The early beginnings of this notable early foundry and machinery manufacturer are poorly documented. It reportedly began about 1840. By 1850 we see the name D. Tallcot & Son, operating a foundry and machine shop. In that year it seems to have been succeeded by the partnership of Tallcot & Canfield, which was operating the Phoenix Foundry in Oswego, NY. Among their products they manufactured a wide range of woodworking and metalworking machinery plus steam engines and boilers. An 1853 fire badly damaged their facilities, temporarily throwing their 70 employees out of work. After the fire Canfield retired from the business and Underhill took over, the partnership becoming Tallcot & Underhill (sometimes Talcott & Underhill). In 1854 their Works were acquired by Henry M. Ames, who established the Ames Iron Works. But Tallcot & Underhill continued in business, operating the Ontario Foundry. Sometime between 1857 and 1866 Underhill retired from the firm, which continued operating as George Tallcot. Under both the Tallcot & Underhill and George Tallcot names, they manufactured Reynolds' patent water wheel.

Information Sources

• 1834 New York Annual Register, p. 146, lists prominent manufacturing establishments of Oswego, including "Machine Factory—D. Hugunin & Co. ... The foundry and Iron works of E. Carrington & Co."
• 1845-04-18 Nashville's The Politician, page 5.

  At Oswego, N. Y.—A fire broke out about 2 o'clock on Thursday the 3rd inst., in the extensive works of D. Talcott & Son, at Oswego, and the greater part, with the contents, were consumed. The loss cannot be precisely estimated, but must have been somewhere from 10 to 14,0000 dollars, of which only $3,000 was insured.

• March 1846 Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, page 292. "According to the census of 1840, Oswego village contains...1 iron foundry..."
• 1850 New York Mercantile Union Directory, page 196, lists under Iron Founders, "Tallcott D. & Son, 1st st. Oswego". They are also listed under Machinists.
• 1850-08-31 Scientific American, page 398 column 4, in the Advertisements.

  Cutting Engine For Sale—The subscribers have for sale a superior and handsomely furnished Cutting Engine, for cutting spur, bevel or spiral gearing, in infinite variety, from the smallest up to 5 feet in diameter, the index having 26,000 holes. The machine has been but little used, and when new cost $700, and is supplied with iron cones, loose and tight pulleys for driving belts. Address TALLCOT & CANFIELD, Oswego, N. Y.

• 1851 The Canada Directory, page 664, has an ad for Tallcot & Canfield, "Proprietors of the Phoenix Foundry, Steam Engine & Machine Works, Oswego, New York, Manufacturer to order, at short notice, different sized steam engines and boilers... Saw mill machinery, With Steam Engine, &c., complete, made on an improved and economical plan. Manufacturers also of Hydraulic Engines for Milles and Manufactories, Engine and Hand Lathes, Engines for planing Iron, Laws Patent Planing Machines for matching and dressing boards, powerful Iron Capstans, Vessel Winches, Stave and Shingle Machines,..."
• 1852-12-02 The Frontier Palladium (Malone, NY), page 2 column 7, has an article on the factory of the Oswego Starch Company. "The entire thing was made an put up by Tallcot & Canfield, Proprietors of the Lake Ontario Foundry in this city..." The complete article is available in transcription form on BarryPopik.com.
• 1853-07-08 The New York Tribunte, page 8 column 1 has an article on a calamitous fire in Oswego. Listed among those who suffered losses is "Tallcot & Canfield, Iron Foundry and Machine works; also office, pattern house, and a portion of the patterns. Loss not known; insurance $16,000 This establishment employs about 70 men, who are thrown out of employment by the disaster. Mr. Geo. Tallcot's house and barn on Fourth-st. were destroyed, but insured."
• 1866-06-02 Scientific American classified ad.

  Reynolds's Turbine Water Wheels
  Reynolds's Patent Sweeps The Field! New Improvements! Low Prices! Does not Clog; Has no Complications of Gates or Costly Flume Work; Compact for Shipment; Great Water Saver; THE ONLY WHEEL THAT EXCELS OVERSHOTS. Gold Medal awarded by American Institute for Superiority. Agents wanted in every county.
  GEORGE TALLCOT
  Late TALCOT & UNDERHILL, No. 91 Liberty street.

