This firm was established in 1857 as William M. Hawes & Co., which became Hawes Machine Co. in 1871. Among their products they manufactured metalworking lathes, hand lathes, planers and other machine tools. It appears that the business gradually switched to buying and selling machinery rather than manufacturing it. The business wound down in 1892 upon Mr. Hawes' retirement.

Information Sources

• 1868 letterhead from Wm. M. Hawes & Co., "Manufacturers of Lathes, Planers, Boring Mills, Shaping Machines, Upright Drills, &c." The partners in the business were Wm. M. Hawes and N. P. Eddy. An 1866 drill press patent was granted to Nelson P. Eddy and assigned in part to William M. Hawes.
• The Massachusetts corporate registry database lists the first registration of Hawes Machine Co. of Fall River as 1871-03-31.
• Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, published by J. H. Beers & Co., 1912.

  William M. Hawes, son of Oliver Snow, was born in Fall River March 1, 1833, and spent his entire life in his native place. After attending the public schools he entered, early in his teens, the machine shop of [cotton machinery makers] Hawes, Marvel & Davol, where he learned the trade of machinist, remaining in that establishment until 1857. At that time he began the manufacture of machinery on his own account, as a member of the firm of William M. Hawes & Co., which a few years later became the Hawes Machine Company. In time he became engaged in the machinery brokerage business, buying and selling all kinds of machinery, and so continued to the end of his active life, disposing of his interests in this line in August, 1892, when he retired. ...

• American Lathe Builders: 1810-1910 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2001 page 76