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Founded in 1891 by John G. Blount (1985-1943) and his brother, Eugene I. Blount (1854-1932), the initial products were buffing and grinding machines, with lathe production following in 1920. The Company's lathes were simple, plain-turning models, listed at the time as "speed lathes", "Pattern makers'" and intended for hand-turning wood, brass, and other soft metals. In a 1909 catalogue, the brand names used by the Company were "Speed" and "Stuyvesant" and lathes were listed with swings of 11, 13 and 16 inches and bed lengths from 3 to 12 feet. As simple, easy-to-uses machines, many were sold to schools and training establishments.
On the original models, the Morse-taper headstock spindle ran in two-bolt-retained bronze bearings and was fitted with a 4-step cone pulley for drive by a flat belt. Presumably, as the lathes would have appealed to smaller workshops without overhead line shafting, Blount must also have offered wall and ceiling-mounted countershafts
At first, only a T-rest was provided, but in 1903, a set-over tailstock became available, and by 1910, one could also order a screw-feed slide-rest assembly, a bed-mounted capstan unit for light production work. One later model could be had with what appears to have been a variable-speed electric motor mounted behind the headstock, with drive direct to the spindle. Another version used the motor itself as the headstock, this being termed by the makers as the "Motor Headstock" model and also fitted, if the type of electrical control gear fitted is any guide, with stepped variable speed drive
A noted improvement was a tailstock that offered to ability to adjusted, with wedges, to align perfectly with the head and also had an unusual combined lever and screw feed to the spindle.
With agents appointed in England, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Australia, the Company must have enjoyed some considerable success and, indeed, production of grinders and buffers, and probably other products, continued until 1964 when they were bought out by Williams & Hussey Machine Co., Inc.
The website Vintagemachinery.org reports: "We have seen a lathe labelled, "Manufactured by J. G. Blount Co. / A division of Williams & Hussey Machine Corp. / Milford, New Hampshire 03055".
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