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http://www.agsem.com/machshop.html |
Saturday August 19, 2006, truck number 19 hauled in our new lathe. Driver and boss Luis Montanez's business card
reads Dunkel Bros.
(AKA Orange County Machinery Movers) Below left: That is Luis Montanez climbing down from his cab when they first arrived.
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We purchased this lathe from a former member, Steve Penkoff, who just closed his Fallbrook manufacturing plant to retire
and ride his motorcycle. Luis (above right) and his assistant drove 85 miles -- 137 kilometers -- from La Mirada to Fallbrook,
loaded our lathe, then drove the 15 additional miles -- 24 kilometers -- to our Museum.
Above right picture: note the chucks and face plates. Below the back. It is 220 volts, 3 phase,
19 inches over the carriage, 24 inch swing x 96 inches between centers, serial number 2H686; Le Blond shipped it
on November 29, 1961. In the picture below on the left you
can see the front of an age 14 kid named Eric McConnon, who after starting at our place while still in diapers, is now helping
out a lot. And learning a lot. Several guys who began at our place while in diapers, are now in college
Majoring in Engineering. On the right there is also a profile glimpse of Virgil White's back.
Above: While I spoke at length with Luis's assistant and lift truck driver, I failed to get his name. But Chuck Goebel
boss of Steam Engine Row got it, his name is Allen Clark.
That strange kahki color object to the left is a military surplus cargo parachute, being tested as a possible shade maker
tent for Events. Below left: They drove the lift truck into our Mike Ashbeck Shop Building backwards.
Our new lathe weighs 7,500 pounds. The forklift capacity is 13,500 pounds.
Rarely were words exchanged between Allen and Luis, most done with silent hand signals. It was like watching a well
choreographed ballet. They backed it all the way into the building, turned it 90 degrees, then moved it towards the back
three feet, and set it down. Below right: Machine Shop Honcho Gary Clare, left.
Right: Dunkel Bros. Driver Honcho Luis Montanez facing camera.
Above right: We poured that steel reinforced six inch concrete slab July 12, 2005
scroll down to four David Denny photos showing that process. It is a good idea to let a new concrete slab cure a year
or so before placing a 7,500 pound lathe. After Luis and Allen left, five of us who witnessed the delivery
agreed that Luis and Allen had done that before. We routinely go out and pick up equipment much larger and heavier
than this lathe, we have the vehicles, tools and expertise. But this is a precision piece of equipment, and we did not want to take
the chance of dropping it.
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