Edwin Harrington, having learned the machinist trade in Fitchburg and Clinton, Mass., began manufacturing in Worcester by about 1854. In 1856 he was junior partner in the firm of Rice & Harrington, manufacturing organ reeds. By 1866 he was partner in Kniffen & Harrington, manufacturing mowing machines; that firm is best remembered as having invented a new and successful hay fork with integrated knife. It seems likely that he during this Worcester era, Harrington began manufacturing machine tools in a small way but so far we have not found direct evidence for that. A key piece of indirect evidence is that in 1867, before moving to Philadelphia he sold his business to prominent Worcester machine tool maker Lucius W. Pond.

Early on, the firm's specialty was engine lathes and vertical drilling machines. They also made plain lathes, punches, shears, tapping machines, and lathe chucks. They also developed a specialty in hoisting machines, elevators and overhead cranes.

In 1923 they changed their name to The Harrington Co., and then in 1928 they sold their machine tool business to Consolidated Machine Tool Corp. of America, having already shifted their focus to hoists. They remain in business under the name of Harrington Hoists, Inc.

From 1913-01-02 American Machinist

Information Sources

• 1867 McElroy's Philadelphia Directory has no listings for Edwin Harrington or Harry S. Haskins or "Harrington & Haskins". We have not found any Philadelphia directories from between 1868 and 1887 inclusive that are available online.
• 1868-01-04 Scientific American (New Series Vol. XVIII No. 1, page 14, classified ad: "Engines Lathes, A Specialty, from new patterns of superior style and workmanship. Machinists' Tools generally. Cor. 15th st. and Pennsylvania Ave., Phila., Pa. HARRINGTON & HASKINS."
• 1868-02-15 American Railroad Journal (Vol. XXIV No. 7, page 171, small text ad: "Harrington & Haskins, Manufacturer of Machinists' Tools Of the latest and most approved styles. Factory—Northwest cor. of 15th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., (late Willow St.) Philadelphia".
• 1868-12-12 American Railroad Journal (Vol. XXIV No. 50, page 1252, small text ad: "Harrington & Haskins, Manufacturer of Engine Lathes Of the latest and most approved styles. Factory—Northwest cor. of 15th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., (late Willow St.) Philadelphia".
• 1871-07-29 The Railroad Gazette, page 208.

  Edwin Harrington—is another Philadelphia manufacturer of machinists' tools. His specialty is lathes, and we hope soon to give an engraving of his improved rocker-shaft lathe, which has some improvements and is a very convenient and efficient tool. By making a specialty of one kind of machinery he is able to furnish it at the lowest prices. Those who have used his lathes speak very favorably of them.

• 1871-08-05 The Railroad Gazette, page IX, text ad: "Edwin Harrington, Manufacturer of the celebrated Rocker Shaft and other styles of Engine and Hand Lathes; Also, Upright Drills and other Iron Working Machinery from new and improved patterns. Corner of North 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia."
• 1872-02-24 The Railroad Gazette, in a description of the shops of the Grant Locomotive Works.

  In the machine shop we noticed several new and improved tools, especially a large frame slotter built by Wm. B. Bement & Son, and a rocker-shaft lathes by Edwin Harrington, of Philadelphia. The peculiar arrangement of this latter tools is the attachment for turning the arms of rocker shafts. This consists of a crank shaft, located immediately under the main shaft or spindle of the lathes, which is driven from ordinary back gearing. The crank on this shaft is connected by a rod to a pin attached to the face-plate, which thus receives a reciprocating motion instead of revolving, as it ordinarily does. The tool-post as an attachment similar to that on a planer, so that the tool will raise up on the return stroke. The object aimed at with this machine is to economize the time which would be lost in turning up the arms of rocker-shafts if they were obliged to make a complete revolution.

• 1872 >American Railway Officials' Annual, page 95, display ad: "Edwin Harrington, Manufacturer of Engine Lathes, Hand Lathes, Upright Drills, Punching and Shearing Machines for Cutting Iron, from New and Improved Patterns. Cor. of North Fifteenth St. & Pennsylvania Ave., Philadelphia."
• May 1878 Travelers' Official Railway Guide has a display ad: "Upright Drills. New patterns. Geared Head, Three-change Geared Feed for Hand and Power, Quick return to Spindle. A splendid tool cheap. Send for Circular. Edwin Harrington & Son, Manufacturers of Machinists' Tools and Patent Portable Screw Hoisting Machines, With which One Man can hoist from 2000 to 8000 lbs., According to size of Machine. Cor. of N. 15th St. & Penna. Ave., Philadelphia, Pa."
• 1879 patent no. 220,144 was granted to Edwin Harrington and assigned to "Edwin Harrington & Son".
• 1887 Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory lists "Harrington, Edwin, Son & Co., Penna av c N 15th" under Elevators; Hoisting Machines; Machinists; Machinists' Tools, Overhead Railways; Overhead Turntable and Switch; Pulley Blocks (Chain).
• 1891 History of Windsor County, Vermont, ed. Lewis Cass Aldrich, and Frank R. Holmes, page 857.

