Mr. Nicholson early manifested that love for mechanics which he was to afterwards put to such practical use.  Previous to the civil war he engaged in the machine tool business, and it was while operating a machine shop on his own account that he developed his ideas on machine file making and built his first file cutting machine.  Believing that he could hope to make a success only by fully understanding the details of the business as it then existed, he devoted himself to the study of file making in all it's branches, carrying his investigations to Europe, which at that time supplied the greater number of files used in America, and where he spent considerable time investigating this and kindred industries, especially the manufacture and treatment of steel.

     In 1864 the Nicholson File Company was incorporated, and proceeded at once to erect a plant at Providence, R.I. This plant, it was at that time hoped, might be developed to a production of 300 dozen files per day.  Business, however, was not easily obtained.  Several similar enterprises were at that date in full operation.  These were destined soon to prove failures, and to sink over $2,000,000 in the vain attempt to manufacture files by machinery.  These failures, and the fact that the large numbers of poor machine-made files had been placed on the market, were quickly used by the hand cutters, both in this country and abroad, as conclusive arguments to prove that all machine-made files were inferior.  This opposition was a cause of much delay in getting even a trial for the new files, and the first years were full of many discouragements

    Believing in his files, Mr. Nicholson kept the products of this company constantly before the public, and the superior merits quickly manifesting themselves, the Nicholson Increment Cut Files gradually became the standard files of America.  The business grew, and increased facilities resulted.Then the manufacture of fine files for jewelers, watchmakers, and the finest work was added, and at the time of his death in October, 1893, Mr. Nicholson had seen the original capacity of this company's works at Providence increased from the small beginnings to over 3,000 dozen files per day, and an unequaled file manufacturing plant and organization established, capable of meeting the wants of every industry, thus realizing what had long been his cherished desire.

      In 1890 the Nicholson File Company acquired the valuable plant for many years known as the American File Company, located at Pawtucket, R.I., and about four miles from the principle factories.  These works, since coming into the possession of this company, have been operated in manufacturing the "American" brand of files, and have the capacity of upwards of 1200 dozen files per day.  The products of the Nicholson File Company now have a world-reputation; and when it is understood that they manufacture at their Providence factories alone over 3,000 different kinds of standard files, and that each file is handled many times during its manufacture, some conception of the great detail of this business can be formed, and of the varied and complicated machine necessary  for economical production, as well as the credit due Mr. Nicholson for the persistency and inventive genius displayed in developing this industry.

      Mr. Nicholson was never satisfied to produce anything but the best, believing that a uniform quality, and one which should give the greatest efficiency were the requisites of the truly cheap articles of commerce.

      With the past before them, the present management propose to continue to merit the preference accorded only after much hard work and struggling, and which once attained has never departed from the Nicholson Increment Cut Files.