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Goodell-Pratt Company - Greenfield, MA
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Goodell Brothers - the
Bedrock of Goodell-Pratt Co.
by Wiktor Kuc |
13 of 19
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There were other tools that Goodell Mfg. Co. made as well.
In the December, 1904, issue of The National Builder
the following announcement described one of these tools:
"New Boring Tool
The Goodell Manufacturing
Company, of Greenfield, Mass., has recently placed on the
market a new boring tool, of which we show an illustration.
This tool is for boring holes,
especially through
 hardwood
floors, where so much difficulty is found in using common
bit brace. It does the work in much less time and with great
saving of strength. It is made very strong and rigid. The
feed screw is of the same pitch as the lead of the bit,
which overcomes entirely the trouble of the bit not feeding,
as is experienced in the old method. After getting to the
desired depth the bit can be instantly raised.
It is geared back from two and
one and half to one, and has an adjustable handle to
regulate the speed. It has a capacity of boring to the depth
of nine inches and an extension can be furnished to go to a
greater depth. The center of the hole can come within two
inches of a side or corner. Each tool is furnished with
Clark Expansive Bit with two cutters, boring from
seven-eighths to three inches. It weighs seventeen pounds
and the price with bit is $6.00"
The same year the Goodell Mfg. Co. placed another tool on the market
- a Round Stock Cutter tool.
Indeed, with these tools we can understand why the Goodell's firm was
often described as a "specialty tool" maker. Henry E. also
proved here that he carefully observed the industry needs and
could find an appropriate niche for his tools.
Henry E. Goodell did not stop there. In October, 1906, he filed
an application for improvements in the Breast Drill. The patent
was granted on July 30, 1907 with
No. 862,062. Henry E.
described his new drill as follows:
 "This invention especially
relates to improvements in "breast drills" and analogous
small manually-operated
machines such as have a drill, or other tool-carrying-spindle, and means for rotating the
spindle.
An object of this invention is to provide change speed
gearing between the operating crank or handle and the
spindle, whereby the spindle may be rotated very rapidly,
with comparatively low power, or quite slowly with
correspondingly increased power.
Another object of the invention is to improve the
construction of the breast drill in respect to details of
construction of the machine for increasing the efficiency,
convenience of use, and durability of the same."
This patent was used on a series of breast drills manufactured by
Goodell-Pratt Co under No. 58, No. 59, and No. 60. They
called these drills a “Giant Breast Drills”.
By 1916 Henry E. Goodell was ready to retire for good. He
was dealing with declining health for some time already and needed to
slowdown. His son-in-low, Perley E. Fay took over all
aspects of business management.
After Henry's passing in 1923, William M. Pratt, a majority owner,
took over the presidency of the company, but daily operations
resided with Perley E. Fay. Around 1930 Pratt purchased
the remaining stock of the company and incorporated the production into
Goodell-Pratt operation.
Henry E.
Goodell
"Mr. Goodell is a man of much stability of
purpose and integrity, and by his untiring energy and
enterprise has reached his present place among the successful
men of the period.
Although physically frail, he is known as a
rapid and enthusiastic worker, doing more actual labor than any
of his employees, and at the same time superintending his
extensive business.
In politics he is a strong adherent of the Republican party; and
he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, he
being an officer therein. They have a fine new home at 31 Main Street,
which he built in 1893."(31)
On May 13, 1873, Henry E. married Miss Alice S. Gaines, a native
of Montague, MA, and daughter of Benjamin A. and Lydia (Kendal)
Gaines. Mrs. Goodell was educated at the Bernardston Academy,
and prior to her marriage was a successful teacher.(32)
Mr. and Mrs. Goodell lived in
Millers Falls, MA and their two children were born there.
Harry G., their first child, was born on May 8, 1874.
Second child, Josephine M. Goodell, was born on
September, 1876.(33)
After schooling, Harry G. worked
with his father at the Goodell Brothers business. In 1897
Henry E. Goodell established Goodell, Son & Co. and Harry G.
became a partner.(34) Unfortunately soon
after Harry G. became seriously ill and had to resign from his
duties. On May 9, 1900 the Greenfield Recorder published
his obituary:
"It came as a shook - the
death of Harry G. Goodell at the home of his father, H. E.
Goodell, on Main street, Thursday night, about 10:45, after
lingering illness of several mouths. He had been
confined to the bed. Tuberculosis was the
cause of his death. He was 26 years of age.
 Mr.
Goodell was born in Millers Falls, May 8, 1874. The family
moved to Shelburne Falls when he was small and his schooling
was received in that place. He was graduated from Arms
Academy in class of '92. In company with his father, he came
here for the manufacture of fine tools.
Later their business was
bought by what is now known as the Goodell-Pratt Company,
and not being in good health, young Mr. Goodell took up the
life insurance business. He later bought Lester A. Luey's
grocery store, which he ran for some time, selling out last
year. Not feeling very well, and
thinking a change of climate would be beneficial, he
departed for New Mexico and Southern California last fall,
returning this spring, but not
receiving as much benefit as he desired.
Mr. Goodell married Miss
Elizabeth E. Doolittle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J.
Doolittle, six years ago. Mr. Goodell was a young man
of excellent character and was held in highest esteem by all
who knew him."
(31)
Biographical Review Publishing Company, Biographical Review - Biographical Sketches of the Leading
Citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts, (Boston, MA,
1895), 326.
(32) ibid.
(33) ibid.
(34) Davis, William T., The
New England States, their Constitutional, Judicial, Educational,
Commercial, Professional and Industrial History, Vol. 4, (Boston, MA,
1897), 2036.
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13 of 19
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