Hardinge - Elgin Tool Works History
Three data points
George Langford, Sc.D.
January
28, 2005
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The Elgin Tool Works of Chicago, Illinois, was known for their
precision bench vertical milling machine and for various small
lathes. Rumor has it that the Elgin Tool Works was acquired by
Hardinge. See, for example, this link by the well-known
TonyLathes: http://www.lathes.co.uk/elgin/
Here is a comparison of three virtually identical double cross slides
made for small lathes, two with the ELGIN TOOL WORKS makers mark, and
the other marked both HARDINGE and ELGIN TOOL WKS.
Below are the
makers marks of the first two cross slides, Victor's
on the left and mine on the right. Note that the one with the
higher and presumably later serial number (9-7469) appears to be a
newer vintage
than the one with the older and cruder double makers marks
(9-1546). The
Hardinge/Elgin Tool Wks cross slide has less convenient adjustments for
the index dials than does the Elgin Tool Works cross slide. Also,
the degree markings on the Hardinge/Elgin Tool Wks swivelling top slide
are stamped with a simpler style of number than is the Elgin Tool Works
top slide at left. At the bottom of this page is another Elgin
cross slide, this time with a yet higher serial number (9-10821).
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At left is
the Hardinge/Elgin Tool Works cross slide in Victor's auction (images
reproduced with permission).
At
right is the Egin Tool Wks cross slide purchased with a B.C. Ames bench
lathe (images by the author).
Below those two are images of another Elgin cross slide made by
toolsellinc for an eBay auction
(images reproduced with permission).
Note that this third Elgin cross slide has the same adjustable dials as
Victor's cross slide.
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