March 6, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Industrial Archives & Library has received a huge donation of industrial records, photographs and drawings from NSH USA Corp., documents that illustrate American manufacturing history from the late 19th Century through World War 2.

The size of the donation also reflects on the challenges of record-keeping in the pre-digital age. The paper documents total about 320 cubic feet, or about the same space taken by up 2 1/2 cords of wood. The records include material from Niles Tool Works, a company that was founded before the Civil War.

The documents show how American industry grew, and how industrial and military history are linked.

“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 and chief executive of the Industrial Archives & Library said in a statement from the Bethlehem-based IAL.

There is also a modern-day angle to how the NSH USA records might be used, said Nick Zmijewski, archivist at IAL. 

“With so many machine tools still in use today, this collection offers a valuable avenue for research,” Zmijewski said.

Machine tools are often used to hold metal or some other material for cutting, planing or grinding, forming a standard-shaped piece for industrial use.

The NSH USA records will be added to IAL’s collections of records of the steel, slate and transportation industries, and coal mining. The Industrial Archives & Library has records from local manufacturing companies including Bethlehem Steel Corp. and the R.K. Laros Silk Co.

“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,” David William Davis, president and chief operating officer of NSH USA said. NSH USA was formerly known as Simmons Machine Tool.

The IAL’s mission of preserving and making records accessible for study made it the perfect home for the corporate records, Eric Butler, vice president of engineering at NSH USA, said.

“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,” Butler said.

The archives will be available for education and research by historians, scholars, and the public, preserving the legacy of America, according to the IAL.

The Industrial Archives & Library is based at 18 W. Fourth St., near what’s left of the Bethlehem Steel plant. Its records are kept in a secure environment in north Bethlehem.

From the IAL’s website: The Industrial Archives & Library was created in 2015 with the express purpose of preserving America’s industrial past. IAL collects and makes available materials from a variety of industries in the United States.

Plans and programs both meet the institutional mission to make records available to the public and to position IAL to meet industry best practices for collections management.

The Industrial Archives & Library maintains active memberships in both the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC).

Here is a link to the IAL statement and below is a cut-and-paste version:

Industrial Archives & Library and NSH USA Corporation Announce Donation of Industrial Records, Photographs, and Drawings to Preserve American Manufacturing History

March 5, 2026

Home • News • Industrial Archives & Library and NSH USA Corporation Announce Donation of Industrial Records, Photographs, and Drawings to Preserve American Manufacturing History

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.