The machines and various technical manuals

• Technical manuals
• Serial Numbers (for machines built between 1967 & 1977)
• Some terminology and conventions used
• Product brochures & catalogs by category type
• Product brochures & catalogs in chronological order
• Prototype photos

Product brochures & catalogs

• Surface Grinders
• Cutoff machines and Planers
• Engraving machines and Pantographs
  
• Die and Mold Duplicators
• Milling Machines
  
• Cutter Grinders (for sharpening cutting tools)
  
• Various Accessories
• Personal (tabletop) Engraving machines
• Swiss Automatic Screw Machines
• Large scale Machining Centers
• Custom-built machine tools
  
• General Catalogs and Miscellaneous

• Surface Grinders
  This line of products was sold off to the Diamond Machine company of Providence, RI, in 1903.
  Also see the photos on the corporate history page.
• Cutoff machines and Planers
  Booklets for the Model 2-B (6-inch) and 2-E (13-inch) cutoff machines, and the model 10-B Planer. The Planer was was discontinued around 1924. Planers were rather large, and superceded in the market by mills and surface grinders. Basically, think of a wood plane, except that the cutting edge is fixed, and the table holding the work to be cut moves under it, retracting for every pass. Because a mill has a cutter in a spindle, work could be cut with the work table moving in both directions, making mills much more productive machines.


• Industrial Engravers and Pantographs (sometimes called 'Pantomills')
  These range from the WW I Model 8-C fuse router, to the enormous Model 3-R roll engraver (which could engrave rolls up to 12 feet long) and the more general purpose 2D and 3D machines.
  
  
• Die duplicators
  These are basically milling machines where the X and Y axis movement is controlled by a pivoting lever (the duplicator unit sits on top of the normal table) and the Z axis (the cutting and tracing heads) are controlled either via a lever (much like a drill press) or a handwheel. These are strictly 1::1 (no expansion or reduction) devices.
  
  
• Mills (including Universal, Trace-Master, Tape-Master)
  Prior to the 1950's, the three common vertical mill models were the 8-D, the 8 1/2-D, and the 9-J. The 8-D was rather small, and quickly superceded by the 8 1/2-D, and the larger 9-J. Starting in the 1940s, some (somewhat custom??) horizontal mills were added, and in the 1950's, the 'Mastermil' series was created. The intent of the Mastermil series machines seems to have been to standardize a bit more, with the net benefits being reduced costs to manufacture and reduced net customer cost. The 1950 General catalog has photos of some of the size 2 and size 3 machines.
  
  
• Cutter Grinders and related
  
  


• Accessories catalogs
  Some of these are for the pantograph/engraver markets (copy and type), while others are a bit more general (cutter bits, cutter/grinders, rotary tables, etc.)
  
  
• Personal Engravers
  These seem to have been designed with retailers in mind, or possibly even as usable by consumers, as they seem to have been about the size of a typewriter of the time, and were for personalizing items such as pens, key fobs, pocket knives, etc. It must have been a total failure, as this is the only catalog which even mentions such devices.
  The first brochure is the prototype/development copy.
  
  
• Swiss Automatics
  The swiss automatic screw machines were only made for a few years (there is a comment in the 75th anniversary brochure that several hundred were built) and were used to manufacture high precision aircraft instrument and fire control system parts. A number of 16-Bs were in production use for more than 50 years by Gormac.
  Here is a sales book for the 16-A
  
  and the modified (higher volume) 16-B
  
  
• User lists
  See Charles Gorton's personal salesbook for some of these.
  
• Machining centers (late 1960s, 1970s)
  There were 2 versions: the H-60 Milwaukee-Matic, and the H-100 Milwaukee-Matic
  
• Custom built machines
  There were numerous custom-built machines over the years (see some of the general brochures which have silhouettes of custom builds) photos. Some of these are:
  • A 4 spindle machine built for IBM to engrave words on computer control switches/buttons.
    In the photo of the whole system setup, the module on the left is probably a high frequency power converter system. On the far right is the tape reader and related user interface controls, which fed information back to the tall cabinet center, which presumably housed all of the computer and server related control circuitry. And some of the components needed serious cooling, given the large radiator and fan. Underneath the fan is what appears to be some sort of hydraulic fluid reservoir.
    
