With hardly a trace left now, it’s hard to believe, but from 1867-1899, Providence base metal (as opposed to precious metal) companies literally led the nation, and the world.
The world’s largest producer of metal files and rasps was the Nicholson File Company located at 23 Acorn Street. It was founded by William T. Nicholson (1834-1893) in 1864. The company was the first successful machine cutting file factory in the nation.
The largest producer of machine tools in the nation was Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company located at 115 South Main Street. It was founded by Joseph R. Brown (1810-1876) in 1833 with Lucien Sharpe (1830-1899) joining in 1853. The company invented the micrometer and the vernier caliper, the first practical tool for exact measurements.

The largest steam engine company in the country was the Corliss Steam Engine Company, formerly the Corliss, Nightingale & Company, located at West River Street. It was founded by George H. Corliss (1817-1888) in 1848. The company garnered first prize at the 1867 Paris Exposition.
The largest producer of wood and machine screws in the world was the American Screw Company located at 21 Stevens Street. It was founded by William G. Angell (1811-1870) in 1860. The company operated three major mill complexes in Providence: Bay State and Eagle Mills at Stevens Street near Randall Square (now Moshassuck Square), and the New England Mill at Eddy Street and Allens Avenue. The numbers tell the story:
1st prize given to Corliss Steam Engine Co. at the Paris Exposition in 1867
5 acres with 9 brick buildings comprised the Corliss Steam Engine Co. at Charles and West River streets
6 manufacturing plants of Nicholson File Co. in 1916
47 years Thomas Costello was a foreman at American Screw Company
60 patents registered to George H. Corliss for innovative engine design
144 machine shops and foundries in RI in 1900
2,000 craftsmen employed at Brown & Sharpe by 1899
3,600 files were produced every day at Nicholson File Co. in 1867
7,000 different products were produced at Nicholson File Co. in 1916
8,799 machine shop workers in RI in 1900
$100,000+ spent by George H. Corliss on litigation for patent infringements
135,000 industrial workers in 1923 in RI (includes textile = 80,000)
293,760 square feet of floor space in 17 interrelated buildings used by Brown & Sharpe Mfg. in 1899
1876 The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition’s machinery was powered by the gigantic steam engine constructed by Corliss Steam Engine Co.
1949 The American Screw Company moved to Willimantic, CT
1959 The Nicholson File Company relocated to Indiana
1964 Brown & Sharpe Mfg. moved to North Kingstown
2005 Nicholson File Company Mill Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Sources:
An Album of RI History, 1636-1986, Patrick T. Conley, 1986
The Makers of Modern Rhode Island, Patrick T. Conley, 2012
Nini Stoddard is a proud Providence resident. After living abroad as the child of a US diplomat, she returned to the United States to attend college. She lived in Connecticut and enjoyed working as a librarian, as a director of a regional non-profit, and as a prospect researcher. Nini moved to Providence in 2006 to work at Brown University as a senior prospect researcher. Now retired, she loves local history and volunteering.