Gedney and Charles King Instrument Makers

Gedney King II (1777-1839), the son of Gedney King I, was the nephew of Benjamin King of Salem. He was born at Salem on August 31, 1777, and served an apprenticeship with his uncle Benjamin King at Salem. By 1800 he had established himself as an instrument maker in Boston, first at Fore Street, then in 1802 moved to Fish Street. In 1805 he was at 10 North Row Fish Street; in 1820 at 29 State Street; in 1826 at 113 State Street; in 1827 at 118 State; and then in 1831 at Broad Street. In about 1832 he took his son, Charles Gedney King, into partnership and changed the name of the shop at 7 Broad Street in Boston to Gedney King & Son. The son continued the firm after his father's death on July 18, 1839.

Charles Gedney King (1808-1858) a Boston mathematical instrument maker was born on March 16, 1808. He apprenticed to his father, Gedney King II, and about 1835 joined him as a partner in his shop. The name of the firm was changed to Gedney King and Son, located at 7 Broad Street.  The partnership continued until Gedney King’s death on July 18, 1839. Charles Gedney King continued to work under his own name, remaining at the same address until 1858, when he moved to 72 Washington Street.


C. G. King showed his instruments at fairs sponsored by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association in the 1840s and 1850s, and took home several silver medals. King also announced he "Is now manufacturing and has for sale the largest assortment of Mathematical, Nautical, Engineers, Surveyors and Drafting Instruments to be found in the city." Moreover, the engineers’ and surveyors’ instruments manufactured in the King establishment, "are divided upon a new Engine, made expressly for the purpose, the performance of which, for the accuracy of its division, cannot be surpassed, if equaled, by any Engine in the Country”