Proud to say that Ron is my Uncle. He still rides his Harley, just rebuilt a cool old Chevy pickup, has a hand built hot rod that he made a lot of the parts for and is as nice a guy IRL as you see in this video. You should see his shop!
This is one of the most interesting histories of American machine history that I have seen. I wish that I could have even half of the talent and knowledge that gentleman has and wasn't so old so I could put it into practice. Thanks for the video.
Good Morning Keith & Ron: Excellent video and interview as always! USS Runner #476 was built in 1944. I was in the Navy at pretty much the same time as Mr. Grundy. I am a little older then Mr Grundy, and was in Sub service stationed at Pearl Harbor as a "yard" bird for 7.5 years. I had 30 years of service, and worked on a lot of subs;.... but I don't recall working on the Runner. I was on a tender in Guam, and then on the Enterprise for a couple of years. Our machine shops were very well equipped, and we had many of these K & T mills, as well as others. Best Wishes, and GOD BLESS! Gary ,
A very interesting video. I was a West Coast Service Tech/Representative from the CA West Coast Regional office who installed many different MM CNC milling machines throughout Aerospace Defense facilities in the 80’s. I was fortunate enough where I actually worked there at the K & T Facility in Milwaukee. It was most likely Bob Trecker and my Santa Fe Springs Manager approved a 7 month pilot apprenticeship program where I trained alongside those wonderfully talented employees. During my initial tenure, I met/worked briefly with a taller Serbian employee who would perform hand scraping for many CNC’s. There he scraped the beds beforehand where he ran “yaw” “pitch” and “roll” using laser equipment. I remember using an auto collimator and interferometer. Once he finalized the scraping they installed the machined ways and continued the process of rechecking tolerances. It was interesting to watch the employees. Most were extremely conscientious individuals and quality, fit, & smooth operation of these machining centers was important to them. Does Ron remember what type of wooden floors they used? I do remember the 12 minute lunches, fortunately I was exempt.
What a knowledgeable, articulate, engaging and enthusiastic man. Old school....in the best possible way. I just hope that I'm in as good shape when I'm 79. Thanks to both Ron and Keith.
I very much enjoyed watching and listening to Ron and you this morning over my coffee. I would love to see more videos with these icons of the past machining industry. Thank you for taking the time to document Ron and his stories...
I second Fred's request for more interviews of the old masters. The US industrial industry is an amazing story that doesn't get told. I'd love to hear more from ANY of these industry masters. Keith - you have a natural gift for interviewing and bringing out those wonderul stories. Thank you.
Thank you, Ron. Thank you for your service to our Country. Thank you for your dedication to your job and to 'your' company. Thank you for your dedication to a work ethic that, while not gone, sadly it's a rarity to find nowadays. I think that is one of the reasons UA-cam channels like Keith's are as popular as they are: he shares your dedication and commitment to doing a job right, the first time. Keith, thank you for finding and continuing to promote the values that made America the greatest Country the world has ever known. While we've been beaten up, we've not been beaten down. Not yet. Let's pray the clowns (on BOTH sides) can pull their collective heads out of the shade and remember they serve the Country, NOT themselves. Sorry, for the preachin', I get wound up every once in a while. Thanks, Keith, Thanks, Ron. And thank you America!
Thank you Keith for being so kind with information one K and T and good luck to you and Ron. One day I will have to look you up. Call it a bucket list so to speak Peace and good day. VF
Ron is a very interesting and informative guy to listen to. Thanks for this insight into these machines and the skills needed to build them. Great video, thanks Keith.
oh man...this is so cool.... I could listen to guys like this for hours. I just aquired a model K. I am blown away at the amount of money it was way back when to rebuild these
Great interview. Great to hear the stories from someone that worked there and has so much experience. I have a 2H that I got for free down here in San Diego. It seemed to be part a Navy repair station, then ended up in a motorcycle shop where it sat for about 50 years. I went to look at it, and the guy said if I can get it out of here, I can have it. Took it home, wired it up, and it runs like a champ. It was built the same year Ron and my step-mom were born so I named it Jodi, after her.
Really interesting interview, Keith. What a wealth of knowledge that Ron has about K&T machine tools, and a bygone era in our country's industrial history.
