In 1855 Burt, Wright & Co. was established by George E. Burt and George Wright, specializing in agricultural machinery. A couple of years later, Wright accepted other employment and left the partnership. In 1864 Edwin A. Hildreth joined with Burt and the firm operated as Burt, Hildreth & Co., the firm specializing in horse-powered machinery and horse powers (devices for extracting power from horses or other draft animals). The evidence suggests that Burt was a good inventor and mechanic but not a good businessman and the business failed to thrive. An 1883 biography of Mr. Burt celebrated his machine design skills but then delivered this burn: "It is rare that inventive talent is accompanied by those business qualifications that ensure large financial success, and Mr. Burt is not exceptional in this respect."

It is likely that Hildreth's brother, Stanley B. Hildreth, joined the firm at some point. In 1880, they left that partnership and established Hildreth Brothers in direct competition with their old firm, which continued under the name of George E. Burt. Hildreth Brothers built horse powers, saw tables, and especially a wood-splitting machine for making firewood. It appears that, like Burt, Wright & Co. before them, they licensed some of their designs to others, notably Ames Plow Co.

The Hildreth Brothers firm survived until at least 1915.

Information Sources

• 1856 The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer lists "Burt, Wright & Co., Harvard", under "Machinists", Hose Power Machine Makers".
• 1858 Annual Report of the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture lists winning exhibitors at the State Exhibition, including "Burt, Wright & Co., Harvard, for best Single Horse-Power, $10... The single horse-power presented by Burt, Wright & Co., of Harvard, appeared to your committee superior to any other examined. It runs with a more uniform and even motion, avoiding the jerking motion so common in this class of machines, and so wearing to the horse. The iron rail upon which the rollers traverse, describes the figure of an ellipse. By a slight deviation from the elliptic form, near the ends of the ellipse, the jerking motion is obviated. The gudgeons upon which the rollers play, are furnished with a collar of chilled iron, which prevents, in a great measure, the friction, and consequently the wear. The whole machine appears to be faithfully made, and is very compact and highly finished."
• 1861-04-01 Sacramento Daily Union
• 1865 New England Business Directory and Gazetteer lists "Burt G. E. Harvard" under "Agricultural Implement Manufacturers". The same volume lists "ROLLINS BENJAMIN F (manufacturer of Burt, Wright & Co.'s patent power; also Burt's last improved patent horse power, with separators,) St. Johnsbury".
• History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts: 1732-1893, by Henry Stedman Nourse, 1894, has these tidbits.

  Of manufactories [in 1885] there were two of agricultural implements, George E. Burt's and that of the Hildreth Brothers...

  Harvard's representatives in the Massachusetts Legislature... 1883. Edwin Alonzo Hildreth. ... 1890 Stanley Barbour Hildreth.

  Justices of the Peace... 1869. Edwin Alonzo Hildreth ... 1883. Stanley Barbour Hildreth...

  The firm of Benjamin K. Park and Isaac N. Stone here introduced machinery for sawing slate and marble, and conducted business successfully for about fifteen years. The property was deeded to George E. Burt and George Wright, machinists, in 1855. About the same time Mr. Burt acquired from Edward W. Winslow a small batting-mill, or carding-shop, which stood on the north side of the highway by the brookside. Under the title of Burt, Wright and Company the firm carried on the business of manufacturing agricultural machinery for two or three years when Mr. Wright removed to Clinton and entered the employ of the Clinton Wire Cloth Company. In 1864, shortly after graduating at the Lawrence Scientific School, Edwin A. Hildreth became associated with Burt. Burt, Hildreth and Company were chiefly engaged in the making of horse-power machines. Since 1880 Mr. Burt has conducted the business by himself, until failing health destroyed his ability to labor, employing from three to five hands. His works have been closed during the past year. He has patented numerous mechanical devices, chiefly improvements in farming implements. His "American hay tedder," manufacture by the Ames Plough Company, has been sold by thousands, and his patent horse-rake and improved horse-power have been widely used. On these he received a royalty, selling the rights of manufacture to others. It is rare that inventive talent is accompanied by those business qualifications that ensure large financial success, and Mr. Burt is not exceptional in this respect.

  Edwin A. Hildreth left the firm of Burt, Hildreth and Company in 1881, and with his brother, Stanley B. Hildreth, began the manufacture of horse-power machinery, etc., by a steam-driven plant in a shop built near his residence. The Hildreth Brothers have created a prosperous business, employing six hands, and selling finished products to the amount of about ten thousand dollars annually. The chief articles manufactured by them are saw tables and a "power-axe" or wood-splitter, patented by them.

• The document Twenty thousand rich New Englanders: a list of taxpayers who were assessed in 1888 to pay a tax on one hundred dollars or more lists this firm has having paid taxes of $1040 on $10,000 in income.
• The 1912 Annual report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts mentions Hildreth Brothers as having asked for advice concerning their well.
• The 1914 edition of the Farm Implement News Buyer's Guide lists Hildreth Bros., Harvard, as makers of "Wood splitters, scrap cutters and wood sawing machines."
• The January 1915 edition of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review, an alumni magazine, had the following item about a member of their class of 1901.

  H. E. Hildreth is junior partner of the firm of Hildreth Brothers, manufacturers of woodworking machinery. He is secretary of the Cosmopolitan Trust Company of Boston, and a director of the Waltham Watch Company. He resides in Harvard, Mass.

• The 1917 edition of Building and Engineering Trades Reference Book of Massachusetts and Rhode Island lists Hildreth Bros. as makers of horse powers.
• 1917 book Industrial Worcester, by Charles E. Washburn, has, on page 168, a biography of one George E. Wright. "...In 1858 he was a member of the firm of Burt, Wright & Co., manufacturers of Horse power machinery at Harvard. The firm name was later changed to A. & G. F. Wright."