Reid Brothers Co. Inc. made surface grinders and grinding fixtures.

They were in Beverly, MA at 59 Park St. from 1900 until 1930, moving into a new plant in 1930 at 138-140 Elliott St. started by Andrew S. (1877-1957) and Robert Reid (1885-1943).They were last here about 1978 and were moved to New Hampshire and eventually absorbed by larger companies.

Leland-Gifford, Inc. has purchased the Reid Surface Grinder line from Fayscott Co. (Dexter, Maine). The machine line's history traces back to Reid Brothers Co. (Beverly, Mass.), founded in 1900 to serve the local shoemaking industry. The first Reid surface grinder was built in 1914 for precision production demanded by the impending World War, and grinder demand exploded in the late 1930s and early 1940s, again for war production. In 1967 when orders exceeded the Reid plant capacity, production was contracted to Fayscott Co. The grinders continued there through Fayscott's 1982 merger with Bullard and then White Consolidated Industries. In 1986 White sold Fascott to its local managers, and construction of the Reid grinders--along with Lees-Bradner gear hobbers--continued until earlier this year.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Gary Thomas for information about this company.
• The Massachusetts corporate registry database lists Reid Brothers Co.'s first registration as 1918-03-26.
• At one time parts for Reid surface grinders were available from Barker Mills; however, that firm disappeared and now parts are available from Leland-Gifford Products, LLC.
• Directory of Metalworking Machinery, 1951, pg. 36