Sometime in 1873 or '74, Bernard Gallagher moved from Saint John, New Brunswick to Lynn, Massachusetts, and began manufacturing a ratchet drill—a handheld tool for metal drilling—under his own name. By 1881 he was doing business as the Gallagher Manufacturing Co., presumably haven taken on some business partners. By 1884 they were manufacturing "Universal" and "Champion" ratchet drills, as well as emery grinders, a shear for cutting leather and tin, and various other small machines for making shoes and clothing. We have seen a fairly large drill press, perhaps 20" size, manufactured by this firm. The "Universal" drill was still in production in 1911 but seems to have disappeared not too long after that. The shears were manufactured until at least 1944, which is the last reliable data point on the company that we can find. The company relocated to Braintree in the late 1930s or early '40s.

Information Sources

• An 1873 US patent was granted to Bernard Gallagher of Saint John, New Brunswick, for a ratchet drill. This is the only plausible candidate we have found for "Gallagher's patent Champion and Universal ratchet drills" mentioned in an 1884 ad from Gallagher Manufacturing Co.
• 1874 Program of the Twelfth Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association lists "Gallagher, B., Lynn, Mass., Ratchet Drill" as having been awarded a diploma.
• We have seen a speed indicator marked "B. GALLAGHER M'F'R LYNN MASS". This device was in fact the speed indicator of patent 17,888 and that was manufactured between 1876 and 1884 by Daniel Davis, Jr., and subsequently by R. Woodman Mfg. & Supply Co. Several different names have been seen marked on them but research by Ken Cope has confirmed the true manufacturers as stated above.
• 1881 Lynn, Massachusetts' City Documents lists a payment of $24 made to Gallagher Manufacturing Co., for "removing bars from windows at Almshouse".
• November 1882 The Manufacturer & Builder, in a report on that year's Manufacturers and Mechanics' Institute Fair in Boston. "The Gallagher Manufacturing Co., of Lynn, Mass., display their Champion and Universal ratchet drills, emery grinders, speed indicator, and cornice and pattern shears."
• 1883 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s The Lynn Directory lists "Gallagher Manufacturing Co. machinists, 18 State".
• 1884 Program of the Fifteenth Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association has the following, among "Remarks of the Judges."

  Bernard Gallagher, Lynn, Mass.—The exhibit consists of Improved Emery Grinder, Improved Cornice and Tinners' Shears, Universal "R" Drills, Locksmiths' Bench Shears, Breast Drills, Improved Pocket Speed Indicator. All of the above seemed to be of simple design and good workmanship, and are, in the opinion of the judges, well adapted to the work for which they are intended. This exhibitor claims an improvement in journal box by placing sleeve collars at the ends to keep out the dust and grit, and by inserting in the cap a strip of felt running the entire length of the same to distribute the oil equally over the bearing; also a spring-washer placed at the end of box and bearing against the end of the spindle, to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the same. A good arrangement of grinder and buffer on the same spindle is also shown. This exhibit is considered worthy of a Bronze Medal.
  
  ...Gallagher Manufacturing Co., Lynn, Mass.—1. Strapping, Buffing, and Polishing Machines. 2. Buffing Lathes. 3. Improved Pattern Shears.—These are new-made machines, but not being in operation, the judges could form no opinion of their merit.

• Briggs & Co.'s 1884-85 Essex County Directory has an ad for "Gallagher Manufacturing Co., Manufacturers of Gallagher's Patent Universal and Champion Ratchet Drills. EMERY GRINDERS. Shears for Shoe Pattern Cutting and Tinners' Use, Heel Nailing Jacks, Button Hole Cutters, and Speed Indicators. No. 18 State St., Lynn, Mass." The ad is on page 3. The same ad appeared in the 1887 The Brockton City Directory.
• 1908-09-15 The American Bottler.

  THE GALLAGHER BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINERY CO., which is a separate company from the Gallagher Manufacturing Company, also of Lynn, was recently incorporated to deal in bottlers' special machinery and seals. The officers of the company are Thomas A. Gallagher, President; Bernard Gallagher, Treasurer, and Kathryn Gallagher, Clerk. Capital, $2,000...

• 1911 Hendricks' Commercial Register of the United States lists "Gallagher Mfg. Co. ('Universal'), Lynn, Mass." under "Drills (Ratchet)".
• 1913 Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics' Directory of Manufactures lists among Lynn manufacturers, "Gallagher Bottle Capping Machinery Co., 78 Sagamore St.", and "Gallagher Mfg. Co. (Bernard Gallagher), 78 Sagamore St."
• A 1938 issue of Aeronautical Digest lists Gallagher Mfg. Company, Lynn, Mass., under "Shears".
• 1942 and '43 issues of Aeronautical Digest lists Gallagher Mfg. Company, 39 Norton St., Braintree, Mass., under "Shears".
• 1944 Aviation Equipment Red Book lists Gallagher Mfg. Co., 39 Norton St., Braintree, Mass., as makers of power shears.