Thanks so much for sharing this Keith, love hearing about days past and how quality and pride were the goal. The current "built for profit " is a sad direction that a lot of companies have had to take just to survive in the global market. Less scrapping and more scraping! Cheers
Gday Kieth, thanks very much for sharing Ron’s story and history, very interesting and enjoyable to watch, lots of history there and now there’s a little preserved for future generations, thanks Kieth, Cheers
I learned to use an old war finish model K&T horizontal mill at the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel machine shop at the University of Maryland. I was fortunate to have a very patient mentor (Charles Lessig)
I enjoyed this meeting of knowledge , books are fine living master machine builders shows the great reliability of our history ,, when we built them to last a lifetime. We dont realize when we're doing it till many years later. You see we have natural heroes that no one appreciates. Thank you sir for creating legends .
A great story of a working life. I was fortunate enough to have a former service engineer from H.Parkinson and Sons here in the UK come and help me with some jobs on our Sunderland gear planers a couple of years ago. His story is virtually identical to Ron's and they are about the same age. Funny how things were done in very similar ways on different sides of the pond!
I worked at Waner & Swasey in the early 70s. At their Solon road plant they had two Milwaukeematics . Both NC controlled. They had many very impressive machine tools.
This is so good to see. I've always enjoyed listening to the folks who helped build this technology. Funny thing, when I listen to Ron, I come to the conclusion that when it comes to the Internet, I'm him.
This brings back fond memories of working at the Warner and Swasey Turning division in the 70’s. At the time they were building Ram, A type automatic chuckers and early CNCs. I still marvel at the skill of the scrapers - they too were paid on incentive/piece work by the square inch.
Thank you, Keith, for the interview with Mr. Grundy. My Grundy has a wealth of knowledge that needs to be preserved. I look forward to doing business with him in keeping my K&T 2CHL running. And thank you also for preserving the archives on these and other machines at Vintage Machinery. More videos with interviews of these machine building and designing veterans would certainly be appreciated.
I have a 1943 #3 Model K. Bought it at auction listed as a #2. When I got there to pick it up, it was a surprise . Missing the head but have the rest of the parts to include side handle, and the hose mount to overarm support. I just got it back together. Looking for a head or I am going to make a frank-n-mill. (Bridgeport head on the overarm support) Thanks for sharing your time.
Mr. Grundy, thank you for your service and thank you for your time. You sir, are a well spoken gentlemen. I enjoyed your stories. Thank you, Keith for sharing Mr. Grundy with us.
We have an old K&T 50 taper vertical mill here at NASA Michoud Assembly plant in New Orleans. Its old and still used for cutting weld test panels on a vacuum chuck since early 1970's. Spindle seal leak, but that is from excessive use.
Boy am I glad to see this video , I work for a machine dealer one day a week repairing machines . I started working on K & T 3CH trying to remove the front cover , I have it puled out about 1/2in. and cant figure out what is keeping it from coming off . Going to send MR. Grundy an email . I'm sure he is going to be getting a lot of people asking questions . Finding people like Ron is very hard to find , thanks for the video Keith
I remember growing up in Milwaukee in the 70-80’s as a school kid and my dad would sell parts to K&T. I never really knew what they did but this really brought back memories of the area and the people.
Thank you Ron & Keith. Very interesting bit of history & technology. I hope Ron records some of his knowledge for future machinists in the fashion Keith does to preserve this history
FWIW, I worked for a manufacturer that had machines from back in the 30's and 40's. I recall one boring mill from 1942 that had a tag "War Finish" meaning some of the rough edges and cosmetic items were not as nice as they were during peacetime in the interest of expediency.
That would be awesome to see im actually looking for parts for a Cincinnati no2 205-12 MI and dividing head index plates, crank, fingers for a k&t model H Thanks love your work Keith
My father and my uncle did a lot of business with you guys and I think at one time my uncle worked for K &T. That was a great interview and it was very nice to meet you...
Great video. We have heard you speak of K&T all the time in your videos and it great to hear it from Mr. Grudy(sp). We all need to appreciate the work these folks did and are willing to share their great stories. Thanks for sharing.
What a great guy, his experience on making quality machines will be lost as time goes by, what a shame we don’t manufacture to the same standards, quality has been sacrificed for speed of manufacture and profit, smashing chat Keith
Proud to say that Ron is my Uncle. He still rides his Harley, just rebuilt a cool old Chevy pickup, has a hand built hot rod that he made a lot of the parts for and is as nice a guy IRL as you see in this video. You should see his shop!
Is he around 80? He looks maybe 60.
