Hi,
There are literally hundreds and hundreds of small machine shops being
liquidated these days. After W.W.II there were many machinists returning home
with newly acquired skills in the metal trades. Many of these guys started
local machine shops. Some grew to large firms, many stayed small. The same is
true of the Korean War Vets. Do a little math and you find that these guys
are well into retirement age.
Our modern society frowns on hand work in a dirty, dangerous environmental
and generally wont encourage their kids to get into it. Also the fact that it
is not digital makes it a "dinosaur." 'If it ain't digital, it ain't worth
hauling away! If you are willing to look for it, it's out there.
I'll take experienced American iron any day over the new imported stuff on
the market now. My 1947 surface grinder is not for sale, neither is the
1930's horizontal milling machine that I converted into a pyramid roller to
make the PETS frames. And my 'estate' will have to find a home for my 1917
Seneca Falls lathe.
It is old, it is cheap, it is good, and it has experience! (sounds like G...f)
Keep your steam up!
Walt
