In 1854 Farley B. Gilman opened a machine shop in Springfield, Vermont, operating as F. B. Gilman, making a patent scythe-snath. In 1861 he took Frederick V. A. Townsend as partner, the business becoming Gilman & Townsend and operating out of the Gilman Mill. They began making wood-turning lathes and pattern lathes used for making axe-handles, spokes and the like. At some point Gilman developed a lathe that was specially adapted for making shoe lasts. The first machine proved to be successful. Further improvements followed, and last-turning lathes became the business's specialty. They also manufactured rotary shears for cutting iron, though metal-working machinery was never an important part of their business. The Gilman and Townsend partnership lasted until at least 1894 when Townsend retired and was replaced by Gilman's son, Wilbert F. Gilman; the business became Gilman & Son. By 1895 the company employed 16. The senior Gilman died in 1901.

In 1909 the business was acquired by W. W. Slack, the business name remaining unchanged. In 1912 a fire destroyed the Gilman & Son plant, idling 40 workers until it could be rebuilt. In 1916 the business was acquired by the Fitz-Empire Double Pivot Last Co., of Rochester, NY, a company that seems to have existed solely to own and license patents. The Gilman & Co. business continued as a separate entity from Fitz-Empire. It appears that Fitz-Empire, along with Gilman & Co., were acquired by the United Shoe Machinery Corp., but we have not been able to confirm this.

Information Sources

• 1865 New England Business Directory, page 268, lists Gilman & Townsend as machinists.
• 1871 Walton's Vermont Register, page 94, lists "Gilman & Townsend, machinists and iron".
• 1883 New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, page 402, lists Gilman & Townsend as makers of Last Machines and of Lathes. On page 443 they are listed as Wood Lathe Manufacturers. On page 1682 is a small text ad: "Gilman & Townsend, Manufacturers of Lathes For Turning Lasts, Hat Blocks, Axe Helves, Spokes, And other Irregular Forms. Bench & Jack Screws, Rotary Shears and Iron Cutters, Shafting, Pulleys, Hangers, and General Machine Works, Done to Order. Springfield, Vermont."
• 1883-4 Hamilton Child's Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., page 491: "GILLMAN & TOWNSEND, (F. B. Gilman and F. V. A. Townsend) manufacturers of lathes for turning lasts, hat blocks, axletrees, spokes, and other irregular forms, cider-mill bench and jack screws, and general machine work done, shop River." On page 498, "Townsend Frederick V. A. (Gilman & Townsend) h Elm."
• History of Windsor county, Vermont, 1891 pages 461 & 462.

  Gilman & Townsend

  As previously stated in this work, on the site occupied by these parties, there was originally carried on the manufacture of shoe-pegs. Ira and Isaac Davis, who were connected with this industry, began, about 1850, to manufacture locks of various descriptions suitable for banks, dwellings, etc., which had been invented by D. M. Smith, who was associated with them in business. This venture proved unsuccessful, and on March 18, 1853, the property was sold to Farley B. Gilman, who in connection with Isaac Davis ran a job machine shop. In the following year Mr. Davis retired. For a number of years a patent scythe-snath, the invention of Pinckney Frost, was manufactured. About this time Mr. Gilman helped to make a machine for turning shoe-lasts, which was sent to Canada. It was there seen in successful operation by an interested party, who soon after ordered a similar one made. This was sent to Boston, and, upon its being pronounced the best machine for the purpose in the market, Mr. Gilman began improving and making the same. The manufacture has been continued uninterruptedly up to the present date, various improvements having been made from time to time. In 1884 Mr. Gilman was successful in producing a lathe that turns both rights and lefts with perfect accuracy from a single model, by the simple change of a gear.

  The lathes find a ready market throughout the United States, and in European and other foreign countries. The firm also manufactured a rotary shears for cutting sheet iron, steel, brass, etc., which is used by last-makers and others, and they also do a general jobbing business.

  The present buildings were erected in 1869. Employment is given to ten hands, the annual production being about $15,000.

• 1894 Johnston's Electrical and Street Railway Directory, page 267, lists "Gilman & Townsend" in Springfield.
• Carriage and Wagon Makers Machinery and Tools by Kenneth L. Cope, 2004 page 100.
• Findagrave.com pages on Farley B. Gilman and Wilbert Farley Gilman.