  • A Trace-Master Rail Mill for the Marshall Space Flight Center.
    
  • And my favorite: a pair of very high precision lathes
    What makes this/these machines so fascinating is the combination of when it was created, the machine requirements, and the entity they were created for. The machine was delivered in 1964. The requirements were that the machines be extremely precise: 5 microns spindle runout, which is still (in 2010) non-trivial for mechanical machines. Test machining on mild steel was required. The customer was Union Carbide Nuclear Company, of Oak Ridge Tennessee. General Electric (GE) was somehow involved in the ordering chain, but the details are unclear.
    Update from 2022: I got email from a site reader in the summer of 2022, who actually worked with these machines. I am assured that the data is declassified:
    
    They were indeed used to machine Plutonium at the Hanford Nuclear weapons plant in Washington State.
    I was a new graduate Mechanical Engineer back in 1963 when I was hired by the General Electric Company at Hanford to do machinability research on Plutonium metal. The first months were dedicated as the principle co-author of a “state of the art” formal Hanford Site document titled “Machinability of Plutonium” that remains classified even today. This work became the baseline for future machining research and production of nuclear weapon components at Hanford.
    Shortly after joining the research group, I was shown the weapons manufacturing production facility which consisted of high vacuum casting capability and precision lathes to machine the Plutonium “Pit” for the US national stockpile. Recall being told that the lathes in use had been made special for Hanford by the George Gorton Company and that they ranked among the best in the world. Was certainly impressed with both the dimensional accuracy and surface finish quality achieved in daily production.
    After completing the initial machinability assignment, I then transferred within GE to the Weapons Manufacturing Operation described above. I held the position of Fabrication Engineer in the group with responsibly for assuring efficient operation of vacuum casting furnaces and super-precision lathes installed in protective atmosphere glove boxes and operated semi-remotely through glove ports to manufacture Plutonium nuclear weapon component parts. This included responsibility for actively pursuing and evaluating new machining techniques including conduct of special machine tool inspections and upgrades with particular emphasis on generation of low micro-inch surface finishes and geometric accuracy.
    The Gorton Lathes were used in pairs to produce a hollow half shell with two parts required per device assembly. One lathe was tooled to cut the outside profile, with the second tooled to cut the inside profile. Both operations were direct cutting off the spindle with no tailstock support. This introduced perhaps our most sensitive potential operating error with axial spindle growth from bearing heat-up greatly influencing the part contour. Thus, monitoring spindle-on time and temperature was a routine part of every production cycle. The containment glove boxes were temperature regulated, so this helped a bit. Even so, a high bearing temperature was indicative of emerging bearing failure. We had found that the Super Precision Timken “00” Grade bearings were very reliable but did need occasional replacement.
    This was my first exposure to tenth reading dial indicators, large head tenth reading 469 series Starrett micrometers hydraulic servo circuits, LVDT electronic measurement tools, amplifiers and readout charts. Was almost a new language for me. Revisions had recently been made to the LVDT amplifier and servo control circuits plus hydraulic filter system improvements.
    Weapons production was abruptly ceased at Hanford in 1966 due to international weapons treaties, but future uncompleted upgrades to the tracer lathes included tape drive control on the contouring and spindle replacement to a hydrostatic system. While I was in the research group in 1963, GE bought a custom made hydrostatic spindle direct from the Whiton Company to fit into one the early model Gorton Lathes. The special lathe that you describe as shipped in 1964 became the second of a research pair. These did indeed produce mirror surfaces from direct cutting without any polishing.
    Could probably ramble on, but this gives some insight on our operating experiences with the Gorton Lathes. Still believe that they ranked with the best in the world.
    
