G&L4nahalf
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2014
- Location
- Temporarily Florida
Greetings all
I thought it might be interesting to submit a list of what I think are the very top quality machines for job shop work. As this is the antique forum, I thought the list should be manual operated machinery before CNC. There is still plenty of work out there for manual machinery. Building a reputation is often hard. I made up this list especially for the younger men.
Following are my picks for the very top manual machines mostly from the 1950s, in the various categories. I have forgotten some of the names. You are invited to submit your choices with discussions.
George the Rogue journeyman
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Engine Lathes :
Mid-size work : 15" X 8 or 10' = Lodge & Shipley
Smaller : Hardinge tool room engine lathe
Larger : American Pace Maker
Turret Lathes :
Medium to Large : Warner & Swasey
Small : Hardinge Chucker
Vertical Ram Lathe : Niles
Vertical Turret Lathe : Bullard
Horizontal Milling Machines : Cincinnati
Vertical Milling Machines :
Mid-size work : Cincinnati compound head
Heavier : Kearney & Trecker
Light : Bridgeport
Horizontal Boring Mill : Giddings & Lewis
Horizontal Jig Borer-Miller : Devlieg
Vertical Jig Borers : Pratt & Whitney
Shapers : Cincinnati
Radial Arm Drills : Carleton
Turret Drills : Burgmaster - only those made in California
Surface Grinders : Blanchard
Centerless Grinders : Norton
Bandsaws : ??
Fork Trucks : ??
Boring Head : Davis soft steel, bought up by G & L and used for manufacturing their machines. Caution - these will ding easy, and need to be used with care, but I have seen none better.
Dividing Head : Kearney & Trecker
Micrometers : Brown & Sharpe
Gage Blocks : GMC Johanson
Optical Comparator : ??
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add anything ?
I thought it might be interesting to submit a list of what I think are the very top quality machines for job shop work. As this is the antique forum, I thought the list should be manual operated machinery before CNC. There is still plenty of work out there for manual machinery. Building a reputation is often hard. I made up this list especially for the younger men.
Following are my picks for the very top manual machines mostly from the 1950s, in the various categories. I have forgotten some of the names. You are invited to submit your choices with discussions.
George the Rogue journeyman
----------
Engine Lathes :
Mid-size work : 15" X 8 or 10' = Lodge & Shipley
Smaller : Hardinge tool room engine lathe
Larger : American Pace Maker
Turret Lathes :
Medium to Large : Warner & Swasey
Small : Hardinge Chucker
Vertical Ram Lathe : Niles
Vertical Turret Lathe : Bullard
Horizontal Milling Machines : Cincinnati
Vertical Milling Machines :
Mid-size work : Cincinnati compound head
Heavier : Kearney & Trecker
Light : Bridgeport
Horizontal Boring Mill : Giddings & Lewis
Horizontal Jig Borer-Miller : Devlieg
Vertical Jig Borers : Pratt & Whitney
Shapers : Cincinnati
Radial Arm Drills : Carleton
Turret Drills : Burgmaster - only those made in California
Surface Grinders : Blanchard
Centerless Grinders : Norton
Bandsaws : ??
Fork Trucks : ??
Boring Head : Davis soft steel, bought up by G & L and used for manufacturing their machines. Caution - these will ding easy, and need to be used with care, but I have seen none better.
Dividing Head : Kearney & Trecker
Micrometers : Brown & Sharpe
Gage Blocks : GMC Johanson
Optical Comparator : ??
----------
add anything ?