The Tomlin box factory is now running full capacity and turning out between 7000 and 8000 boxes a nine-hour day. About 75 men are employed. This is the largest output and force since the plant was etablished, and the plant is also running full capacity for the first time.
"8000 Boxes a Day Tomlin Factory," Medford Mail Tribune, July 22, 1921, page 3

    Over $25,000 in damage was caused to the Tomlin Box Company at the end of North Central in this city when the company sawmill was completely destroyed last night by flames of an unknown origin.
    The Tomlin sawmill blaze, covered by insurance, was discovered shortly before 10:45 and had already enveloped the large building, 130 feet long, in flames when the fire department arrived. The flames, which shot high into the heavens amid heavy clouds of black smoke, were put under control after a short fight with one line of pressure from the Stutz pumper and hoses from hydrants located near the blazing building.
    No plans have been made as yet for the rebuilding of the destroyed structure, which was erected in 1920 and was capable of turning out between four and five thousands of feet of lumber per hour for box factory consumption. During the course of the six years past, the mill had been enlarged several times. The equipment, with the exception of a few pulleys and drive wheels, is said to be beyond salvage value.
    Numerous comments were heard today in regard to the work of the fire department in putting the flames under control in the comparatively short time of one hour and a half, every spark being thoroughly extinguished. The situation last night had conflagration possibilities, with the box factory building a short distance away, together with seven million feet of stored lumber to the south. To the north, but removed for some distance, was the Owen-Oregon Lumber Company mills and yards. The wind, however, was blowing in the opposite direction, toward the city.
    After the fire was over and while preparations were being made to return the city fire equipment to the station, the Stutz pumper broke down because of a broken transmission in the crankcase. The new part, however, is expected to arrive tomorrow to put the large machine back in working order.
Excerpt, Medford Mail Tribune, September 24, 1926, page 1

    Work was started yesterday morning on the construction of a new sawmill of the Tomlin Box Factory, at the end of North Central Avenue. The old mill was destroyed by fire a month ago. The first task under way is clearing away the wreckage. The new plant will be the same size as the old one and cost about $35,000. It is expected to be in operation by February 1st, in time for the next season run. As formerly, the machinery will be electrically driven.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 26, 1926, page 8


    When the Tomlin Box Company commenced business at the corner of Fifth and Fir streets in the spring of 1918, it was with the intention of confining its activities entirely to the manufacture of pear and apple boxes for local needs.
    One year later the company purchased a plant site at the junction of the Southern Pacific and Medford & Butte Falls logging railroad, erecting thereon a thoroughly modern box factory. The best high-speed woodworking machinery obtainable was installed, each machine being driven by a separate motor, with power purchased from the California Oregon Power Company.
    To utilize all of the various widths of lumber with a minimum of waste, it was necessary to manufacture other shooks in addition of pear and apple, hence the company broadened its activities and soon began marketing a portion of its product in California. Subsequently it has sold boxes of one kind or another delivered to eastern states and to Old Mexico.
    This outside business has increased gradually until now only about one-fifth of the factory output is disposed of in the Rogue River Valley. From an operation of 2,000,000 feet of lumber in 1918, the business has increased each year, in excess of 20,000,000 feet of pine lumber being manufactured into box shooks during 1926.
    Six years ago a band mill for sawing logs was added to the facilities, to operate in conjunction with the box factory, and it has since been a very essential part of the business. The mill was recently destroyed by fire, but is now being rebuilt on the same site. This new single band mill will be of the latest improved type, and should be completed and in operation by March 1, 1927.
    In addition to the lumber produced in its own mill, the company purchases lumber from numerous mills in Jackson County.
    During the fruit packing season, it is customary to operate a night shift, and employment in the yard, mill and factory is given to about 225 men. This does not include the men engaged in logging operations.
    Throughout the winter months, when business is confined to the manufacture of various commercial containers and packing cases, about 75 men are employed.
    John R. Tomlin is president of the company; John A. Currie vice president, and Floyd H. Hart secretary. In the office are Oscar M. Anderson, Robert I. Flaherty and Miss Lurline Leavell.
    C. H. Herman is yard superintendent; Walter Sinclair factory foreman and Frank Glidden mill foreman.
    The management is quite proud of its efficient and loyal organization.
    This is one of the institutions that is helping make Medford a factory center.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 2, 1927, page F5