@@michael931 He's 79.
got my reply to work computer dunce ...thanks for the comment
@@rongrundy5136 you actually look like you could be in your 50's. Is scraping the key to long life? Or cutting oil? :)
Submariner.
This is one of the most interesting histories of American machine history that I have seen. I wish that I could have even half of the talent and knowledge that gentleman has and wasn't so old so I could put it into practice. Thanks for the video.
Good Morning Keith & Ron:
Excellent video and interview as always!
USS Runner #476 was built in 1944. I was in the Navy at pretty much the same time as Mr. Grundy. I am a little older then Mr Grundy, and was in Sub service stationed at Pearl Harbor as a "yard" bird for 7.5 years. I had 30 years of service, and worked on a lot of subs;.... but I don't recall working on the Runner. I was on a tender in Guam, and then on the Enterprise for a couple of years.
Our machine shops were very well equipped, and we had many of these K & T mills, as well as others.
Best Wishes, and GOD BLESS!
Gary
,
Ron is a Great interview subject ! Loved this video . Brings back so many memories . Thanks Keith for introducing him to us !
A very interesting video.
I was a West Coast Service Tech/Representative from the CA West Coast Regional office who installed many different MM CNC milling machines throughout Aerospace Defense facilities in the 80’s.
I was fortunate enough where I actually worked there at the K & T Facility in Milwaukee. It was most likely Bob Trecker and my Santa Fe Springs Manager approved a 7 month pilot apprenticeship program where I trained alongside those wonderfully talented employees.
During my initial tenure, I met/worked briefly with a taller Serbian employee who would perform hand scraping for many CNC’s. There he scraped the beds beforehand where he ran “yaw” “pitch” and “roll” using laser equipment. I remember using an auto collimator and interferometer. Once he finalized the scraping they installed the machined ways and continued the process of rechecking tolerances.
It was interesting to watch the employees. Most were extremely conscientious individuals and quality, fit, & smooth operation of these machining centers was important to them.
Does Ron remember what type of wooden floors they used?
I do remember the 12 minute lunches, fortunately I was exempt.
What a knowledgeable, articulate, engaging and enthusiastic man. Old school....in the best possible way. I just hope that I'm in as good shape when I'm 79. Thanks to both Ron and Keith.
I very much enjoyed watching and listening to Ron and you this morning over my coffee. I would love to see more videos with these icons of the past machining industry. Thank you for taking the time to document Ron and his stories...
I second Fred's request for more interviews of the old masters. The US industrial industry is an amazing story that doesn't get told. I'd love to hear more from ANY of these industry masters. Keith - you have a natural gift for interviewing and bringing out those wonderul stories. Thank you.
thanks Keith for making our machines more loved
Way to represent Ron Grundy! Miss working with the gang at K&T!!! "Always good machines!"
Thank you, Ron. Thank you for your service to our Country. Thank you for your dedication to your job and to 'your' company. Thank you for your dedication to a work ethic that, while not gone, sadly it's a rarity to find nowadays. I think that is one of the reasons UA-cam channels like Keith's are as popular as they are: he shares your dedication and commitment to doing a job right, the first time.
Keith, thank you for finding and continuing to promote the values that made America the greatest Country the world has ever known. While we've been beaten up, we've not been beaten down. Not yet.
Let's pray the clowns (on BOTH sides) can pull their collective heads out of the shade and remember they serve the Country, NOT themselves.
Sorry, for the preachin', I get wound up every once in a while. Thanks, Keith, Thanks, Ron. And thank you America!
Scraping the ways of a machine is a lost artform. Thank you for filming this interview!
I worked with Ron at renewment division. Those were the good old days. As Ron said K-T was a great place to work and quality was always there.
Thank you Keith for being so kind with information one K and T and good luck to you and Ron. One day I will have to look you up. Call it a bucket list so to speak
Peace and good day. VF
you guys are why this country was great, thank you
Ron is a very interesting and informative guy to listen to. Thanks for this insight into these machines and the skills needed to build them. Great video, thanks Keith.
oh man...this is so cool.... I could listen to guys like this for hours. I just aquired a model K. I am blown away at the amount of money it was way back when to rebuild these
Please do more interviews like this if you get a chance. Absolutely love interviews like this! 👍
Great interview. Great to hear the stories from someone that worked there and has so much experience.
