Another item from Country Artifacts, Great Northern Liquidation, Springfield, Vermont.

Lot of 10 Vintage c.1965 IBM 360 Labor Punch Cards, Bryant Grinder Co. Springfield Vermont

This lot was found in an old machinist toolbox, received from the Vermont estate of a former Bryant Grinder employee.
I was able to identify and date these cards based on information that was in the toolbox with them, principally an October 1966 Bryant News Brief that talked about the new IBM 360 mainframe computer installed sometime after May 1965: "We have made many impressive improvements. Among these, for example, is the new IBM 360 Computer installation which provides us with an integrated management operating system." The News Brief also included a photograph of the computer room, which was located just behind the front lobby and I imagine was proudly displayed with a viewing window. The introductory cost of $133,000 at the time (more than $1 million today), made the IBM 360 mainframe a big status symbol. In the picture, it looks like the system includes a Model 30 processor unit, the early model in the 360 series.
Each is a Labor Card with boxes for hand filling out information related to the machine and process being worked on. Each measures about 3-1/4" x 7-1/2".
Condition is unused with some staining from age and being in an old toolbox.

History:

Bryant Chucking Grinder was founded in 1909 by William Bryant, who previously worked for James Hartness of Jones & Lamson Machine Company (J&L) as chief draughtsman, and then chief engineer. After inventing and patenting a multispindle grinder, he took Hartness's advice and formed a separate company, which grew to be one of several firms that made Springfield, Vermont an important machine tool center. Hartness helped finance the Bryant venture and was the firm's first president.
The company established itself as a noted brand for both internal and external grinding, and became an important machine tool builder to the automotive and aircraft industries, with business surging during wartime periods.
During WWI, Ford had 102 Bryant machines busy producing the famous Liberty aircraft engine. Up to the advent of the jet engine, virtually 90% of the grinding done on aircraft engines was performed on Bryant machines.
In WWII, demand exceeded production significantly, requiring 750 machines to be produced by Draper Corp. at a time when production had peaked at 3.5 machines per day. Bryant earned the Army-Navy E award in 1942, and Springfield was No.7 on Germany's list of US bombing targets due to it's war production. Bryant also produced radar units for Raytheon and GE, participated in the Manhattan Project, worked with Bendix on grinding bores to .000005" for use on B-29 bomber fuel pumps, and was the first American machine tool to enter Japan after the war.
Growth continued through the Korean War and into the 1960's with international expansion, diversification into computer products, and the purchase of the company by Ex-Cell-O Corporation of Detroit in 1958. Into the mid 1980's the company innovated, culminating with the introduction of the world's first CNC multi surface grinding machine.
But then in 1986 Textron, who had previously purchased J&L in 1964, purchased Ex-Cell-O, and then sold both companies to Goldman Industrial Group in 1988, who had purchased Fellows Gear Shaper Company (the third big shop in Springfield with a history similar to Bryant) the year before. All three companies were ultimately consolidated into one plant, and business spiraled down to the point of bankruptcy in 2002. All three are now shadows of their former selves, existing as parts of other companies.
Factors sited for the failure of Springfield's big three include: non-local large multinational conglomerate corporate ownership starting in the 1950's with a caretaker or raider posture, unions (long strikes in the 1970's resulting in high wage and legacy costs), and a failure to compete from the mid-1980's onward (Springfield firms typically generated "old school" machines while the Japanese focused on high technology and low cost).

Unpacked weight & size: 0.9oz

Packed weight & size: 4oz

Package Notes & Ref: 0I54, 19.18f

Note: Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the shipping charge quoted is to addresses in the contiguous 48 United States. Please email for a shipping quote to Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, and international destinations. This particularly applies if the shipping charge is zero ($0).

If for any reason you are unsatisfied with your purchase, I offer a money back guarantee. This can be a full or partial refund (depending on the severity of the problem). In many cases you may not even need to return it. Please contact me through eBay's messaging service with a description of the issue and I will respond as soon as I see it.

Please also note that my liability for product defects is limited to the purchase price plus shipping. I am not responsible for the installation, training in the use of, or operation of any item I sell. The buyer assumes all responsibility for safely handling, inspecting and verifying the operational quality of their purchases prior to putting them into service. The buyer expressly releases the seller from any liability arising from the installation or operation of the product.

Lot of 10 Bryant Grinder Co Springfield Vermont IBM 360 Labor Punch Cards c.1965

Sign In