  Harrington, Edwin, was born in Stockbridge, April 4, 1825, the second in a family of eight children of Enoch and Lucinda (Davis) Harrington... Edwin Harrington passed his minority in Stockbridge, receiving his primary education in the district school, and completing a business education in a business college at Worcester, Mass. At the age of twenty he left home and went to Fitchburg, Mass., where he commenced to learn the machinist trade, remaining there one year. He continued to work at his trade, first at Clinton, Mass., then at Worcester, Mass., up to 1867. He then removed to Philadelphia, where he built up one of the most extensive machine manufactories in the country, employing in its different departments 250 men. A number of the machines manufactured were his own patents, such as portable hooists, overhead tramways, lathes, planes and drills. Mr. Harrington continued at the head of the business until 1889. In August of that year he received a stroke of paralysis, which compelled his withdrawal from active business, and from the effect of which he has not recovered. The business at Philadelphia is now carried on by his sons, under the firm name of Edwin Harrington, Sons & Co. In 1890 Mr. Harrington built a fine residence in Bethel, and makes his home there...

• April 1899 The Foundry (Vol. 14 No. 80, page 93, "Deaths".

  Edwin LeRoy Harrington died at his home in Germantown, Pa., on March 18, of pneumonia, aged 45 years. He was formerly in business with his father, in Philadelphia, under the firm name of Edwin Harrington & Co. For the last eight years he has not been in active business.

• 1893 Philadelphia Securities, page 105: "Edwin Harrington, Son & Co., Incorporated, Gen'l and Corporate Office, 1505 Penna. ave. Inc. July 31, 1893 in Pa. Charter Perp'l. Capital auth. $260,000, par $100; Full paid. Manufacture machine tools. Dividends none yet paid. M. H. Harrington, Treas. Directors—Harry S. Haskins, M. H. Harrington, Edwin L. Harrington."
• 1903 Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, pages 320 and following (includes a full-page portrait).

  Edwin Harrington

  Edwin Harrington, for many years a leading manufacturer of Worcester, Massachusetts, and later extensively engaged in the same line of business in Philadelphia, belonged, both by birth and descent, to the Green Mountain state, his father, Enoch Harrington, having been a farmer in the town of Stockbridge, Vermont, on what is known as "Davis Hill." He married Lucinda Davis, and was the father of a large family.

  Edwin Harrington, son of Enoch and Lucinda (Davis) Harrington, was born in Stockbridge, Vermont, where he received a rudimentary education in the common schools, and later attended a business college. He learned the trade of a machinist in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and afterward removed to Worcester, where he became engaged in manufacturing reeds for organs, and became junior member of the firm of Rice & Harrington, who conducted a very extensive business.... his manufacturing was later made to include the making of sewing machines, in which he was associated with J. C. Almsby. They continued in the business until Mr. Harrington sold out to L. W. Pond, and went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the machinery business, building up a very large establishment, which gave employment to two hundred men. He was the inventor of many of the machines he manufactured, and the author of a number of important patents. Among them was that of an extension lathe, which had an immense sale throughout the country.

  Mr. Harrington, previous to his retirement from business, made a visit to Bethel in order to recuperate his health, which had been somewhat impaired by too close application to his duties. After a brief rest he returned to Philadelphia, where he continued in business until failing health forced him to retire. He then decided to build a summer residence in Bethel, but while the builsing was in process of erection he suffered a paralytic stroke. Mr. Harrington lived less than a year after the attach which prostrated him, passing away September 23, 1891. He had previously been a remarkably strong man, was handsome both in face and figure....

  Mr. and Mrs. Harrington [née Mary E. Holland] were the parents of three children: Melvin H., born September 21, 1849; Edwin L., born September 12, 1854, at Worcester, Massachusetts; and Mary Ella, Born October 12, 1867, died in the thirteenth year of her age, August 28, 1870, in Philadelphia; Nellie L (an adopted daughter) was born February 10, 1872, in Philadelphia. Melvin H., the eldest, was educated in a business college at Worcester, Massachusetts, and succeeded his father in the machine business in Philadelphia, the establishment being conducted under the old name of Edwin Harrington, Son & Company. He resides in Germantown, and married, May 16, 1877, Mary E. Hobbs, of Worcester, Massachusetts... Edwin L. Harrington was educated in the Worcester high school, from which he graduated, and in the Worcester Business College. He then learned the machinist's trade, and became identified with his father's business...

• May 1910 The Journal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Vol. 32 No. 6, page 16, Necrology column.

  Harry S. Haskins

  Harry S. Haskins, Associate Member of the Society, died at his home in Philadelphia on March 13, 1910. Mr. Haskins was born in Moretown, Vt., March 5, 1834, and at the age of twelve entered the machinists trade, first with Edwin Harrington and later with the Junction Shop, both in Worcester, Mass., where his family had moved. When Mr. Harrington went to Philadelphia to engage in the building of machine tools, , Mr. Haskins accompanied him, and soon afterwards the partnership of Harrington & Haskins was formed, which later became the firm of Edwin Harrington, Sons & Co. On the death of Mr. Harrington, the business became incorporated, with Mr. Haskins as president, an office which he retained until the time of his retirement in 1900. Through his mechanical ability and inventy faculty he added many improvements to the gear-cutting machines, hoists and overhanging railways manufactured by the firm.

• American Lathe Builders: 1810-1910 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2001 page 74.
• The lathes.co.uk page on Harrington lathes has some wonderful images of Harrington slide lathes circa 1900.
• The history page on the Harrington website contains some information, though some of the history related to making machine tools is inaccurate. It does provide useful information on the later history of the business.