20th Century Rockford Woodworking machine heads to National Museum

ROCKFORD — A piece of Rockford history is making the trek from the farmlands of Montana to the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and on Monday made a special stop at its birthplace.

A 4,230-pound Greenlee Variety Woodworker that was manufactured in 1910 by Rockford-based company Greenlee Brothers was showcased at a news conference back in Rockford after being fully restored. 

The 20th-century machine is on its way to permanent residence at Smithsonian Museum affiliate, the National Museum of Industrial History. 

Steve Williams, 72, of Kalispell, Montana, is the owner of the machine and spearheaded the restoration project.

For Williams, who has been restoring machines for over three decades, the Greenlee Variety Woodworker represents the importance of quality as a company standard.  

"It is an example of the highest form of machine manufacturing in that era," Williams said. "What you see is the best of the best."

Greenlee was founded by brothers Ralph and Robert Greenlee in Chicago in 1862.  In 1904, the company moved to Rockford.  The company is now known as Greenlee Tools Inc., a subsidiary of Emerson. 

In 1910, Greenlee Brothers’ sold its Variety Woodworker to the Anaconda Copper Co. in Great Falls, Montana. At the time, the machine would have been used to create high-precision wood parts that would be used to produces patterns for sand casting molds. 

Up until 1979 when the Anaconda Copper Co. liquidated their assets, the woodworker remained in use. 

The machine was put into storage in Montana and stayed there until the owner reached out to Williams after he saw an ad saying “vintage woodworking machinery wanted." 

Williams traveled more than 200 miles to see the machine for himself. To his surprise, there was no rust, and it was in nearly ready-to-use condition. Williams had no doubt that he would become the woodworker's next owner. 

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"Now here's this fine machine. I have no idea what to do with it. But it's like finding a vintage Delahaye automobile or art," he said. "Are you going to take it home? Yes, of course." 

The machine is expected to reach its final destination on Wednesday. 

The restoration took about 1,500 hours, and the machine is expected to be one of the last of its kind. 

The woodworker's ability to stand the test of time is a testament to Greenlee's quality craftsmanship, said retired Greenlee President Barclay Olson. 

"If you look right here," Olson said, "that's what happens when you take the proper time and make machines." 

Despite Williams' vast experience restoring machines, the Greenlee Variety Woodworker was a challenge.

It proved to be a satisfying learning experience. 

"I was able to transport myself mentally back to 1910," Williams said. "I would have one of those ‘aha!' moments, discovering why it was done that way. … There were no ifs, ands or buts. I absolutely understood what they were thinking in 1910. Phenomenal experience."

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Shaquil Manigault: smanigault@gannett.com; @RRstarShaquil