BETHLEHEM, Pa. and ALBANY, N.Y. – The Industrial Archives & Library (IAL) and NSH USA Corporation (formerly Simmons Machine Tool Corp.) are pleased to announce the donation of a significant collection of industrial records, photographs, and drawings from NSH USA to IAL. This donation includes approximately 320 cubic feet of documents, including detailed engineering drawings from Niles Tool Works, a company with roots dating back to 1833.
NSH USA, a leading manufacturer of precision machine tools and automation systems based in Albany, N.Y., made the decision to entrust these invaluable materials to IAL as part of the company’s efforts to increase space for ongoing expansion. The donated materials span the late 19th century through World War II and are primarily focused on Niles machinery, which played a crucial role in the development of American industry.
“We are thrilled to receive this major donation. The NSH USA donation represents a major addition to the collections at IAL while also dovetailing with our existing strengths in steel and transportation. The Niles machines helped shape products in the steel industry, from reprofiling railroad wheels to producing rifling for guns used by the U.S. Navy.”
Stephen G. Donches, President & CEO of the Industrial Archives & Library
“This donation will further support IAL’s mission of preserving and sharing the story of American industry and innovation,” said Nick Zmijewski, Archivist at IAL. “With so many machine tools still in use today, this collection offers a valuable avenue for research,” he noted. “We anticipate that the Niles and Pond Machine Tool Co. (a company that merged with Niles) drawings will be instrumental in telling the story of American manufacturing, which is integral to our mission.”
NSH USA, founded in 1910 and a member of the NSH Group (NILES-SIMMONS-HEGENSCHEIDT), has a longstanding history of supporting critical industries such as railways, automotive, aerospace, and defense. The company acquired the Niles Tool Works product line from Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton in 1964. The drawings and photographs in this donation trace the development of Niles machine tools, including lathes, drills, planers, and vertical boring mills – many of which were instrumental in the wartime efforts of the early 20th century.
Eric Butler, Vice President of Engineering at NSH USA, commented on the decision to donate the materials: “Given NSH USA’s present expansion, we needed to find a new home for some of our older drawings and photo archives. These items are no longer needed for our current operations but are a valued part of our industrial heritage. After considering several options, I was referred to the Industrial Archives & Library in Bethlehem, Pa. Its mission of preserving and making accessible ‘artifacts that don’t cast a shadow’ is a perfect fit for these materials. I’m confident and grateful that these records will help inform future generations about American ingenuity and craftsmanship.”
David William Davis, President and COO of NSH USA, expressed his satisfaction with the donation, saying, “We are pleased that this material will find a good home at IAL. Learning from the history of American manufacturing is key to understanding what makes this country remarkable.”
The materials will join IAL’s extensive collection, which already includes significant records relating to industries such as steel, slate quarrying, coal mining, and transportation. These archives will be made available for education and research by historians, scholars, and the public, preserving the legacy of American industrial innovation for future generations.
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