Founded in 1899, Stockbridge Machine Co. made mostly shapers and knife grinders, including an early version of the "Quicsharp grinder", which was later made by A B Manufacturing Co. Arthur Beaman was the treasurer and co-owner of Stockbridge Machine Co., and he later established A B Manufacturing Co.

Information Sources

• The 1919 book, History of Worcester and its people, Volume 3, by Charles Nutt.

  RADFORD STOCKBRIDGE, President of the Stockbridge Machine Company, was born in West Peru. Maine, May 24, 1851, son of Abijah W. and Joanna (Jones) Stockbridge. His father was a carpenter and contractor.

  John Stockbridge, grandfather of Radford Stockbridge, was a native of Freeport, Maine; his wife was a descendant of Henry Sampson, who came in the "Mayflower." (See Worcester County Genealogy, p. 341, Vol. iv).

  John Stockbridge, Sr., father of John Stockbridge, was a soldier in the Revolution, enlisting in the Continental Army from Sutton, Massachusetts. He was born at Hanover, Massachusetts, settled in Freeport, Maine, and later in Byron. He was of the fourth generation from the first of the family in this country, John Stockbridge, who was born in England, coming to Massachusetts in the ship "Blessing" in June, 1635, and locating at Scituate, where he had later an interest in a saw mill and grist mill. The pioneer's house was used for garrison purposes in King Philip's War. Charles Stockbridge, second in the line, was also a mill owner in Scituate and Plymouth, and his son, Thomas Stockbridge, the third in the line, was also a miller. Nearly all the paternal ancestors of Mr. Stockbridge were millers or men with mechanical trades, though most of them also owned farms. He is descended from a large number of the early settlers of New England in both paternal and maternal lines.

  Radford Stockbridge attended the district schools of his native town and Auburn, Maine, where his father lived after 1862. In the spring of 1866 he began to learn the trade of machinist in the shop of A. J. Whitman, at Lewiston, Maine. At the age of eighteen he entered the employ of Goodnow & Wightman, manufacturers of hardware and tools, Boston, but two years later returned to Auburn. He was employed by the Lewiston Machine Company, and other industries in that section until he came tothis city in the fall of 1879. He began his career in Worcester in the employ of David' W. Pond, manufacturer of machine tools, at the corner of Union and Exchange streets. After two years he went to Wight & Powell, manufacturers of lathes and machine tools, Hermon street, and later to Charles G. Washburn, manufacturer of wire goods, Allen Court, and at that time he was the only machinist employed there.

  While with Mr. Washburn's Wire Goods Company, Mr. Stockbridge perfected a machine for cutting gimlet-pointed screws on wire goods. He also built an automatic eye-machine for making screw-eyes which produced ninety a minute. After three years he left to enter the employ of the F. E. Reed Company, makers of lathes and machine tools, No. 116 Gold street, but soon afterward went to the A. M. Powell Machine Tool Company to take charge of the plant on Union street, remaining with that concern until it was sold to the L. W. Pond Machine Company in the fall of 1886, and afterward serving the new owners as superintendent until the end of the year, when he became superintendent of the works of the London Machine Tool Company, at London, Ontario, Canada. This company made lathes, planers, drills, shapers, and milling machines. While there, he designed and built a new style of planer. Returning to this city in 1888 he was for a time at the Washburn Shops of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and assisted Milton P. Higgins in rigging a hydraulic elevator. He also designed a new engine lathe for the school. Afterward he was with the H. C. Pease Company in charge of the gear-cutting department, and later in charge of the works. During his connection with this concern the force was increased from fifteen to eighty men.

  Leaving Worcester again, he bought an interest in the Goddard Machine Company, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, but six months later sold his share to his partner and entered the employ of Bemis Brothers in this city. They were then making a turret lathe, but soon afterward gave up business. He then worked on a new lathe that William F. Bancroft & Company were perfecting, and his device for a driver made the machine a success and is still used in this style of lathe. In 1896 Mr. Stockbridge went to Ashland, Massachusetts, and conducted a general machine shop on his own account. Later he came to the Norton Emery Wheel Company in this city, and then to the Marcus Mason Company, Union street. In 1899 he began to build special machinery in a shop at No. 54 Hermon street. He designed a speed lathe for which he found a ready market, but neglected to patent it, and soon found it appropriated by another manufacturer. Here he designed also the Stockbridge two-piece crank shaper. In 1900 he was obliged to move to secure larger quarters and he located at No. 116 Gold street. In 1901 he occupied a large two-story factory at No. 3 Maud street, near Park avenue and Chandler street. His factory is now at No. 68 Abbott street, and employs about sixty hands. His business was incorporated as the Stockbridge Machine Company, of which he is president. The present officers are: John W. Harrington, vice-president; and Arthur W. Beaman, treasurer. Peter Wood, formerly president, sold his interests in 1903 to Mr. Stockbridge and Arthur W. Beaman, who became treasurer. The leading product of the company, the two-piece crank shaper, is built to withstand every requirement of the modern machine shop and it has been highly successful.

  Mr. Stockbridge is a member of Morning Star Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Worcester Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Quinsigamond Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Worcester Metal Trades' Association; the National Machine Tool Builders' Association; and of Pilgrim Congregational Church. In politics he has always been a Republican.

  < p>Mr. Stockbridge married, July 11, 1875, Ida A. Merrill, daughter of Major and Sarah (Stevens) Merrill, of Auburn, Maine. She was born at Auburn, January 10, 1858. They have six children: 1. Ernest Leroy, born at Auburn, Maine, September 1, 1877, is a machinist by trade; married Grace Halcott, of this city. 2. Perley Thurston, born at Auburn, Maine, December 28, 1878, is a machinist by trade; married Amy Buck. 3. Radford Merrill, born here, May 23, 1880, died August 19, 1888. 4. Fred Merrill, born here, August 24, 1881, is a machinist by trade; married Mabel Hosmer, of this city. 5. George Lewis, born here, September 18, 1886. now of Flushing, Long Island; married Grace Rich. 6. Ralph Irving, born December 23, 1893, died August 29, 1901, at Middleton, Massachusetts. Mr. Stockbridge's home is at No. 481 Lake avenue.