I have a 2H that I got for free down here in San Diego. It seemed to be part a Navy repair station, then ended up in a motorcycle shop where it sat for about 50 years. I went to look at it, and the guy said if I can get it out of here, I can have it. Took it home, wired it up, and it runs like a champ. It was built the same year Ron and my step-mom were born so I named it Jodi, after her.
Wonderful - thank you Keith and Ron.
Thank you for documenting his wealth of knowledge.
Really interesting interview, Keith. What a wealth of knowledge that Ron has about K&T machine tools, and a bygone era in our country's industrial history.
Thank you Ron for sharing your story's!
Our shop still has four k&t mills running daily. Incredible machines and an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing.
That was a real pleasure to watch. Thanks Ron and Keith.
Thanks so much for sharing this Keith, love hearing about days past and how quality and pride were the goal.
The current "built for profit " is a sad direction that a lot of companies have had to take just to survive in the global market.
Less scrapping and more scraping!
Cheers
Not just a treat for you Keith, if that is not a treat for every one I don't know what is. Enjoyed that one a lot.
We have a Milwaukee matic IIIb NC. We retrofit it and still use it today. Amazing machine.
My father was a scraper, retired from Brookhaven National lab. Thank you Keith for documenting that part of this country’s history.
Awesome interview. Thanks, Ron!
Gday Kieth, thanks very much for sharing Ron’s story and history, very interesting and enjoyable to watch, lots of history there and now there’s a little preserved for future generations, thanks Kieth, Cheers
I learned to use an old war finish model K&T horizontal mill at the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel machine shop at the University of Maryland. I was fortunate to have a very patient mentor (Charles Lessig)
I enjoyed this meeting of knowledge , books are fine living master machine builders shows the great reliability of our history ,, when we built them to last a lifetime. We dont realize when we're doing it till many years later. You see we have natural heroes that no one appreciates. Thank you sir for creating legends .
I could listen to this gentleman all afternoon. What a fascinating career in a fascinating industry.
Facinating History lesson !!!
What a wonderful story and a tremendous source of history. Outstanding Keith.
Excellent! Important and interesting history. One of the best ever episodes. Thank you very much Messrs. Grundy and Rucker for sharing.
A great story of a working life. I was fortunate enough to have a former service engineer from H.Parkinson and Sons here in the UK come and help me with some jobs on our Sunderland gear planers a couple of years ago. His story is virtually identical to Ron's and they are about the same age. Funny how things were done in very similar ways on different sides of the pond!
I worked at Waner & Swasey in the early 70s.
At their Solon road plant they had two Milwaukeematics . Both NC controlled. They had many very impressive machine tools.
This is so good to see. I've always enjoyed listening to the folks who helped build this technology. Funny thing, when I listen to Ron, I come to the conclusion that when it comes to the Internet, I'm him.
Thanks for the fantastic story of this man and the company he worked for.
This brings back fond memories of working at the Warner and Swasey Turning division in the 70’s. At the time they were building Ram, A type automatic chuckers and early CNCs. I still marvel at the skill of the scrapers - they too were paid on incentive/piece work by the square inch.
Thank you, Keith, for the interview with Mr. Grundy. My Grundy has a wealth of knowledge that needs to be preserved. I look forward to doing business with him in keeping my K&T 2CHL running. And thank you also for preserving the archives on these and other machines at Vintage Machinery. More videos with interviews of these machine building and designing veterans would certainly be appreciated.
I have a 1943 #3 Model K. Bought it at auction listed as a #2. When I got there to pick it up, it was a surprise . Missing the head but have the rest of the parts to include side handle, and the hose mount to overarm support. I just got it back together. Looking for a head or I am going to make a frank-n-mill. (Bridgeport head on the overarm support)
Thanks for sharing your time.
thank you for your SERVIce
Mr. Grundy, thank you for your service and thank you for your time. You sir, are a well spoken gentlemen. I enjoyed your stories. Thank you, Keith for sharing Mr. Grundy with us.
We have an old K&T 50 taper vertical mill here at NASA Michoud Assembly plant in New Orleans. Its old and still used for cutting weld test panels on a vacuum chuck since early 1970's. Spindle seal leak, but that is from excessive use.
The skilled trades are to be greatly admired.
Thank you Keith and Ron. Very enjoyable to listen to the history of these great machines
Thank you for posting.
