Henry E. Eberhardt, co-founder and chief designer for machine tool manufacturer Gould & Eberhardt, had five sons, four of whom were interested in the machine tool business. One of those sons, Elmer, had worked with his father for a few years and then enrolled in mechanical engineering at Cornell University, where he proved himself to be an engineering prodigy and a natural leader. Upon Elmer's graduation in 1904 the Eberhardt Brothers Machine Co. was formed, with father Henry E. Eberhardt as president, Elmer G. Eberhardt as vice president, Henry J. Eberhardt as secretary, and Frank E. Eberhardt as treasurer.

Eberhardt Brothers manufactured a crank shaper and a line of gear cutting machinery, the latter being a particular interest for Elmer, who obtained a series of patents relating to gear milling and grinding.

In late 1907 or early '08, Elmer became ill with tuberculosis and his health quickly declined. In October of 1908, the shaper having been dropped from the lineup, the company name was changed to the Newark Gear Cutting Machine Co. About a month later, Elmer died. Frank E. Eberhardt took on the title of vice-president in addition to his role as treasurer.

In 1950 the company changed ownership and was reorganized as Newark Gear, Inc., with William F. Hoffman continuing as president, Leonard M. Smith as vice-president in charge of sales, and Henry M. Eberhardt vice-president in charge of engineering. The company continued into at least the 1960s and perhaps for longer.

Information Sources

• 1899-03-23 American Machinist page 31-237, in a letter to the editor regarding a visit to the shops of the New Bedford Foundry & Machine Co., New Bedford, Mass. "...One is truck by the difference between the shaper of today and that of a past generation by seeing in this shop two shapers made long ago by the Eberhardt Brothers, of Newark, N. J. ..." This references suggests that there was an earlier business of this name, perhaps a predecessor to Gould & Eberhardt; a search for more information on this pre-1904 "Eberhardt Brothers" found only this one mention.
• 1904-09-08 The Iron Age, page 32.

  The Eberhardt Brothers Machine Company is erecting a two-story brick factory building at Newark, N. J.

• December 1904 Modern Machinery page 529.

  Henry E. Eberhardt, who was identified with Gould & Eberhardt of Newark, N. J., for more than thirty-five years as a member of the firm, chief designer and inventor, has resigned from the above company, and is now associated with his sons in the Eberhardt Brothers Machine Company of Newark, N. J.

• November 1907 Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, page 358, in a list of membership candidates.

  Frank Edward Eberhardt, 66 Union St., Newark, N. J., Born, Newark, N. J., December 1883. Education: Three years Cornell University, College of Law, LL.B. 1904. Apprentice: Eberhardt Brothers Machine Co., Newark, N. J., milling machines and gear cutting machines and pattern-making 1905-1905. Shop experience: Eberhardt Brothers Machines Machine Co., in charge of milling and gear cutting department, 1905-1906. Other engineering work: Eberhardt Brothers Machine Co., estimating and cost account, 1906-1907; assisted in installation of power equipment, designing details of gear cutting machines, 1904, 1906 and 1907. Present position: Treasurer, Eberhardt Borther machine Co.; charge of sales, purchases, and estimating.

• October 1908 Machinery page 58.

  Eberhardt Bros. Machine Co., 66 Union St., Newark, N. J., has changed its corporate name to the Newark Gear Cutting Machine Co. The personnel of the company will remain the same as at present, the officers being Henry E. Eberhardt, president; H. J. Eberhardt, secretary; Elmer G. Eberhardt, vice-president, and Frank E. Eberhardt, treasurer. The new name will more properly identify the product of the company, which is exclusively the design and manufacture of gear-cutting machines and gear cutting. During the past year a number of machine tools has been added to the equipment, and the facilities of the gear-cutting department have been increased.

• December 1908 Machinery pages 325-6, Obituary column.

  Elmer G. Eberhardt, of Newark, N. J., vice-president of the Newark Gear Cutting Machine Co., died November 21, 1908, of tuberculosis, after an illness of less than a year. He was born in Newark, 1881, and attended the public schools there. He was graduated from the Newark High School in 1896 at the age of fifteen years, and from there entered Stevens Institute at Hoboken, N. J. He was soon at the head of his class, but decided, in his second year, to take up the practical work of machine tool designing and construction, and therefor discontinued his course to engage in work with his father, Henry E. Eberhardt. After several years of this work, during which he made a number of improvements and inventions, especially relating to automatic gear-cutting machines and crank shapers, he decided to finish his technical education. He accordingly entered Sibley College of Cornell University in the middle of the school year of 1900-1901, and graduated in 1904 with the degree of mechanical engineer.

  While at Cornell he acquired the nickname of the "General" because of his acknowledge leadership in the classes of mathematics, mechanics, and engineering. He was elected president of the Cornell Institute of Electrical Engineers and vice-president of the Cornell Society of Mechanical Engineers. At the close of his course he was awarded the honorary key of the Sigma Xi for high scholarship in the engineering studies. Besides his studies, he was actively interested in athletics.

