The 20th century saw plenty of technological invention. There were abunch of wonderful things thought up and produced. The stories and the inventors of these machines are very often fascinating and even inspiring. Arguably, one of the top machines to come out of the last century is the centerless grinder. The following is the historical timeline for the centerless grinder.
Even with the fact that the centerless grinder is a 20th century idea, it could not have ever been possible if it were not for actions implemented in the 19th century. There was a gentleman named Frederick A. Geier. What started the chain of events which eventually led to the mass use of the center grinder was a insightful purchase that Frederick made in 1887. Geier plunked down $7,000 dollars to buy into the Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co. While $7,000 does not sound like a bundle of money, you have to understand that would be roughly $6,300,000 in today’s currency.
What’s even more astounding regarding this purchase was that Geier had no engineering or machining education at all. In fact, he had extremely limited technical education. What he knew he could do, as many successful entrepreneurs including past and present, was to know how to employ the most talented people to do the right job. Frederick was laid to rest in 1934, but in his 40 plus years he was employed with the corporation, it was a super power. It still is today. And, through those 47 years, he was able to assemble some of the best engineering teams assembled in one corporation. The engineers that he had working for him, will play a significant role in the history of the centerless grinder.
To get to the history of the centerless grinder, we have to go back to the early 1900’s. Frederick Geier had a son who was involved in the company. His name was also Frederick, Frederick V. Geier. In the 20’s the Great Depression had begun. This obviously hit many companies and many types of business. Frederick V. had enough foresight to predict that auto manufacturing could be a viable business opportunity. You have to recognize it was around this era that auto manufacturing had just started to take off. It was a huge gamble. Nevertheless, he recognized that auto manufacturing used a lot of grinding. He explained to his father, they had to leap into centerless grinding.
In 1921 the newly founded company purchased a controlling share of the Cincinnati Grinder Co. This company, however, used center grinder machines. Henry Ford, aptly called the father of automation, did not want to use these types of grinders. They weren’t efficient enough for Henry Ford. He preferred parts be ground on a centerless grinder. Centerless grinders are more effctive because you do not have to handle the material as often.
This event did not deter Frederick or the corporation. In 1924, the company acquired additional patents related to the centerless grinder from Lewis Heim at the Ball & Roller Bearing Co. for an undisclosed amount. Even though it was being insightful it did not go trouble free. Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co were sued over the patents. Over time, Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co prevailed in the lawsuit and was named the rightful patent holders.
Believe it or not Sol Einstein, the cousin of Albert was employed by Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co. Sol and another worker by the name of George Binns had made some marvelous changes to the centerless grinder. These two men work for Frederick. Thanks to the innovations the two made to the centerless grinder, they were able to make piston pins to a tighter tolerance. They reduced them by .0004”. Due to this one small change the motors ran more quietly, tested for more horse power and lasted longer.
By 1926, due to their investment in centerless grinders, the Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co went on to be the largest machine tool corporation in the United States. Frederick was the president of the company and remained company president until his death in 1934.
It proves that something as simple as a centerless grinder can have a very interesting and inspirational story. The centerless grinder would have never come about if it were not for one gentleman investing into a machine corporation without any major technical knowledge. Because of the wise choices and foresight of his boy, the Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co not only was well received but is still a major force today, but under the name Milacron.
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