From the 1903 book "Fitchburg Past and Present". Photo is 1870s or '80s.

This maker of woodworking machinery and steam engines was established in 1867, with Sherburn S. Dow as superintendent and Francis Sheldon as president. Steam fire engines were manufactured only from 1870 to 1872, at which time they abandoned that endeavor and established a line of paper-making machinery.

In 1876, the company ceased operations and transferred their assets to Crocker, Burbank & Co., who retained Mr. Dow as superintendent, and continued making machinery under the Union Machine Co. name. The company re-incorporated in 1887, with John Burney as president and S. E. Crocker as treasurer.

In 1923, Union Machine Company merged with Valley City Machine Works and the Grand Rapids Grinding Machine Company, and the resulting firm was called Gallmeyer & Livingston Co. See that entry for subsequent history.

Information Sources

• The 1871-2 Fitchburg Directory identifies numerous residents as employees of Union Machine Co., Water Street, including James Burns (blacksmith), John Cavanaugh (machinist), Charles D. Corser (machinist), Henry A. Dean (machinist), Francis Derby (blacksmith), Charles B. Doherty (machinist), Shelburn S. Dow (superintendent), William H. Dow (machinist), Martin Farrell 2d (moulder), George W. Fernald (machinist), Mathew Flood (blacksmith), Harrison French (machinist), N. L. Gee (machinist), Charles K. Hardy (painter), Edwin P. Jucket (foreman), R. L. Locke (machinist), Charles W. Marble (machinist), Stephen J. Marble (blacksmith), Bartholomew Moran (machinist), Patrick Moran (machinist), Charles H. Nutting (machinist), Michael O'Shea (machinist), William H. Parker (machinist), J. H. Plunkett (coppersmith), Harry H. Reynolds (machinist), George B. Richardson (machinist), Ryan Dennis (machinist), George F. Sabin (secretary), John F. Shea (machinist), John F. Shea 2d (machinist), John K. Shea (machinist), Michael Shea (machinist), Newton Sherman (machinist), Ora H. Skinner (machinist), Frederick M. Smith (machinist), John Strayer (machinist), Ira H. Thurber (foreman), David H. Wilson (coppersmith), and William H. Winchester (machinist). There is an ad on the inside front cover but on the scanned version of this directory the ad is almost entirely obscured by a library label. The company is listed under the categories of Machinists; Paper Machinery; Steam Fire Engine Builders; and Wood-working Machinery.
• 1874 Fitchburg Directory for the Year Commencing May 1, 1874 lists Union Machine Co., 44 and 46 Water, S. S. Dow superintendent. The directory lists employees including Albert E. Bohonnan (carpenter), Charles B. Doherty (machinist), Shelburn S. Dow (superintendent), Mathew Flood (employee), Hiland C. Hitchcock (bookkeeper), Patrick McKenna (employee), Harry H. Reynolds (machinist), George S. Richardson (machinist), and George A. Smith (machinist). The company is listed under the categories of Machinists; Stock Companies (organized 1867, capital $65,000, president George F. Simonds, treasurer Alvin A. Simonds). The company is no longer listed under makers of wood-working machinery. Again, an ad on the inside front cover is not visible in the online scan of this directory.
• The Massachusetts corporate registry database lists this company's first registration as 1875-02-26.
• 1880 Fitchburg Directory for the Year Commencing Jan. 15, 1880 lists Union Machine Co., 44 and 46 Water, S. S. Dow superintendent. The directory lists employees including Edward W. Ackley (machinist), Sherburn S. Dow (superintendent), Patrick McKenna (employee), Harry B. Moore (employee), Isaac P. Osgood (machinist), and George F. Russell (machinist). The company is listed under the categories of Machinists; Stock Companies (organized 1867, capital $65,000, president George F. Simonds, treasurer Alvin A. Simonds). The company is no longer listed under makers of wood-working machinery. Again, an ad on the inside front cover is not visible in the online scan of this directory.
• 1882 Fitchburg Directory for the Year Commencing Jan. 15, 1882 lists Union Machine Co., 120 to 124 Water, S. S. Dow superintendent. The directory lists employees including Nathan E. Ackley (machinist), C. T. Bamford (employee), Lyman R. Bingham (employee), Peter W. Blanchard (employee), John Quincy Dow (machinist), Sherburn S. Dow (superintendent), William H. Dow (machinist), George R. Ford (employee), Patrick McKenna (employee), Harry B. Moore (employee), Dennis Shambro (employee), and John Shea (employee).
• The 1887 book, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Past and Present, by William Andrew Emerson, has the following writeup on this firm:

  THE UNION MACHINE CO. was incorporated in the year 1867, with a capital stock of $60,000, the officers being Francis Sheldon, president; G. S. Burbank, treasurer; S. S. Dow, superintendent. They commenced business by manufacturing machinist tools and doing general repairs, after which wood working machinery was added.

