First, they joined Millers Falls Co. at a very important and sensitive moment.  At the time one of the founders, Charles H. Amidon, had just left the company.  Although historical sources do not comment on this development, it must have been a rather dramatic event.  After all, Amidon was Gunn's partner from day one and without a doubt, an important member of the organization.

Second, the operation recently moved to a new location, from Greenfield to Millers Falls.  It is obvious that Levi J. Gunn needed highly qualified mechanics to staff his new factory.  I also believe that Gunn recognized the Goodells’ talents and most likely had hopes to train them and keep them with a company for a while.

Albert D. Goodell had a very convincing argument in his hands – his first patent.  For any business owner, an employee with talent to design and implement new solutions is very important.  It is also an economical way to acquire new designs and especially patented designs.  By hiring Goodells, Gunn most likely hoped to have both aces in the pocket.  He was not disappointed.

Third, the Goodells stayed with the company for eighteen years.  That’s a long time!  Even more, it was very productive and beneficial eighteen years for Millers Falls Co.  During 1870s and 80s Millers Falls Co. formulated its strategy and defined a section of the market where they would operate and thrive in the future.  The company did that, in part, by continuing innovation, introduction of new tools and some unique and lasting improvements to existing tools.

After eighteen years with Millers Falls Co., the brothers were ready for a change and new challenges. 

In July, 1888, they moved to Shelburne Falls, MA., organized a business and named it Goodell Brothers.  They focused on the manufacturing of tools for mechanics and woodworkers.⁽⁷⁾  The location of their shop is not known.

During this period they jointly developed and patented improvements to automatic screwdrivers and push-drills.  These patents became the foundation of their production. 

Although detailed information on their products is available in patents, most of the historical sources described the company as making: "hardware specialties", "small tools", "specialty tools", "mechanics' tools", and even "cutlery".  The fact is that Goodells' shop was a small operation with a focus on a few tools.  The Goodells did not produce (as far as we know) a catalog of their tools and retail catalogs from this period do not list their products and this might contributed to a lack of specificity. 

One source described the beginning of the Goodell Brothers business as follows:

"In 1888 two practical mechanics, the Messrs. Goodell, capitalized many years of experience in practical mechanical designing by forming the firm of Goodell Brothers, at Shelburne Falls, where they manufactured mechanics' hand tools; including automatic, hand and breast drills, drill, chucks and automatic screw drivers, all of which were covered by patents."⁽⁸⁾

In 1892 the Goodells placed advertisement in the Greenfield Gazette - Centennial Edition, February 1, 1892, and it describes their products:

"They have obtained two patents on an Automatic Screw Driver, which is far superior to any before made and is a leading tool in the market.

Their Automatic Drill, No. 3, which they have just patented is another very popular tool with the best wood-working mechanics, as it is the Most Complete Tool for boring small holes in wood now in use. 

They have also just applied for a patent on a Shoe File, which they now have ready for the market. This is a tool that every family needs, as it will remove from Shoes mails, pegs, &c., that so often trouble the feet, and only costs twenty-five cents."

Since the Goodells' shop was a small operation and the sale of the tools was handled by a third party, the advertising of their business was virtually non-existent.

In all, it appears that the Goodells produced four tools.  The earliest patent was for a Screw-Driver, next came an Automatic Screw Driver, a Drilling-Tool, and a Shoe Float or Rasp.

Although the brothers established their shop in the middle of 1888, they filled a join application for first patent in April, 1889.  They received it on July 22, 1890 - a patent No. 432,729 for the Screw-Driver.  In the description the Goodells explained:

"The invention consists chiefly of a spirally-grooved socket secured to the handle of a tool, a spirally-grooved spindle having an annular groove and an angular tongue, and a movable socket cylindrical in exterior form and at opposite ends cylindrical in interior form and split longitudinally, as hereinafter described, to form jaws, and angular receptacle for angular tongue of spindle, and radial screws which enter the movable socket and into the said annular groove of said spindle."

"One of the said sockets is provided with notches and the other with corresponding projections, which come together, and hold the said parts against rotation by the spindle, so that the device may be used as a simple screw-driver as well as automatically."

(7) Cope, Kenneth, Sorting out the Goodell Companies, Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, v. 45, no. 4, (Levittown, NY, 1992), 115.

(8) Stone, Orra L., History of Massachusetts Industries - Their Inception, Growth and Success, Vol.1, (Boston-Chicago: 1930), 446.

Photograph of Albert D. Goodell provided by Ted and Lisa Merrill of Shelburne Historical Society.