Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

[Joe L.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

I remember old timers seemed to call any machine "the Bridgeport." If a job needed to be done on a specialized drill or a lathe or some other machine, they'd say "take it over to the Bridgeport" to get that work accomplished.

Christopher-----


...more often than not, it was a Bridgeport machine.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

I was told by the old guys that a Bridgeport was the only machine that could rebuild or make,fix all of it's own parts.

[Ed H.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

And, out of nowhere, I was thinking of Bridgeport just an hour or so ago. Hardinge certainly was, and maybe still is, a manufacturer of quality machine tools. I did not know of Bridgeport's demise.

I work with younger kids, on a daily basis, and I'm no longer shocked at the fact that they've never used a screwdriver, wrench, or hammer. Not universal, but the very great majority. I've seen gears kids have printed, and was amazed at the quality. The question is who wrote the code to drive the printer... Girls, however, continue to surprise me with their focus on the problem at hand, and, often, solving it on their own. But I'm heading off on a tangent, so I'll stop.

[Richard M.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

Nice analysis Duke. Well put.

If you all want a complete prediction and history of why we are where we are today, read the book by the Tochins, "Selling Our Security - The Erosion of America's Assets". It was written in late 1992, IIRC some time after the Free Trade Agreement. The book is spot on in it's analysis of the direction our country was heading back then. It talks all about the Tool & Machine companies, Electronics and Component/Microchip manufacturing companies(of which was my career of 30 years from 1974 and saw the early stages of the industry going offshore), Tire manufacturing, etc, etc. Plan on getting depressed when you read it, but it tells so much about why we are here like this today looking at crumbled buildings everywhere.

So.....My Bridgeport story....BTW it's Corvette related to keep this going....
About 2 years ago do you remember those big block heads with the improperly installed intake manifold threaded inserts? With test bolts in the holes it looked like candles on a birthday cake? Details HERE and Bridgeport in action in Post#12. That Bridgeport saved the day !

Rich

[Patrick N.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

this thread brings back memories. As an Industrial Design student in the mid eighties at the University of Bridgeport, we had a field trip to that building. Our shop had a "few" Bridgeport Mills, working at Stanley in New Britain and Black & Decker in Trumbull, nothing but Bridgeports in the shop - go figure. Best mills ever. I only knew Bridgeport as a gritty, crime ridden, once proud town. Lost a couple friends in that town. Father Panik village had become so violent, police would not "go in to get you" if you needed help. Sad.

Bridgeport mfg is a great example of adapt of die. Innovate or become irrelevant. All industries and technologies commoditize at some point and then you compete on price if you do not evolve, and someone will always go lower than you. Not much need to machine as once before with advent of rapid prototype. I was at CES and had a great conversation with Divergent, on their 3D printed car- totally the way to move forward. Cant wait for 1st 3D printed Vette!!! I am in! Plenty of companies in US immersed in new tech, just need to know where to look- future is very bright.

[Robert B.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

they made such a good machine that they last forever, thus the market was full of lots of machines that they couldn't kill.

[Patrick C.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

I toured a high tech aerospace fabricator in Broken Arrow OK today. In the back amid a sea of Haas CNC 4 axis machines was a lowly Bridgeport vertical milling machine like I used to run while working my way through engineering school. Some things don't change. Warmed my heart. Thanks Joel for the tour.

pat

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

they made such a good machine that they last forever, thus the market was full of lots of machines that they couldn't kill.

Yes they were. The Bridgeport mill was invented by a pattern maker so the head could be tilted to cut draft on a part. Before that the heads were fixed & the part had to be put on a angle plate. The firs machines had a round ram which was not very ridged so later they made the rams to slide in & out but not turn. The head was made to swivel. When I was a apprentice pattern maker in the 60's the shop was full of Bridgeport's. The saddle & table had cranks with dials graduated in .001 so you had to count. It's still the best machine to have in your shop as you can drill & mill.

[Mark H.]

Re: Bridgeport Machines 1938-2004

Didn't want to start a new thread, and this was the last thread where 3D printing was mentioned. This week's YouTube of "Jay Leno's Garage" he shows some of the new stuff. The first half of the video covers 3D printing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n60NibYbPqQ