Beginning in about 1866, machinists William F. Field and George A. Walker were partners in the firm of Field & Walker, makers of portable steam engines and self-oiling saw arbors, with their shop at 18 Harvard Place. By 1869 the two men had gone their separate ways and Walker was operating as G. A. Walker, still at 18 Harvard; he did not continue the manufacture of steam engines but continued making saw arbors and was soon making an arbor that had been patented by Albert L. Rice of Worcester, Mass.

By 1873 Walker had relocated to 9 Green. In 1879 a fire damaged that shop. By 1886 he was at 35 Sudbury. Sometime between 1886 and '89 the business organized as the G. A. Walker Machine Co. We have seen that name on a piano vise (a precisely made woodworking bench vise with a handwheel in place of the usual handle) and on a lineshaft-driven 36" bandsaw. By 1896 that business was being operated by Isaac S. Craig, Charles G. Smith, Samuel F. Gould, and John P. Craig. Their main product was an electrotypers' saw.

In 1911 the business was re-incorporated under the same name by Stanley D. Cowperthwaite and Edward S. Harris. In 1912 an ad in Popular Mechanics from this firm featured their "Ballite" spark plugs. The company's history abruptly ends at this point. A 1913 directory put a medical supplies manufacturer at the G. A. Walker Machine Co.'s 1912 address, 51 Chardon St., Boston.

Information Sources

• 1860 Boston Almanac has no listing for G. A. Walker or W. F. Field.
• 1862 Adams, Sampson & Co.'s Boston Directory, page 414: 'Walker George A. machinist, house 46 Bradford".
• 1864 Adams, Sampson, & Co.'s Boston Directory, page 367: "Walker George A. machinist, house 46 Bradford". Machinist Fordyce B. Walker was at the same address. On the same page is "Walker (F. William) & Field (Wm. F.), machinists, 60 Albany, house at Stoneham". On page 130 is listed "Field Wm. F (Walker & Field), 60 Albany, house 5 Pembroke".
• 1864 Boston Almanac has no listing for G. A. Walker or W. F. Field.
• 1865 Report of the Tenth Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, page 20: "G. A. Walker, Boston. Self-Oiling Saw Arbor. A very good device for supplying with oil the bearings of saw arbors. Award... Bronze Medal."
• 1866 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s Boston Directory, page 666, text ad: "Field & Walker, Machinists, and Manufacturers of Portable Engines, Shafting and Pulleys. Also, Model Making, Brass Finishing, and General Jobbing. No. 18 Harvard Place, Opposite Old South Church. / W. F. Field, G. A. Walker. / Boston." Field's individual listing gives his name as William F. Field. Field & Walker are listed under Steam Engines (portable) and Machinery and Tools.
• 1867 Boston Almanac lists, under Machinists, "Field & Walker, 18 Harvard place". There is also a Walker & Field, 60 Albany.
• 1869 Sampson, Davenport & Co.'s Boston Directory, text ad page 1020: "G. A. Walker, Machinist, and Manufacturer of Rice's Patent Saw Mandrels, Shafting and Pulleys, Also Model Making, Brass Finishing and General Jobbing. No. 16 and 18 Harvard Place, Opp. Old South Church, Boston."
• 1873 Sampson, Davenport & Co.'s Boston Directory, page 760, lists "Walker George A. machinists, 9 Green, boards 65 Indiana place".
• 1879 Documents of the City of Boston for the Year 1878, Volume II, City Document No. 52, page 78 (Fire Commissioner's Report): "September... No. 9 to 17 Green street, occupied by G. A. Walker, machinist. Loss, $1,250. Insurance, $6,000."
• 1886 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s Boston Directory, page 1338, under Machinists: "Walker G. A. 35 Sudbury".
• 1889 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, page 1922, text ad: "G. A. Walker Machine Co. / Manufacturers of / Band, Jig and Circular Saw Machines, Cabinet Bench Vises, and General Machine Work of Every Description. / No. 35 Sudbury Street, Boston."
• 1893 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, page 2007, text ad: "G. A. Walker Machine Co. / Manufacturers of / Band, Jig and Circular Saw Machines, Cabinet Bench Vises, and General Machine Work of Every Description. / No. 35 Sudbury Street, Boston."
• 1896 Sampson, Murdock & Co.'s New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, page 1540: "Walker, G. A. Machine Co. (Isaac S. Craig, C. G. Smith, S. F. Gould, J. P. Craig), electrotypers' saw machines, 35 Sudbury". The individual listing show that J. P. Craig was John P. Craig, S. F. Gould was Samuel F. Gould, and C. G. Smith was Charles G. Smith.
• 1904 Boston City Directory, page 1903: "Walker, G. A. Machine Company (Isaac S. Craig, S. F. Gould, J. P. Craig) electrotypers saw machines, 51 Chardon".
• 1911-11-20 Industrial World page viii, in a listing of new corporate charters issued in Massachusetts: "G. A. Walker Machine Company, Boston, $100,000. Stanley D. Cowperthwaite, 9 Spring street, Melrose; Edward S. Harris, Melrose Highlands."