This business allegedly traces its roots back to 1844, but there is good evidence that J. M. Marston started making machinery no earlier than 1868; its "modern" incarnation as J. M. Marston & Co. began operations in about 1872. They made hand- and foot-powered machinery of ornate design. The owner was John Morrill Marston, Sr.

Ad from November 1883 "Carpentry and Building"

John's son, Irving Gill Marston, was involved with the company but by the late 1880s had also set up his own business, I. G. Marston & Co., that apparently operated out of the same building. In 1889, I. G. Marston was granted a tablesaw patent that was assigned to his company. Since the 1870s J. M. Marston & Co. had a sideline in leather washers, but after 1900 the washer business became the main focus of the son's business. Sometime after 1909, it seems that J. M. Marston & Co. was absorbed into the son's company and the woodworking machinery business was wound down.

I. G. Marston Co., Inc., of Holbrook, MA, continues as a family-run business making non-metallic washers.

Information Sources

• 1848: The 1848 Boston Directory has thirteen entries under Marston but none for a J. M. Marston. There is no listing for any makers of hand- or foot-powered machinery.
• 1856: The 1856 Boston Directory has thirteen entries under Marston but none for a J. M. Marston. There is no listing for any makers of hand- or foot-powered machinery.
• 1865: The 1865 Adams, Sampson & Co.'s Boston Directory does not contain any listing for a J. M. Marston.
• 1867: The 1867 Boston Directory has thirty entries under Marston but none for a J. M. Marston. One entry of possible interest reads, "Marston John & Co., (J. W. Marston, A. Winsor and J. M. Marston), fish, 1 Lewis Wharf and 227 Commercial, house at Lynn". Another entry reads, "Marston Irving G., clerk, 67 Commercial wharf, boards at Roxbury." There is no listing for any makers of hand- or foot-powered machinery.
• 1868: The 1868 Sampson, Davenport & Co.'s Boston Directory lists "Marston John M., carpenter, 6 Taber, house Cliff", and "Marston Irving G., clerk, 67 Commercial wharf".
• 1869: The 1869 Sampson, Davenport & Co.'s Boston Directory lists "Marston John M., carpenter, and manuf. of hand-power splitting saw, 6 Taber, house 54 Cliff".
• 1870: The 1870 Sampson & Murdock Co.'s Boston Directory lists "Marston John M., carpenter, and manuf. of handpower splitting saw, 6 Taber, house 54 Cliff"
• 1872: The 1872 Sampson & Murdock Co.'s Boston Directory lists "Marston John M. & Son, (I. G. Marston), carpenters and manuf. of handpower splitting saws, 6 Taber, house 54 Cliff".
• 1876: Listed in a work published by the United States Centennial Commission, Official Catalog of the 1876 International Exhibition: "Marston, J. M., 6 Taber St., Boston, Mass. Combined hand and foot circular sawing, boring, and mitreing machines."
• 1887: Since about 1872, based on an 1887 article in Scientific American.
• 1890: Ad in the September, 1890 of issue of Carpentry and Building magazine: "J. M. Marston & Co, Lenox St. Boston, MA (Marston's Hand and Foot-Power Machinery, Circular Saw, Band Saw."
• 1890-1894: 1890 mention, and 1893-1894 ads in Manufacturer & Builder.
• The back cover of ShopNotes #25 shows a Marston saw that is at the Des Moines Living History Farms. The saw is claimed to be from 1873, and its casting reads, "J. M. Marston & Co., Boston Highlands, Mass. / hand and foot saw."
• 1895: Flyer that reads, "1895 / Established in 1844. / MARSTON'S Patent Hand and Foot and Steam Power MACHINERY. / Manufactured by J. M. MARSTON & CO., 226, 228, and 230 Ruggles Street, BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A." Thanks to Steve Watkin for forwarding us this material, which is in the Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California at Santa Barbara. The collection includes a catalog and sales letter as well.
• 1897/1907:An entry in our Photo Index, showing catalog pages from 1897 and 1907.
• 1901: The 1901 edition of Science and Industry: "J. M. Marston & Co., 226, 228, and 230 Ruggles Street, Boston, Mass. This describes the Marston hand- and foot-power circular and band saws. Information with respect to details, prices, etc. is given for the benefit of those interested."
• 1909: J. M. Marston was listed in 1909 Iron Age Directory.
• According to a genealogical website, the eponymous Marston was John Morrill Marston, Sr., born 5 July 1818 in Portland, ME. The company address is given as 3 Appleton Street, Boston. A son, George Henry Marston of Roxbury, MA, is described as "a carpenter and a manufacturer of handpower machine frames with J. M. Marston & Co."
• I. G. Marston Co.'s website says that they have been in business since 1844. Their "About Us" page says, "The I. G. Marston Co. was founded in 1844 as a manufacturer of hand and foot powered saws, located then in Boston. Through the years our company diversified, and has been manufacturing precision non-metallic and flexible washers since the mid 1870’s. After more than twelve decades of servicing our customers from the Boston address, we moved in 1968 to our present facility in Holbrook."
• 2009-06-02 email from Sarah Piercy: "John M. Marston was I.G. Marston's father. As far as it's been told to me, John started the table saw business and Irving (I.G.) worked with him. Eventually I.G. felt that the company need to change direction and began making leather washers and changed the company name to his own. Today we still make washers (and gaskets) out of all non-metallic materials. The business has been passed down through the family over the years. My grandmother was a Marston but her father had two girls so that's where the Marston name ended. My grandmother married a Piercy. He ran the business for a few years and other family members filled in until my father took over in the mid 1980s. My father passed away about 4 years ago and the business is now being carried on by my mother and I, and my brother works here as well."