• 1859 Hancock's Directory Information for the City of Oswego.

  ONTARIO FOUNDRY, STEAM ENGINE AND MACHINE WORKS.
  (TALLCOT & UNDERHILL, PROPRIETORS.)

  This establishment is located on East Cayuga street, occupying the block between Second and Third, and is propelled by steam power. Its facilities having been constantly increasing, are now very great, giving constant employment to over 100 men. It will consume this season over one and a half million pounds of pig, wrought and boiler iron, 350 tons of Lehigh, Blossburg and Cumberland coal, 1,000 cords of wood, besides large quantities of copper, tin, zinc, lumber, &c. &c. Its principal articles of manufacture are Stationary and Marine Steam Engines and Boilers, (which have become celebrated for their perfect working and exemption from the necessity of repairs). Hydraulic Engines, Machinery for Mills, Factories and Grain Elevators, Patent Iron Capstans, Vessel Winches, Boiler Feeders and Machinery generally; also, Iron Fences, Balconies, Iron Columns, Window Caps and Sills, &c. &c They have recently commenced, on a large scale, the manufacture of Reynolds' Patent, Concentral Pressure Water-Wheel, a simple but powerful and economical Wheel, the general adoption of which will increase the water power of Oswego 30 per cent. The demand for them, both at home and abroad, is already taxing the large capacity of the establishment. The Machinery made at these Works is sent to all parts of the United States and the Canadas, and they employ constantly several travelling agents. Their Patent Geared Iron Capstans, (the Best in use,) are now extensively used on the sea-board, the Mississippi and the Lakes, and they have regularly established agencies in New York, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis.

• 1861 Oswego City Directory, in an essay on the city's history: The water-wheels, capstans, engines and boilers of Tallcot & Underhill's Ontario Foundry are also sufficiently famous..." In the rest of the directory, George Tallcot is listed as an officer of the Board of Education.

  Ontario Foundry and Water-Wheel Works
  Tallcot & Underhill, proprietors.

  This extensive establishment is located on East Cayuga street, occupying the block between Second and Third. The buildings are all of brick and arranged in the most convenient manner. Its facilities are very great, giving employment to over 100 men, and is productions are sent to every portion of the country, the concern having a widely extended reputation for reliability and perfection of its work.

  The manufacture of Reynolds' Patent Concentral Pressure Water-Wheel is now carried on to a large extent, the demand having so increased as nearly to monopolize the capacity of the Works.

  These Wheels, from their simplicity and efficiency, and through the energy displayed in introducing them to the public, have become so widely and favorably known, that the firm is now doing business not only will all our own States, but with the Canadas and Great Britain—a number of traveling agents being constantly employed.

  It is conceded in Oswego that the general adoption of these Wheels (some 40 or 50 being now in operation here,) will be equivalent to an addition of 30 per cent to the water power of our city.

  Tallcot's Patent Geared Iron Capstans (the best in use) are extensively known and used on the Sea-Board, the Mississippi and the Lakes, and regularly established agencies are to be found in New York, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Louisville, &c.

  This firm is further celebrated for the excellence of its Mill Gearing and Machinery generally, there being nothing in that line beyond its ability to furnish in the most satisfactory manner.

• 1877 book History of Oswego County, New York, Part 1.

  Ames Iron-Works.—This establishment was founded in 1853 by Talcott & Underhill, and soon after associated with Messr Luther Wright, Thomas Kingsford, and Hamilton Murray. They subsequently purchased the interests of Messrs. Wright and Murray, and continued the business until 1858, when the establishment was purchased by Henry M. Ames, and its name changed to the Ames Iron-works...

• 1895 book Landmarks of Oswego County, New York.

  The Ames Iron Works were founded in 1853 by Talcott [sic] & Underhill, who succeeded Talcott & Canfield, and who were soon after joined by Luther Wright, Thomas Kingsford, and Hamilton Murray. Messrs. Wright and Murray subsequently retired and the others continued the business until 1855, when it was sold to Henry M. Ames, who changed the name to Ames Iron Works...