    
    Some oral history/anecdotes: Family recollections indicate these machines were destined for Hanford, Washington; one of the key items is that it was designed to be remotely operated, once installed.
    At a guess, this/these machines were designed to machine radioactive materials, such as Uranium or Plutonium. They were hydraulically driven with remote controls, which makes them less susceptible to the effects of radiation on electrical/electronic systems.
  • The special machine division of the company also put together a sales folder in the late 1950s/early 1960s describing various custom machines. Various types of parts such as (all high precision/tight tolerance items) oversized valves, rifle receivers, impellers/turbines/jet engine components to various fuse parts (as in artillery shells, just like the original fuse routers made by the company), glass molds, etc. Some of the biggest systems are the described as "transfer machines":
    
• General & miscellaneous
  • An oversized pantograph/engraver/accessories catalog printed in 1925.
  • A Pantograph reduction chart (1930). This chart how to compute and set up pantographs for various reduction ratios. Pantograph area charts (found at the back of the manuals) show the maximum range of motion of the pantograph head at various ratios.
  • Work samples [mostly engraving] (1935). Some photos of items can also be found here and in the 1937 samples brochure.
  • General catalogs starting from 1943
    The 1943 catalog lists a model 15-C vertical mill for large/heavy work; the 1950 version shows some other heavy duty mills.
    The Guide Book (1946) is a general reference for all the products, and includes some simple HowTo's for pantograph usage, custom machines, etc.
    Applications of Tracer control (1951), seems to be another general catalog, but with a more interesting title.
    ,
    
  • Model 100 drill grinder (1960s) - this looks to be an attachment for a model 375 cutter-grinder; the "brochure" consists of a single sheet of paper.
    
