The First Bridgeport mill

[Ausfahrt]

Interestingly, we live twenty miles from the Precision Museum. It's a collection of early machining history and technology. There is not much to do in the middle of winter so my wife and I checked it out. It's located in Windsor Vt. just west of the Connecticut river.

The one item that stood out for me was a Bridgeport mill that had the serial number 1. The very first Bridgeport mill made looks like any other later Bridgeport. I took a few pictures that y'all might like.

 

[Pablo]

Interestingly, we live twenty miles from the Precision Museum. There is not much to do in the middle of winter so my wife and I checked it out. It's located in Windsor Vt. just west of the Connecticut river.

The one item that stood out for me was a Bridgeport mill that had the serial number 1. The very first Bridgeport mill made looks like any other later Bridgeport. I took a few pictures that y'all might like.

View attachment 261201

View attachment 261202

Beautiful. Yes looks the same. What year was SN 1 built?

 

[4WD]

Nice - ran a few in my younger days …

 

[BHopkins]

That is pretty cool. You are right, it is amazing how similar #1 looks to the Bridgeport mills I have seen over the years.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Beautiful. Yes looks the same. What year was SN 1 built?

That's a good question and I don't know. I should have taken a picture of the info plate by the mill.

 

[Pablo]

That's a good question and I don't know. I should have taken a picture of the info plate by the mill.

I used AI

"The first Bridgeport mill was made in 1938."

 

[Astro14]

Did you get your souvenir brass gear at the end?

 

[Ausfahrt]

Here is another vintage piece that was on display.

 

[jimmyjamesndt]

It looks like it had a coolant tray at one time by the looks of the base, the paint on the column crosslide is corroded too, you would think No. 1 would have been a display model only, but it looks like it was put to use for a good long while.

 

[TMoto]

Here is another vintage piece that was on display.
View attachment 261206

Interesting! This looks like a vertical planer that ran off long leather belts connected to an overhead shaft.

If you're ever in the Dubuque, IA area, the Nat'l Mississippi River Museum has an entire shop on display with working belt-drive machinery run off the overhead shaft.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I had one of those in my shop and gave it to the local trade school a few years ago. About 28 years ago, Bridgeport came down here and looked at getting it for their museum. I'm not sure where we got it from. It was probably transferred to us (University of MS Physics) from some military branch.

 

[dlundblad]

Good on your wife for letting you take her there.

 

[eljefino]

It looks like it had a coolant tray at one time by the looks of the base, the paint on the column crosslide is corroded too, you would think No. 1 would have been a display model only, but it looks like it was put to use for a good long while.

They had a war shortly after the first one was made.

The companies that made machining equipment was so proud of their work that they added disclaimers about "wartime finish" because the paint jobs, and maybe casting marks, weren't up to their internal standards due to the deadlines given to turn out this needed product.

 

[JimPghPA]

I went to metal macheining school after I bought my big combination mill and lathe. While using the Bridgport there I decided to lube everything properly. I bet it was quite a while since anyone had done that.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Bridgeport turret mills, and clones are the best universal machine tool there is. Not the best for heavy duty work, but done at the right pace they can do a lot.