Smith & Winchester Manufacturing Co.

Smith & Winchester Manufacturing Co. of South Windham, Connecticut, was a manufacturer of papermaking machinery. In 1827, George Spafford, a machinist, was hired to install a Fourdrinier papermaking machine imported from England by Joseph Pickering, a paper maker in North Windham. Spafford partnered with James Phelps, an experienced mill builder, to begin manufacturing Fourdrinier machines in the United States. Phelps & Spafford established a small factory in South Windham, Connecticut. The firm sold and installed its first, improved version of the Fourdrinier in 1829. Phelps & Spafford flourished until the financial crash of 1837, when the company's losses forced it to close. The partners sold the business to two employees, Charles Smith and Harvey Winchester, who were also Spafford's brothers-in-law. Re-organized as the Smith, Winchester & Company, the firm developed and produced innovative papermaking equipment, such as paper cutting and paper bag making machines. The company was incorporated in 1905 as the Smith & Winchester Manufacturing Company. It continued as an independent business until 1965, when it was purchased by Cameron Machines. The company was sold to H.L. Diehl in 1969, and its manufacturing operations ceased soon after.

From the description of Smith & Winchester Manufacturing Co. records, 1833-1960 (inclusive). (Harvard Business School). WorldCat record id: 311142644

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