BETHLEHEM, Pa. (WFMZ) — A new donation of 320 cubic feet of photographs, sketches and documents is a historical gold mine for the Industrial Archives and Library in Bethlehem.
“We have some materials that came to us from NHS Corporation in Albany, New York. They’re the corporate successor to Niles Tool Works. That company goes back into the 1830s,” explained archivist Nick Zmijewski.
The donated collection traces the development of Niles machine tools, including lathes, drills, planers and vertical boring mills.
“They had all of these drawings and photographs of machines that they were still supplying parts for,” Zmijewski stated.
Niles made and operated machines for the railroad industry and Bethlehem Steel, along with World War II-era machinery.
“They made naval guns. Niles made machines specifically for the U.S. Navy. It really sort of dove tailed with what we do in uniting all the industries we cover,” Zmijewski said.
For the last 11 years, the Industrial Archives and Library has collected and preserved records on American industry. Many of the photographed machines are still in use today.
“There’s a tremendous interest in historic machine tools from people who are still operating it, people who are interested in how American industry has changed over the last 200 years. We’re really trying to make this stuff as accessible as possible to as many people as possible,” Zmijewski concluded.