrey’s product range also included mining locomotives, highlighted by an electric locomotive showcased at the 1910 Pittsburgh Exhibition, reflecting the company’s broad array of mining-related equipment.