Boy am I glad to see this video , I work for a machine dealer one day a week repairing machines . I started working on K & T 3CH trying to remove the front cover , I have it puled out about 1/2in. and cant figure out what is keeping it from coming off . Going to send MR. Grundy an email . I'm sure he is going to be getting a lot of people asking questions . Finding people like Ron is very hard to find , thanks for the video Keith
If he ever answers his email
True history, like wine, is to be savored. Thanks to Ron and of course Keith, for sharing memories... great history.
Wonderful video Keith, thanks Ron Grundy for all your Navy and K&T service......
That little knt your day in front of is beautiful and I would just love that as my first machine
Great episode! Love hearing stories from the employees of old America machine manufacturers
This is a delightful presentation. Thanks to you both ! The free World owes a massive thank you to American tooling.
Really loved the video what a great talent!!
What a neat opportunity to hear stories about an American icon company. Thanks Keith!
Love listening to stories from these old guys. so much knowledge and insight. I could have listened to him for hours!
What a wonderful interview,I could listen and engage with Ron Grundy all day long,thanks Keith for posting.🤗😎🤗😎
Yall are doing an amazing job of preserving the history of technology. THANK YOU.
I remember growing up in Milwaukee in the 70-80’s as a school kid and my dad would sell parts to K&T. I never really knew what they did but this really brought back memories of the area and the people.
Fascinating! Thanks Ron and Keith for putting this together!
nice to here him tell the storry
Fun to hear the history Thanks
Excellent that was a lot of fun. He is young for his age! For most of the video, I thought he must have joined the navy at three!
Keith - Great interview. Ron - Very nice for you to share your experiences and knowledge of KT manufactured equipment.
Thank you both for taking the time for this interview.
Thank you Ron & Keith. Very interesting bit of history & technology. I hope Ron records some of his knowledge for future machinists in the fashion Keith does to preserve this history
Now that's what this country is all about, and thank you for your service...
So happy seeing this, was so hoping to hear from Mr Grundy when he was first mentioned.
Very interesting to listen to Ron, thanks Keith
Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.
Good stuff. One of those guys you could talk with for hours and hours. So much irreplaceable knowledge in that man’s head.
Thanks, Ron. Thanks, Keith.
What a great opportunity to hear someone with so much knowledge and ability.
Most interesting, really enjoyed.
Thank you & Ron
That was an enjoyable interview! Thanks Keith and Ron
Fantastic video! I love listening to the old timers about the companies they worked for.
FWIW, I worked for a manufacturer that had machines from back in the 30's and 40's. I recall one boring mill from 1942 that had a tag "War Finish" meaning some of the rough edges and cosmetic items were not as nice as they were during peacetime in the interest of expediency.
An excellent interesting interview. Thanks to you both.
more stories from Ron, PLEASE
thank you
That was really great listening to him would have liked to seen his shop.
Fabulous interview. Thank you both.
Really great interview, Keith. Somewhat saddening because of the nature of competition and world economics, but great history lesson none the less.
Great video one of the best I've seen on UA-cam. Thank you for the content you put up.
Wonderful interview,thanks for making it happen. I think I may have bought a thing or two from Ron. on ebay for my 2 HL
More like this! Thanks both of you
Lennart in Sweden
WONDERFUL!
Two thumbs up for that one guys! Really enjoyed it thank you!
If you can repeat that for the others - Cincinnati, Monarch etc. that'd be a great new series.
That would be awesome to see im actually looking for parts for a Cincinnati no2 205-12 MI and dividing head index plates, crank, fingers for a k&t model H Thanks love your work Keith
I know a guy who built machines for Cincinnati - I need to get up and do an interview with him sometime.
My father and my uncle did a lot of business with you guys and I think at one time my uncle worked for K &T. That was a great interview and it was very nice to meet you...
That was the best video's for me you ever have done. One on one with history like that is priceless. Do more if you can. Thank you "The Gundoctor"
Great video. We have heard you speak of K&T all the time in your videos and it great to hear it from Mr. Grudy(sp). We all need to appreciate the work these folks did and are willing to share their great stories. Thanks for sharing.
What a fantastic interview Keith! Well done.
What a great guy, his experience on making quality machines will be lost as time goes by, what a shame we don’t manufacture to the same standards, quality has been sacrificed for speed of manufacture and profit, smashing chat Keith
Fantastic interview Keith. Folks like Ron are really becoming a national treasure of knowledge and history. Very interesting guy!
Lovely story , thanks guys 👏👏😎🍺🍺👍🇬🇧
That was a great interview Keith, I enjoyed it a lot.