  The manufacture of the "Jucket" steam-engine was introduced in 1870, and carried on for about two years, when it was given up and the manufacture of paper-making machinery of all kinds was commenced, which business is the specialty at the present time.

  In the year 1869, S. E. Crocker was elected treasurer, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of G. S. Burbank; the following year S. E. Crocker resigned the position, in favor of R. R. Conn, who held this trust one year, and was succeeded by Geo. F. Fay who retained the office until 1876, at which time the company wound up its affairs, transferring all stock, etc., to Messrs. Crocker, Burbank & Co., who retained the services of S. S. Dow as superintendent, added new machinery, and continued the building of paper machinery, under the old name of Union Machine Co., in connection with their paper business. In 1882, J. E. Morse was called to fill the position of superintendent, owing to the death of S. S. Dow, which position he held until October, 1887, when a stock company was again formed, with the following officers: John Burney, president; S. E. Crocker, treasurer; and Emmons Crocker, secretary.

  This company again added new and modern machinery and continued the manufacturing of paper machinery, and to-day ranks among the best establishments in this line of business. Their machines are shipped to all parts of the United States, Canada, Japan, etc.

  Mr. Burney, the president, has been for a long time identified with the machine business of Fitchburg.

• 1889 book, History of Worcester County, Massachusetts.

  The Union Machine Co.—This company, whose works are on Water St., was incorporated in 1867, with a capital of $60,000, and at first manufactured machinists' tools. In 1870 the manufacture of hose-carriages and steam fire-engines of the "Jucket" patter was begun, and continued several years.

  The making of paper-machinery was begun about 1873, and since then the company has made this line of work a specialty.

  In 1876 the company transferred its stock, etc., to Crocker, Burbank & Co., who put in new machinery, and continued to build paper machinery under the old name of the company.

  In 1887 a stock company was formed, with these officers; John Burney, president; Samuel E. Crocker, treasurer; Emmons Crocker, secretary. This company also retained the name of Union Machine Co., and put in new machinery. It ranks today among the best establishments of this kinds in this country.

  Special attention is paid to the manufacture of large Fourdrinier and cylinder paper-machines, and the company also makes rag and Jordan engines, screen-plates, and all other kinds of paper-mill machinery.

• June 1902 Modern Machinery.

  The Union Machine Co., Fitchburg, Mass., has been reorganized. The following officers have been elected: Adams Crocker, president and general superintendent; Emmons Crocker, treasurer and manager; A. S. Morse, assistant manager; the above with H. M. Lathrop forms the board of directors.

• 1904 New England Business Directory and Gazetteer lists Union Machine Co., 124 Water, Fitchburg, as a maker of paper machinery. "Union Machine Co., Fitchburg, Capital $50,000. Org. 1886. Adams Crocker, Pres. Emmons Crocker, Treas. and Mgr. Paper mill machinery."
• The March 1907 issue of Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada mentions a Fourdrinier paper machine and a Jordan engine, both from this maker.
• The 1909-12-16 issue of The Iron Age has an ad from used machinery dealer Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, including a 20x8 engine lathe from this maker.
• The 1913 Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures lists this firm at 124 Water St., Fitchburg, and classifies it under "Foundry and Machine-shop Products". There was a "Union Foundry Co." at the same address. There was an unrelated Union Machine Company in Worcester.
• 1921-09-15 American Machinist.

  The Reliance Machine and Specialty Co., of Boston, Mass., has been combined with the Union Machine Co., of Fitchburg. Mass. The Jamaica plant of the former company will be moved to Fitchburg where it will be established in the Union Works in that city. The manufacture of self-lubricating bushings and bearings will be continued under the new arrangement.