  Upon graduation, Mr. Eberhardt entered into the machine tool manufacturing business, forming with his father and three brothers, Eberhardt Brothers Machine Company, which is now the Newark Gear Cutting Machine Company. He was made the vice-president, and from the beginning of the business until his illness necessitated leaving the work which he loved, he was active in the designing and construction of the gear-cutting machines and crank shapers made by the firm. He took out a number of patents upon inventions covering many branches of the machine field.

  Mr. Eberhardt had been a contributor to MACHINERY ever since its beginning, and he many times expressed himself as much interested in the problems which appeared from time to time in its columns. He had a wide reputation as a consulting engineer upon matters especially related to gears and gear-cutting, and engaged in original investigations along this line. He was an associate member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

  Mr. Eberhardt is survived by his parents, one sister and four brothers, three of whom are engaged in the business. He was beloved by all who knew him, and especially in the factory was he liked, by the apprentices and others who looked up to him as a teacher with experience.

• 1910 Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vol. 31, page 1043, "Necrology" section.

  Elmer J. Eberhardt, of Newark, N. J., an Associate Member of the Society, died at his home on November 21, 1908. He was born in Newark, April 26, 1881, and was graduated from the Newark High School in 1896. He received his technical education in Stevens Institute and Cornell University, receiving the degree of M.E. at the latter institution in 1904.

  He learned the machine trade with his father, Henry E. Eberhardt, of the firm of Gould and Eberhardt, at Newark, and upon graduation from Cornell University, he formed, with his father and brothers, the firm of Eberhardt Brothers Machine Company, nor the Newark Gear Cutting Company. Mr. Eberhardt was Vice-President of the Company, and was engaged in the design of automatic gear-cutting machines, in which field he invented a number of improvements as well as made investigations along original lines. He was a frequent contributor to the technical columns of the mechanical papers. He designed the power plant and equipment of the factory with which he was connected.

  Mr. Eberhardt was electric president of the Cornell Society of Electrical Engineers and vice-president of the Cornell Mechanical Society. He was an Associate Member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and a member of the University Club of Newark and the Cornell Association of Northern New Jersey.

  At the time immediately preceding his death, Mr. Eberhardt was engaged, aside from his business connection, in consulting engineering work, in matters relative to gears and gear cutting.

• 1912 book Newark: The City of Industry, page 132.

  Newark Gear Cutting Machine Company was originally known as Eberhardt Brothers, having been founded some years ago by the brothers of that name. After having been in successful operation for a few years, the product became specialized in gear cutting machines and gears, and the company changed its name to Newark Gear Cutting Machine Co., became an incorporated company, and increased its capital. Its address is 69 Prospect street.

  The company manufactures machines for cutting gears of all kinds, covering the gear requirements of every branch of industry. The machines are furnished for cutting gears for printing presses, power presses, hoisting engines, gas engines, automobiles, special machinery, and general machine work. Machines are furnished as well to the Navy Yards and Arsenals, this branch of work being a specialty of the company. The machines are automatic, and are covered by patents.

  In addition to its building of gear cutting machinery, this company maintains a complete gear cutting department, for the manufacture of gears of all kinds. It has automatic machines for cutting spur, bevel, mitre, worm, racks, internal and spiral gears. The latest gear generating machines for spur, bevel and spiral gears are to be seen running at all times. This company takes care of the complete gears, and cuts the geeth in gears furnished by some customers, who desire to make up their own blanks.

  The company employs about sixty men, all expert mechanics. Inspectors are employed to keep the quality of the output up to the required high grade of precision which this company has always established. The officers of the company are, Henry E. Eberhardt, president; Frank E. Eberhardt, vice-president and treasurer; Henry J. Eberhardt, secretary, all of whom have been identified in the machinery world for many years.

• 1914 Holbrook's Newark City Directory page 1557: "Newark Gear Cutting Machine Co. 69 Prospect, Incorporated December, 1905. Capital, $70,000. President, Henry E. Eberhardt; Secretary, Henry J. Eberhardt; Vice President and Treasurer Frank E. Eberhardt."
• American Machinist 05 Oct 1922 page 77
• 1950 issue of Production (Vol. 26 p. 90).

  Newark Company Changes Hands and Gets New Name

  Newark, N. J.—William F. Hoffman, president, has announced the recent purchase of Newark Gear Cutting Machine Company and renaming of the company as Newark Gear, Inc. with plant offices at 69 Prospect St., Newark, N. J.

  The new management will soon announce additions to their line of equipment. A program of shop modernization is also under way.

• 1951 issue of Machinery (Vol. 57, page 1950-232).

  NEWARK GEAR CUTTING MACHINE Co., 69 Prospect St., Newark, N. J., and the change of its name to NEWARK GEAR, INC. Mr. Hoffman is president of the reorganized company. LEONARD M. SMITH is vice-president in charge of sales, and HENRY M. EBERHARDT Vice-president in charge of engineering.