Long established, the Smith & Mills company was founded in 1888 by one Albert S. Smith and James Mills, both having worked for John Steptoe & Co. a maker of shapers and planing machines. Incorporated in 1907 as Smith & Mills Co. they specialised in and, according to their literature, made only shaping machines. A wide range was offered, all of industrial strength and quality with the smallest model thought to have been one with a 12-inch ram stroke.
Shown below is a typical model as made during the 1930s