  • Miscellaneous tools
    
  • Postprocessors (computer hardware and software) for Tape Masters
    
  • A Programming Manual (and course outline) for Tape Masters
    
  • Tape-Master - presented in terms of N/C education
    

Product brochures & catalogs

In Approximate chronological order

Heavy duty mills, 1959 Form 2771-C

No. 4 Surface Grinder, 1901	Plain Face Surfaces Grinders, 1901
No. 1 Engraver, 1902	No. 1 Engraver, erecting and operating instructions 1902
Cutoff 2-B, 1915	Cutoff 2-E, 1915
Fuse Router 8-C, probably pre-1920	Planer 10-B, pre-1924
Oversized Engravers catalog (10.5" x 13") 1925. 237 pages, with secondary blank heavy duty covers at front and back. The cover image is from a copy which appears to have been in an archive of some sort. The rest of the images are from a different copy of the catalog which is believed to be a printers proof copy, as there is a faint penciled in "3/12" on the inside front cover, and a correction (in pencil) to page97.	Cutter Grinders brochure from 1927 - also 10.5" x 13"
Model 3-H tire engraver, 1927	Model 3-X engraver, 1927
Cutter grinders brochure, 1930. This is the first of a number of brochures with rather strange form factors. Multiple fonts were used, possibly by accident, as this had to be folded in an odd fashion, and the normal [presumed] borders at the edges are missing. This was probably a sample/proof brochure.	Model 3-A engraver, 1930. The full oversized version of the brochure. The 3-A was for engraving on flat surfaces only, with a small target engraving area
Model 3-D engraver, 1930. The full oversized version of the brochure. The 3-D was for engraving on flat surfaces only, with a large target engraving area	Model 3-G engraver, 1930. The full oversized version of the brochure. The 3-G was for engraving on flat and spherical surfaces, with a small target engraving area
Model 3-J engraver, 1930. The full oversized version of the brochure. The 3-J was for engraving on flat and spherical surfaces, with a large target engraving area	Cutter grinders brochure, 1930 This is a production version, 10" x 13" of the smaller brochure, but with consistent fonts.
Typewritten notes about the 3-D pantographs of the time (3-B and 3-L) Since they are not in brochure form, they presumably are copies of the content which went into a later brochure about the 3-D machines.	Model 3-K Matrix, 1930s
Model 3-K Matrix, 1931, oversized brochure, form 1242	Model 3-S die cutter. Note the lack of borders and multiple fonts in use. 1930s
Model 3-R roll engraver. A really big machine. 1930s	A pantograph reduction diagram, 1930
Universal Mills, 1932	Portable engravers (prototype), 1932-1933
Portable engravers, 1933	Copy catalog, 1934
Duplicators, 1934	Accessories, 1934
9J Mill brochure, 1934	Duplicators, 1935
Duplicators supplement, 1935	Pantographs (2-dimensional), 1935
Pantograph samples of work, 1935	Superspeed Mills, 1936
Cutters and accessories, 1936	Samples of work, 1937
Accessories, 1937	Superspeed mills, 1938
Accessories, 1940, form 1317-B	Accessories, 1940, form 1317-G
Superspeed mills, 1942 Form 1400b	General catalog, 1943 Form 1655a
General catalog, 1943 Form 1655b	General catalog, 1944 Form 1655c
Spitfire Eletrical Arc Etchers, 1943 Form 1635b	Pantographs, 1943 Form 1580a
Die and Mold Duplicators, 1944	16-B Swiss Automatic, 1945
Gorton Guide Book, 1946	Type, 1947 Form 1309C
Type, 1947 Form 1309D	Type, 1947 Form 1309E
P1-3 Three dimensional pantograph, 1948 Form 2233A	P1-3 Ratiobar pantograph, 1948 Form 2310
P1-3 Ratiobar pantograph, 1948 Form 2310A	Horizontal 2-28B mill, 1948
Accessories, 1949 Form 1317L	Accessories, 1949 Form 1317M
General catalog, 1950 Form 1655-H	Milling machines, 1950 Form 1400-F
Heavy Mills, 1950 Form 2321-A
Tracer Controlled Duplicators, 1951	Tracer control, 1951
3-34 and 3-48 Mills, 1954 Form 2407B	P2-3 Supplement, 1954 Form 1580G
Pantographs, 1954 Form 1580-I	Pantomills, 1954 Form 1580-N
Pantomills, 1954 Form 1580-R	Mastermil, 1955
Tools and Accessories, 1956 Form 2720-A	Tools and Accessories, 1956 Form 2720-B
(Only part of the brochure, actual title unknown)
Synchro-Trace 1-22 Mastermil, 1960 Form 3095	Tools and Accessories, 1961 Form 2720-C
General catalog, 1963	2-30 Vertical Mill, 1963
2-30 Vertical Mill, 1965 Form 3220-A	Tapemaster Mill, 1966. The companies first NC machine?
General catalog, 1966	Drill Grinder model 100 (1960s)
Tracemaster 1-22 mill (1960s)	0-16 High Speed Vertical Mill, 1966 Form 3236
2-30 Tracemaster, 1967(?) Form 3387

Post Kearney & Trecker acquisition (dates are sometimes unknown)

Pantomills	H60 machining center
General Catalog, 1968 Form 1655-M	Auto Trace Master (2-30), 1968 Form 3330-A
1-22 Mastermil, 1969 Form 2699-H	Postprocessing equipment for Tape Masters, 1968 Form 3405
Tape Master (2-30), 1968 Form 3331-C	3-48 Tape-Master, Form 3443-A
3-48 Auto Tape-Master, Form 3461	H-60 Milwaukee-Matic power flow diagram
H-60 Milwaukee-Matic Range and Reference	N/C education using Tape-Master systems
H-100 Milwaukee-Matic, Form 3572
Small Tools and Accessories Form 2720-G	1-22 Mill head with Centrepoint N/C #100 system

Items with unknown dates of publication

A cutter grinder related document, Form 1448	Compound rotary table (tool number 1121) Form 2377-A
Vernac opticial vernier for 1-22 Mastermil, Form 3008	Quick Change Tool holder, Form 3129
Photos of the H-60 series, Form 3408	Programming Manual and Course Agenda, Form 3420-A

Prototypes

Here are a couple of photos of a prototype 3-D pantograph owned by a family member. It stands about 6 feet tall.

Copyright, 2004 - 2015 Richard Gorton - rcgorton@verizon.net
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