    The new sawmill of the Tomlin box factory to replace the one destroyed by fire last fall will be completed and in operation about April 1st. Construction on the plant is well under way and the machinery is expected to arrive within the next day, ready for installation.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 16, 1927, page 4


    Under construction since November, the Tomlin  Box Company saw mill at the end of North Central Avenue was put in operation for the first time today, following a careful program of preparation. The new mill, to be used in connection with the box factory, takes the place of the one destroyed by fire last October with a loss of more than $25,000 and means employment for approximately 100 men.
    The building is two stories high and is 32 feet by 120 feet in dimensions, with the lower floor constructed of concrete and upper floor made of laminated wood six inches thick. The interior is painted with oil and fire-resisting derby white, while the exterior is finished in moss green trimmed with white. The roof is made of tin.
    The machinery consists of an eight-foot Prescott band mill saw with two roller bearings designed to care for extremely heavy strain to enable the use of 12-foot, 16-gauge band saws. The edger is four feet by fifty with a back driver table. In addition there are two cutoff saws, a trimmer and overhead endless chain log haul and lath machinery. Lumber is transferred overhead and across a street to a 200-foot sorter on a level with the yard trams, with all machinery driven by electric motors. Including the wood crews, the mill employs 100 men, according to J. A. Currie, vice president of the company, today.
    The Tomlin Box Company was organized in 1919 and ships its products to all parts of the nation, with a large part finding its way to the Mississippi River country. The present officers of the company are: John R. Tomlin, president; J. A. Currie, vice president; Floyd H. Hart, secretary.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 8, 1927, page 1




    John R. Tomlin, owner of the Tomlin box factory, has purchased the Walter Bowne residence on the Old Stage Road for a consideration said to involve approximately $25,000. The sale involved the trading in of Mr. Tomlin's residence on Siskiyou Heights, which Mr. Bowne and family are now occupying. The Bowne residence s one of the most attractive places in the valley, the property including several acres of alfalfa land under irrigation. The Tomlin residence now owned by Mr. Bowne was built and occupied by George Putnam, former editor of the Mail Tribune, now editor and publisher of the Salem Capital Journal.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 14, 1927, page 5

    One of the most successful of southern Oregon lumber enterprises is the Tomlin Box Company, which operates a new mill and box factory north of the Medford city limits. Back in 1918, when John R. Tomlin established his first box factory at the corner of Fir and Fifth streets in this city, it was his intention to supply box material to accommodate the orchards of southern Oregon. One year later the company purchased the plant site at the junction of the Southern Pacific line and Butte Falls logging railroad, north of Medford, where a model box factory was constructed with the very latest high-speed electrically driven machinery.
    When in 1918 this firm was manufacturing box materials in this city, approximately 2,000,000 feet of pine lumber was converted into box shook. Now, with a new sawmill which was completed this spring, an excess of 20,000,000 feet of lumber is utilized annually, evidence of the remarkable growth of this organization in less than seven years. The Tomlin plant [is] now operated the year 'round, with more than 200 men on his payrolls.
    Late last fall, the sawmill of the Tomlin Box Company was destroyed by fire, and this spring a new mill was erected which is considered a model of its kind. It is modern in every detail, with electric and steam-driven equipment and has a capacity of 5,000 feet of lumber per hour. The better grades of lumber are shipped to eastern and middle states for the manufacture of windows and doors. The lower grades of lumber are manufactured into box shook in the factory adjoining the mill. Since its completion the Tomlin sawmill has been operating day and night to meet the demand.
    The box factory has grown and expanded until it is now producing over six hundred cars of shook annually, the principal portion of which is shipped into the state of California to the fruit and vegetable trade. Tomlin boxes are used extensively in the shipment of oranges, lemons, grapes, raisins, prunes, peaches, pears, apples, cantaloupes, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables, canned goods of all varieties and many industrial products.
    John R. Tomlin heads the organization of the Tomlin Box Company as president and treasurer, while Floyd H. Hart is vice-president and secretary. G. M. Anderson is assistant secretary. R. I. Flaharty is assistant treasurer. Miss Lenore Knudson is in the office, and Henry Herman is superintendent. The factory foreman is Walter Sinclair. Frank L. Glidden is mill foreman, and John Pearce has charge of the yard. This organization is practically all composed of Medford people, and the large majority of employees live in this city.

Last revised August 17, 2024