Photo Index - E. Gould & Co. - Foot Mortiser

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
E. Gould & Co.
Newark, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Mortising Machine
Machine Size:
Submitted By:	Dave Potts

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Foot Mortiser
Date of Manufacturer:	1840 & later
Serial Number:
Last Updated	10/1/2004 12:28:57 AM

Comments:

This machine was picked up in a Quebec flea market by Antoine Théorêt recently. He has kindly forwarded me the pictures and I was able to provide him with some information about the NJ manufacturer and the patent that Ezra Gould held.

Acording to Alexander Farnham's Early Toolmakers of New Jersey, Mr. Gould began as early as 1840 manufacturing tools in a 16' x 16' room. He moved into more spacious quarters as his buisness expanded and mortising machines, drills, lathes, and shears were among the items he produced. Gould later joined forces with a fellow by the name of Ulrich Eberhardt, and by the end of the 1800s, Gould & Eberhardt employed between 150 to 250 men. They also utilized a total of 250 horsepower generated by several stationary steam engines in their plant.

In 1997 Ezra Gould was recognized by the NJ Institute of Technology as a pioneer in the invention and manufacturing business and placed him in their Hall of Fame. The citation reads:

EZRA GOULD (1809-1901)
Gould & Eberhardt Gear Machinery Corp., Webster, Mass.
(formerly Gould Machine Co., Newark, N.J.)

One of the finest mechanics of his day, Ezra Gould also possessed considerable skill as an inventor. He is credited with designing and building the first shaping machine and one of the earliest gear cutting machines made in the United States.

Gould's company began in a small plant in Newark in 1833. In 1851, the American Institute awarded Ezra Gould the silver medal for his shaping machine, drill press and hand-operated gear-cutting machine, exhibited at the Crystal Palace in New York City. Many other machines, now in extensive use, owe their history to the mechanical and inventive genius of Gould.

In 1877, Gould formed a partnership with Ulrich Eberhardt to establish Gould & Eberhardt. The firm manufactured Gould's gear cutters and shapers and sold the machines around the world. A major customer was the auto industry, where each of the major auto companies used cutting and shaping equipment to produce automotive gears.

Gould, who retired in 1890 at the age of 81, was well known in business and society circles and was a noted philanthropist.

During World War II, Gould & Eberhardt, then located in Newark, received an Army-Navy "E" Production Award in recognition of extraordinary achievement in the production of war equipment. At the time, the company was one of the largest in the world specializing in shaping and gear hobbing machines, basic tools required for the production of all types of machinery.

His likeness is also posted on NJ Invent's site with a blurb about his contributions:
http://www.njinvent.njit.edu/1997/inductees_1997/ezra_gould.html

I'd like to see more of the return-spring mechanism. Antoine is also scouring the machine for patent dates or numbers. Gould held patent #13,594:
http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=13594&type=UT
This machine could predate that patent.

Photo 1:

Comments: The front of the machine
Source: Antoine Théorêt

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Photo 2:

Comments: .... from the side
Source: Antoine Théorêt

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Photo 3:

Comments: Ezra Gould's decorative legs
Source: Antoine Théorêt

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