L.W. Pond is the one that started the company, back around the 1880's. He went to prison for a few years and his son took the company over. L. W. was pardoned by the governor and then started another company called the LW Pond company. He was more of a figurehead there for the name. I have one of the planers made by that company. I think it only lasted about 5 years. His son continued to run the Pond company. I expect that's where that planer came from. Sometime, I'm not sure whether before or after the turn of the century, Pond merged with other companies to form Bemet Pond and Miles. You can probably find more information on it with some time on google, that's just what I remembered from searching for the provenance of mine. Apparently the LW Pond company only operated from 1890 to 1895, which gives me a good date range. Based on the way that one is built, I would guess around the turn of the century, give or take 5 or10 years. Much later and it would have been electrified, much earlier and it would be much lighter and would not have the oiling rollers in the center of the bed ways. Good luck.
