The Springfield Separator Co. of Springfield, Vermont, was established to manufacture a centrifugal separator for removing metal cuttings from lubricating oil; according to a later mention, this occurred in 1896. An 1898 patent for such a separator was granted to Samuel A. Baker and Melvin F. Colby of Springfield. In 1902 Baker was granted a patent for a multi-spindle turret drill press and is is possible, but unconfirmed, that Springfield Separator began manufacturing this invention was well.

In March 1903 the National Separator & Machine Co. was incorporated to succeed the Springfield Separator Co. in manufacturing oil separators and turret drills. At this time they were located at 41 South Main street in Manchester, N. H. At first the company president was Colby, the manager was Baker, and the treasurer was John Lyman Porter. Soon, however, Carmi King was manager and Baker was superintendent, with Colby seemingly no longer with the company. One year later the business relocated to a larger space in the factory of the former Concord Machine Co. at 43 South Main street in Concord, N. H.

the National Separator & Machine Company's cylinder-style multi-spindle turret drill presses were sensitive drills that were intended for step drilling, counter-sinking and tapping operations on the same hole; these drill presses were especially popular with automobile manufacturers. During World War I they manufactured turret lathes as well.

By 1909 they had opened an office at 89 State St., Boston. It seems that this became their headquarters, though presumably their manufacturing operations remained in Concord; by 1909 Porter was the company president and treasurer, and Baker was superintendent. By 1921 their Boston office had relocated to 739 Boylston, and that date is the last reliable data point we have found for the National Separator & Machine Co.: it seems likely that the company disappeared during the post-war depression that decimated the machine tool industry.

From August 1909 Machinery

Information Sources

• 1900 Hendrick's Architectural Engineering and Mechanical Directory of the United States, under Separators (Oil) lists "Springfield Separator Co. (separator & filter combined), Springfield, Vt.
• 1903-04-15 American Machinist.

  The National Separator & Machine Company, Manchester, N. H., successor to the Springfield Separator Company, has just been formed to manufacture oil separators and filters, turret drill presses and do all kinds of turret lathe job work. The officers of the company are M. F. Colby, president; S. A. Baker, manager, and J. L. Porter, treasurer. The capital stock of the old company has been increased by the new one, and it intends to enlarge and put in more machinery.

• 1913 Lothrop's Concord City Directory and Merrimack County Directory, in a list of incorporations: "National Separator & Machine Co. inc March 13, 1903; capital stock $50,000; Carmi King mgr, 41 So Main".
• 1903-1904 State of New Hampshire: Reports Volume I lists under Manufacturing Establishments, Manchester, "National Separator & Machine Co. (S. A. Baker), oil separators, turret drills
• 1904-03-31 The Iron Age.

  The National Separator & Machine Company, Manchester, N. H., manufacturers of turret sensitive drills, have taken part of the shop building of the Concord Machine Company, Concord , N. H., and will remove the business there immediately. Their new quarters will give the National Separator & Machine Company considerably increased facilities.

• 1906 New Hampshire Business Directory, under Machinists, lists "National Separator & Machine Co. 43 S Main Concord".
• 1907-03-21 The Iron Age, in a listing of exhibitors at the Boston Automobile and Power Boat Show. "National Separator & Machine Company, Concord, N. H., Baker turret drill demonstration".
• 1908 Hendricks' Commercial Register of the United States lists under Machinists & Founders, New Hampshire, Concord: "National Separator & Machine Co. (Turret Drill Presses, etc.)".
• 1908 The Iron Age Directory lists National Separator & Machine Co., Concord, N. H., as makers of Drilling Machines Sensitve and Drilling Machines, Spindle.
• 1909 Motor Year Book"National Separator & Machine Co.—89 State St., Boston, Mass. Mfrs. drilling machines for automobile factories, oil filters and separators. Est. 1896. John Lyman Porter, Pres. and Mgr.; Samuel A. Baker, Supt."
• 1909 Report on Trade Conditions in Mexico lists American-made machine tools seen in the Paris, France shop of automobile maker A. Clément, including "National Separator and Machine Company, Concord, N. H., 4-spindle drill press".
• January 1909 Southern Machinery.

  The National Separator & Machine Co., 89 State St., Boston, Mass., are mailing a folder illustrating their cylinder turret drill press which is manufactured in six sizes. These drill presses are especially adapted for irregular and duplicate work require more than one operation on one center, such as drilling different size holes, reaming, counter-boring and tapping. Their present machine has been greatly improved over their 1908 models, and will be found to be a time-saver in the large majority of shops.

• 1910 Annual Report of the Insurance Commissioner of the State of New Hampshire lists, under Manufacturers, Machine, "National Separator & Machine Company, Concord, machine tools."
• 1914 Annual Returns of Corporations lists "National Separator & Machine Company, Boston / (certificate filed) Apr. 6, 1914 / (date of meeting) Jan. 20, 1914 / (date of statement) Dec. 31, 1913 / (authorized capital stock) $60,000 / (assets, real estate) 0/ (assets, machinery) 500 / (assets, products & materials) 5,959 / (assets, cash & receivables) 2,678 / (assets, patents & trademarks) 37,000 patent rights, 20,000 goodwill / (assets, misc.) 0 / (assets, Total) 66,127 / (liabilities, capital stock) 60,000 / (liabilities, accounts payable) 958 / (liabilities, funded indebtedness) 3,000 / (liabilities, floating indebtedness) 1,100 / (liabilities, surplus) 0 / (liabilities, profit and loss) 1,069 / (Total) 66,127".
• 1915 Engineering Directory lists National Separator & Machine Co., Concord, N. H., as makers of Oil Filters ("National" and "Springfield" brands); Turret Lathes ("National"); "Separators, Centrifugal, Oil From Metal Chips"; Separators, Steam, Oil and Water ("National", "Springfield"). The company address was given as "Concord, N. H.; 89 State st., Boston."
• 1915 Corporations Subject to Franchise Taxes lists National Separator & Machine Company, Boston.
• 1915-16 Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of New Hampshire lists, under Manufacturing Establishments, "National Separator & Machine Company, Concord, Oil Separators and Centrifugal Machinery".
• 1918 Engineering Directory lists "National Separator & Machine Co, (Oil filters and separators), 89 State St., Boston."
• 1921 Boston Register and Business Directory lists, under Machinists, "National Separator & Machine Co. 739 Boylston rm 109".