We learned in an earlier issue about the inventive genius of George F. Simonds. In 1884, about the same time he was working on his patents for inserted tooth saw teeth, he had also been experimenting with forging metal items through the process of rolling the metal. These experiments were so revolutionary and so successful that George Simonds eventually was awarded nearly 100 patents for his work in this field of endeavor.
On June 9, 1885, George Simonds was awarded five patents for his development of the machinery and methods used in this new forging technique. With these new patents in hand, Simonds left his position as President of The Simonds Manufacturing Company to start up a new business - The Simonds Rolling- Machine Company. This new business was located on Willow Street in Fitchburg, adjacent to the Simonds saw complex on North and Main Street. The new business was incorporated in November, 1886 and its all-new facility was completed by mid-1887.
Simonds' new company utilized his methods of forging metal articles to make bicycle ball bearings, pedal pins, crank axles, pins for Westinghouse and other air brakes used on trains, and other useful items. All the equipment used by the company was purpose-built by the company's engineers. A second enterprise, The Simonds Steel and Iron Forging Company Limited, was founded in London, England to look after the worldwide interests of this new venture.
By 1892, the company employed over 100 men and was growing rapidly. By 1896, the company had over 200 employees and was working around the clock and adding on to its building and capacity. Although other companies had entered the market, having gotten around George Simonds' patents, it was the Simonds company that remained the world leader.
In November, 1894, George Simonds was killed suddenly in a train accident on his way from Chicago to California, and this was a bad omen for the company. The company quickly started to feel the pressure caused by the lack of product and process development from the inventive Simonds. Then, in 1898, due to intense competitive developments, the board of directors of the company voted to shut down manufacturing and within a year the business was closed and the premises up for rental. Simonds Manufacturing eventually took over this facility to meet the need for more space and capacity.
Albeit a short-lived enterprise, George Simonds' Rolling-Machine Company had a lasting impact by revolutionizing the manufacture of bicycles and trainair brakes, items that touched every American each and every day for decades.