John Evans is believed to have been the first of the family to have been in the lathe business. He is noted as being in business in 1820 when he did machining for the Collier Flintlock Revolver, though he must have been established before that date. The son referred to was presumably W.J. Evans, whose name later appeared on the firm's products. He was advertising in 1860, so that this lathe appears to date from about the 1840s. The use of brass guide strips fastened to the headstocks and bearing on the outer edges of the bed is unlikely to be later than this date.