Francis Reed (inventor)
Encyclopedia
Francis Reed was an American inventor, concentrating mostly on improving the drill
, and founder of the F. E. Reed & Co.
, on April 28, 1852, to father Ezekiel Sayes Reed. He attended the local schools until his family moved to Concord, New Hampshire
, at the age of nine. He attended public schools and the Penacook Academy in Penacook
, an area of Concord.
, where he got a job as a machinist
at the Amoskeag Mills. For 75 cents/day he first worked on the manufacturing of a steam fire engine. Next, in 1880, at the age of 28, Reed married Margaret Elvira Haddock (b. April 6, 1854) of Little Warwick, Quebec
, and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
, to work for the Union Water Meter Company, then the Boynton-Plummer Machine Company, before in 1885, he started his own company with partner, the Reed & Page, electrical contractors..
In 1889, Reed bought a black smith drilling machine company from George Burnham (15 Hermon Street). He kept the name and address until 1902, when he changed it to the Francis Reed Company (43 Hammond Street). It is here that Reed began to experiment with improving the drill. He invented many devices, including a machine that drills multiple holes at once. His two sons, Ralph S. and Merton F. helped run the business, as his new tools and part were sold all over the world. Francis Reed was known as a very gifted mechanic, a shrewd businessman, energetic, and industrious..
Beginning in about 1890, business took off and the F.E. Read Co. lathe became the world standard.
In April 1912, the F.E. Reed Company and the closely interwoven Prentice Brothers Company merged, and became the Reed-Prentice Company, and in 1915 the company was sold to new interests.
Drill
A drill or drill motor is a tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners. The attachment is gripped by a chuck at one end of...
, and founder of the F. E. Reed & Co.
Early years
Francis E. Reed was born in Danbury, New HampshireDanbury, New Hampshire
In 1800, there were 165 people living in Danbury, according to the first official census.As of the 2000 census, there were 1,071 people, 435 households, and 310 families residing in the town. The population density was 28.6 people per square mile . There were 596 housing units at an average...
, on April 28, 1852, to father Ezekiel Sayes Reed. He attended the local schools until his family moved to Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, at the age of nine. He attended public schools and the Penacook Academy in Penacook
Penacook, New Hampshire
Penacook, originally called "Fisherville", is a village within the city of Concord in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. It lies along Concord's northern border with Boscawen. The name comes from the Pennacook tribe that lived in the area...
, an area of Concord.
Career
After completing his education, Francis moved to Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, where he got a job as a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
at the Amoskeag Mills. For 75 cents/day he first worked on the manufacturing of a steam fire engine. Next, in 1880, at the age of 28, Reed married Margaret Elvira Haddock (b. April 6, 1854) of Little Warwick, Quebec
Warwick, Quebec
Warwick is a small town north east of Montreal, located in Arthabaska county, Quebec, Canada. The town was incorporated in 1861 and named after a city of the same name in England....
, and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, to work for the Union Water Meter Company, then the Boynton-Plummer Machine Company, before in 1885, he started his own company with partner, the Reed & Page, electrical contractors..
In 1889, Reed bought a black smith drilling machine company from George Burnham (15 Hermon Street). He kept the name and address until 1902, when he changed it to the Francis Reed Company (43 Hammond Street). It is here that Reed began to experiment with improving the drill. He invented many devices, including a machine that drills multiple holes at once. His two sons, Ralph S. and Merton F. helped run the business, as his new tools and part were sold all over the world. Francis Reed was known as a very gifted mechanic, a shrewd businessman, energetic, and industrious..
Beginning in about 1890, business took off and the F.E. Read Co. lathe became the world standard.
"In 1877 the company employed 6 men and produced about 150 machines a year, in 1912 he owned 8 buildings, employed a thousand men and produced two thousand machines a year. Mr. Reed retired in 1912 and the Reed-Prentice Co. was formed which took over management of the Prentice Bros Co., The F. E. Reed Co., the Reed Foundry Co., and The Reed-Curtis Machine Screw Co. This corp had a capitalization of $2,000,000. Mr. Reed remained as director. He died in 1917."
In April 1912, the F.E. Reed Company and the closely interwoven Prentice Brothers Company merged, and became the Reed-Prentice Company, and in 1915 the company was sold to new interests.