Early Life and Invention
– Benjamin Forstner was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
– He invented the Forstner bit in 1886.
– The Forstner bit had a revolutionary design without a lead screw or cutting lips.
– It was particularly useful for gunsmiths and high-end woodworkers.
– The bit could drill smooth-sided holes with flat bottoms.
– It was considered better than Russell Jennings twist bits for boring at an angle.
Career and Migration
– Benjamin Forstner also invented an electric motor.
– He moved to Missouri in the early 1850s.
– Forstner followed communal Utopian William Keil to the Pacific Northwest.
– He founded the colony of Aurora in Marion County, Oregon.
– Forstner eventually settled in Salem, Oregon in 1865 and became a gunsmith.
Legacy and Property
– Benjamin Forstner retired in 1891.
– He resided and had a workshop on Commercial Street in Salem.
– Forstner owned considerable farm property in Polk County.
– He also owned 160 acres of timber near Gates, Oregon.
– Benjamin Forstner died in Salem, Oregon in 1897.
References
– There is a patent for the Forstner bit published in 1886.
– An article about the Forstner bit can be found on LumberJocks.com.
– Salem Pioneer Cemetery Records provide information about Benjamin and Louisa Forstner.
– An external link to a Forstner Bit Set is available on the Peachtree Woodworking Supply website. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Forstner
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2014) |
Benjamin Forstner (March 25, 1834 – February 27, 1897), was an American gunsmith, inventor, and dry goods merchant.
Benjamin Forstner | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Benjamin Forstner March 25, 1834 |
| Died | February 27, 1897 (aged 62) |
| Occupation(s) | Gunsmith, Inventor, Merchant |
