Davis & Furber Machine Co.

Company began in 1832 as Sawyer, Phelps & Co. in Andover, Mass., moved to North Andover in 1836 and manufactured machinery there until 1982. Various partnerships preceded the formation of Davis & Furber: Sawyer, Phelps & Co., 1832-1834; Barnes, Gilbert & Co., 1834-1835; Gilbert & Richardson, 1835-1838; Barnes, Gilbert & Richardson, 1838-1841; Gilbert, Gleason & Davis, 1841-1846; Gleason & Davis, 1846-1848; and Gleason, Davis & Furber, 1848-1851. Davis & Furber incorporated in 1883. It made a complete line of wool machinery including looms but by 1880 was specializing in preparatory, carding, spinning and warping equipment. D & F's partners also had a speciality: George L. Davis in administration and finance, John A. Wiley in sales and Joseph M. Stone in mechanics and design. Samuel F. Rockwell joined the company in the 1890's and served as treasurer from 1920 to 1964. D & F adapted its product line to synthetics and the foreign market after World War II, added a branch in Charlotte, N.C., and in 1968 incorporated the Bramwell feeders of George S. Harwood & Son of Worcester, Mass. Card clothing was added in 1864; in 1890 several manufacturers of card clothing merged to become the American Card Clothing Co. D & F joined this trust and leased its card clothing department to it until 1904, when it was disbanded.