United Shoe Machinery Corporation

United Shoe Machinery Corporation

Company type	Corporation
Industry	Industrial machinery, Defense contracting
Founded	1899
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts , United States
Area served	United States, United Kingdom, worldwide
Products	Shoe manufacturing machinery, armored fighting vehicles, gun turrets, infantry weapons, aircraft gun turrets, aerospace equipment, industrial machinery
Number of employees	9,000 (at peak)

United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC) was an American manufacturer specializing in industrial machinery designed for the shoe production sector, holding a dominant position within the U.S. shoe machinery market. During World War I, World War II, and the Cold war era, it played a vital role as a defense contractor, supplying land and aircraft weaponry as well as components for military equipment. Initially established in Beverly, Massachusetts, the company later relocated its headquarters to Boston and operated significant manufacturing plants throughout Massachusetts, alongside international subsidiaries such as British United Shoe Machinery in the United Kingdom.

History

According to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, USMC's foundation and expansion can be summarized as follows:

The United Shoe Machinery Company originated in 1899 through the merger of three shoe machinery enterprises: the Goodyear Shoe Machinery Company; Consolidated McKay Lasting Machine Company; and McKay Shoe Machinery Company. This newly formed entity innovated by leasing its machinery instead of selling it outright. Following the consolidation, rapid growth ensued, including the commencement of a new factory in Beverly, Massachusetts in 1903. At its zenith, the company employed approximately 9,000 individuals and commanded eighty-five percent of shoe machinery production in the U.S. By 1910, it controlled an eighty percent market share with assets totaling $40 million and managed overseas branches. Incorporated in 1905, the United Shoe Machinery Corporation absorbed its predecessor firm in 1917, establishing its headquarters in Boston while maintaining principal manufacturing operations in Beverly. The company rebranded as USM Corporation in 1968. In 1976, it merged with Emhart Industries to create Emhart Corporation. To fend off a $2 billion acquisition attempt, Emhart merged with Black & Decker in 1989; this led to relocating operations to Towson, Maryland and closing the Farmington, Connecticut headquarters.

USMC adopted a business strategy centered on leasing shoe manufacturing equipment rather than selling it outright—a tactic that ensured consistent revenue and reinforced market dominance. By 1916, USMC was distributing approximately 24,000 machines annually and sustained its leadership through this leasing approach while providing extensive employee amenities at its Beverly facility.

Nevertheless, USMC encountered persistent legal disputes concerning allegations of monopolistic conduct. In December 1947, the U.S. government initiated legal action under the Sherman Antitrust Act, accusing USMC of maintaining a monopoly since 1912. Following a protracted trial that resulted in an adverse ruling upheld by the Supreme Court in 1954, additional complaints filed in 1967 compelled the Supreme Court to order divestiture of substantial business portions and mandated changes to leasing operations over a decade—generating $400 million through asset sales.

Despite attempts to diversify—including developments such as the hot glue gun, soda can pull-tab, Lunar Roving Vehicle propulsion system, and Concorde pop rivets—financial difficulties continued. By 1976, burdened by debt, USMC was acquired by Emhart Corporation (currently part of Stanley Engineered Fastening), an entity half its size.

In 1987, a management buyout led by executives from British United Shoe Machinery purchased USMC from Emhart Industries, establishing United Machinery Group (UMG) with headquarters in the United Kingdom. UMG launched a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Boston but ultimately entered administration due to financial troubles in 2000.

USMC’s history with antitrust litigation has drawn comparisons to cases involving IBM and Microsoft, underscoring its considerable market power and regulatory scrutiny throughout its existence.

Research and development

The company was a trailblazer in the creation of synthetic leather products and, during the Interbellum period, engineered various military technologies such as gun mounts, turrets, fire control systems, automatic firearms, fuse setting devices, bomb release mechanisms, and rocket launchers. Following the war, research efforts concentrated on developing modular armored combat vehicles characterized by a standardized chassis, interchangeable weapon systems equipped with autoloaders, lightweight construction for increased speed, and improved ergonomics for crew members.

Production items

Armored fighting vehicles

• T54E1 medium tank
• Turtle-series IVI prototype gun motor carriages (tracked, turreted, 33 tons, crew of four positioned below the upper hull line, powered by a 600-horsepower engine, armor thickness ranging from 3 to 6½ inches; measuring 18 feet 7 inches in length, 9 feet 4 inches in width, and 7 feet in height)

• IVI Gun Motor Carriage armed with four .50 caliber machine guns
• IVI-C Gun Motor Carriage featuring twin 37 mm cannons
• IVI-D Gun Motor Carriage equipped with a single-barrel 75 mm tank gun and a separate gunner compartment to enhance weapon maneuverability

• Prototype heavy armored combat vehicles incorporating oscillating turrets and externally mounted main artillery pieces

Gun turrets and armament

• Tank turrets:

• T20E1 Medium Tank turret (manufactured by Fisher Body Division) fitted with a 76 mm M1 gun utilizing an autoloader
• T22E1 Medium Tank turret (produced by Chrysler's Detroit Tank Arsenal) mounting a 75 mm M3 gun with autoloading capability
• T77 Gun Motor Carriage equipped with multibarrel .50 caliber machine gun mount T89

• High Speed Harmonic Drive Speed Reducer designed to enable stabilized rotation of heavy weapon turrets
• Tank armaments including the 37 mm M5 cannon

Infantry weapons and artillery

• 37 mm antitank gun M3 along with its towed carriage
• Devices for shell ramming and fuze setting

Weapon systems

• Aircraft gun turrets:

• B-17 Flying Fortress ball turret developed in collaboration with Lockheed Aircraft
• YA-14 Shrike and XP-71 pressurized turrets armed with twin 37 mm cannons

• Waist gun mounts:

• Power-operated M5 waist gun mounts installed on XB-40 Flying Fortress and XB-41 Liberator aircraft

• Remote hydraulic control mechanisms designed for specialized M2 machine gun installations on aircraft
• Gas-piston operated firearms
• Precision-machined components for attack and utility helicopters such as the UH-1 Iroquois

Aerospace equipment

• Precision-machined parts utilized in military satellite systems like Telstar

Industrial machinery

• Machines for assembling electronic components
• Automatic assembly equipment designed for military radar systems

Structure

The company maintained numerous divisions, subsidiaries, and affiliate organizations predominantly located in Massachusetts to support its worldwide operations and diverse portfolio.

See also

• Jan Ernst Matzeliger
• United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building
• United Shoe Machinery Corporation Clubhouse