[TheForge] Hossfeld Bender and Dies

Fri Aug 30 22:26:01 2002

Jim,
You are right. They built the best machine tools, they built the best 
robots, they built the best grinders, lathes, etc. etc.
But they are GONE!!!

I worked there for a short time when I was optimistic that a turn around 
might be possible. The last member of the Geier family to run the 
company was still there. The week before he retired he joined me and my 
customer (Boeing Construction Services to name drop) at lunch. at one 
point during lunch I asked him if he was looking forward to retirement. 
He responded that he had been looking forward to retirement since his 
first day there. He was the great grandson of the founder of Cincinnati 
Screw and Tap, which later became Cincinnati Milling Machine which later 
became Cincinnati Milacron.

Over the last decade Cincinnati Milcaron sold off their robot division, 
closed the lathe division, sold the CNC products division, sold Valenite 
division, sold the semiconductor division, sold ILM (their laser machine 
business), closed their machining center plant in Fountain Inn, SC, and 
the last major disection was selling off the original main plant in 
Cincinnati to Unova. Unova has since sold off most of the land and 
buildings which have been demolished for of course........a Sam's Club, 
a Target, a Dodge/Kia dealership and lots of parking!!!!

A sin for sure!!!

Ray
Cincinnati

Nancy & Jim Jordan wrote:

>Cincinnati Milacron is gone!???
>Oh, the shame of today's world.
>I never thought it could happen.
>I guess making the best product isn't enough anymore.
>Cin-mil made great tools, grinding wheel etc.
>It is a real loss.
>Jim Jordan
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 7:34 AM
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hossfeld Bender and Dies
>
>
>>Bill,
>>That is a regular dilemma in many areas of life. How many of us check the
>>
>tags of the clothes we wear and do not purchase things made in China,
>Pakistan, India, etc. with child or slave labor.
>
>>Many times on this list people have discussed Harbor Freight Tools and
>>
>their source. Yet they are a thriving resource to many on this list.
>
>>In my mind what American Bending represents is the path any viable company
>>
>should take. Yes Hossfeld developed the tools and designs. But they have
>settled into a comfort zome of doing what they  have always done taking no
>advantage of improvements in materials or process.
>
>>Yes, I think applying CNC is using new technology. If the only result is a
>>
>cheaper product with the same quality, in the eyes of the market, that's a
>new product.
>
>>Many other US business icons have disappeared as a result of stagnant
>>
>business cultures, practices or ideas.
>
>>How many of you remember the glory days of Cincinnati's machine tool
>>
>industry?
>
>>Cincinnati Milling Machine, later called Cincinnati Milacron - GONE
>>Cincinnati Gilbert - almost gone
>>Giddings and Lewis - Gone
>>LaBlond lathes - Gone
>>and the list goes on, for Cincinnati and other cities with their own
>>
>specific industries.
>
>>A business or company needs to adopt new ideas keep learning how to do the
>>
>job better or else get passed by.
>
>>As blacksmiths we are all committed to learned new skills, adopting new
>>
>processes, new tools and always interested in improving our skills and the
>fruits of out labor. Do any of us think that we are good enough to stop
>learning???
>
>>Ray Miller
>>Cincinnati
>>
>>>From: Woolley <[email protected]>
>>>Date: 2002/08/29 Thu PM 10:54:06 EDT
>>>To: Forge list <[email protected]>
>>>Subject: [TheForge] Hossfeld Bender and Dies
>>>
>>>Greetings,
>>>
>>>I finally found a used #2 Hossfeld right in my backyard, quite by
>>>accident that I got for a good price.  It came with one set of
>>>dies(1.25" tube steel) so I need to buy some for flats.  I have American
>>>Benders literature with price list as well as Hossfeld literature with a
>>>distributor with stock also in my backyard.  Reviewing and comparing
>>>prices between the two companies has brought me to consider what I
>>>consider an ethical question that I'll put to the list to see how others
>>>feel just out of curiosity, not to judge other peoples ethics.  Hossfeld
>>>developes, patents, and markets a very useful, economical bending tool
>>>with an adequate, varied set of dies for years with much success. Patent
>>>runs out, ex employee copies the whole deal, markets as improved because
>>>of CNC technology, and cheaper to buy to end user.  Now in all fairness
>>>to the new guys, I have not seen their dies.  But looking at and having
>>>used a  Hossfeld, we are not really talking a sophisticated (as far as
>>>from a manufacturing standpoint) piece of equipment here.  Does having a
>>>CNC guided machine really benefit the end user?  The holes and pins and
>>>castings etc. on the original seem perfectly fine.  Is it the price?  My
>>>search hasn't found the new guys to be significantly better.  Let me
>>>stress,  I have absolutely no malice nor ill feeling toward the
>>>principals in this new venture, just trying to decide whether or not to
>>>support a company who probably hasn't built a better mouse trap.  In any
>>>case, I'm looking for die sets.  Used is always an option. Anybody?
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>>Bill Woolley
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>theforge mail list group photo site is
>http://www.photoaccess.com
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>
>

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