This firm was in business from the 1860s until 1983. In the 1870s they made a clamp-on drill that was operated by hand-power. The drill was primarily intended for metal work.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Phil Sponem for reporting the existence of a drill from this maker.
• Patent records provide some insight into products and years of activity.
• The 1864-07-16 issue of Scientific American had the following piece on the front page:

  WORKMEN, BE CAREFUL!—R. M. Davenport, while making a pattern in a lathe, at the works of J. Hunter & Co., at North Adams, Mass., had the chisel thrown out of the position in which he was holding it with such force that it entered his abdomen and made a wound which caused death in a few hours. This is the third sudden death which has occurred among the workmen in that establishment during the past eight weeks.

• The 1866-06-26 issue of Scientific American carrried an ad for the Gillespie Governor Company of Boston that names James Hunter & Co. as a reference.
• The March 1882 issue of Manufacturer & Builder has a brief item that says, "James Hunter & Son, of North Adams, Mass., have decided to erect a new factory."
• The 1885 book, History of North Adams, Mass. 1749—1885, by W. F. Spear, says the following:

        In the fall of 1847 James Hunter bought the patterns, tools, etc., of the foundry of Mason B. Green, then located in front of the Phoenix mill. In the spring of 1848 David Temple and Abel Wetherbee bought an interest, and the business was conducted under the firm name of James Hunter and Co. During the summer of that year they started, in connection with this foundry at North Adams, another at Adams. During the winter of 1848-9 Mr. Temple withdrew from the firm, taking the Adams property.
        In 1849 James Hunter and Abel Wetherbee purchased the house and lot near Main street bridge. The land where the furnace now stands was then a low marsh; they filled it up and erected a foundry building 76 x 40 feet and two stories high. The whole outlay was about $3500. Mr. Wetherbee sold his interest the same year to Daniel and Stillman M. Thayer. In 1850 Joseph D. Clark purchased a part of James Hunter’s interest, and the firm was known as Hunter, Thayer & Co. They run a grist mill for a short time, then displaced it, putting in a planing machine and made boxes. In 1855 the planing machine was removed, in order that the machine shop might be started. This was started on a small scale, having only one engine and one drilling lathe. In the same year, in connection with the furnace and other business, they erected a store for the sale of merchandise, and kept also a general assortment of bar iron, steel, etc. In 1856 Daniel Thayer sold his interest to the other partners. In 1857 J. D. Clark and S. M. Thayer sold their interest to James E. Hunter and Martin C. Jewett. The firm became James Hunter & Co.
        The business had gradually increased until, in 1885, it is the largest foundry in the county, and one of the largest in the state, the firm being known as James Hunter & Son.

• An envelope with the logo of the James Hunter Machine Co. has a postmark of 1911-08-04.
• An undated postcard shows the "Hunter Machine Works, North Adams, Mass."
• Correspondent John Payson informed us that this firm operated until 1983 when it was pushed into bankruptcy by a product liability lawsuit. Some parts and support are still available from Morrison Berkshire.