The Davistown Museum
Center for the Study of Early Tools
Scattered throughout The Davistown Museum are tools by important manufacturers who are also the subject of
information files compiled by the museum. This is a listing of our holdings for:
J. Stevens & Company

Status Location
The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Classic Period of American Machinists' Tools
Measuring Tools
21201T11 Adjustable calipers DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 6 1/8" long, signed "J. Steven A & T Co. Chicopee Falls Mass".
This signature is one of three variations listed in DATM (Nelson 1999, 757) for this prolific maker of bits, calipers, dividers, levels, machinist
tools, and guns, 1864 - 1903. In 1903 they were bought out by L.S. Starrett.
10910T3 Adjustable calipers photo photo DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 3 1/8" long, 2" wide, signed "PAT'D. FEB 14, 1888" "J. STEVENS A. & T. Co. CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS", c. 1888.
Donated by the Swenson family.
10910T2 Adjustable calipers photo photo DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 5" long, 2 3/4" wide, signed "PAT.FEB. 14, 1888" "STEVENS A. & T. CO. **** FALLS, MA" and "F.A. SKELTON"
(owner's mark), c. 1888.
The unreadable portion of the signature should be "Chicopee Falls". Donated by the Swenson family.
42602T6 Adjustable dividers DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 8" long, signed "J Stevens A & T Co Chicopee Falls Mass USA".
Formerly the J Stevens & Company, they changed their name to Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in 1886. Always a prolific maker of guns, their hand
tools are sought after examples of the classic period of American machinists' tools.
032203T9 Calipers photo DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, brass, 3" long, signed "J. STEVENS A & T, CO." "FEALDEN", c. 1886.
This is an exquisite example of the fine work of J. Stevens Co.
32912T5 Dividers DTM TT-46
Tempered alloy steel, 9 1/2" long, signed "J. STEVENS A. & T. CO. CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. U.S.A.".
These dividers have sliding steel points. The maker’s mark indicates that these were made by Joshua Stevens Arms and Tool Company,
1864-1886. Courtesy of Liberty Tool Co.
122002T1 Dividers DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 4" long, signed "Stevens & Co.".
DATM (Nelson 1999, 757) contains historical information on Joshua Stevens & Co.
032203T8 Dividers photo DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, brass, 9 3/4" long, signed "J STEVENS A & T CO. Chicopee Falls Mass USA".
J. Stevens began making calipers and dividers in 1864. They changed their name to J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in 1886. These high quality
American-made dividers are typical of American-made tools appearing in tool kits at this time.
41302T11 Inside calipers DTM MH
Tempered alloy steel, 3 1/2" long, 1 3/8" wide when closed, signed "J. Stevens A & T Co. Chicopee Falls Mass PAT March 9 1886".
These are finely made beveled spring calipers. Joshua Stevens, one of the principal tool manufacturers of the classic period, worked in
Chicopee, MA, from 1864 to 1903. Numerous patents are listed. They changed their name to Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in 1886. This
company had a close association with the Davis Level & Tool Co. of Springfield, MA (1875 - 1892) with respect to the R. Hathaway patented
square (4 Dec. 1866). (Nelson 1999, 757, 214).
41203T4 Surface gauge photo LPC MH
Steel, 4 1/8" long arm with a 1 7/16" wide by 2 3/8" long bar, signed "J. Stevens A & T Co" "Chicopee Falls Mass USA".
This is a classic example of the exquisite workmanship of the classic period of American machinist tools.

Page 1 of 1