Grinder from the War Department

[K and K]

I’ve always liked to think of my 1930’s/1940’s tools being used in the war effort. This might be the closest I found. Saved this massive bench grinder out of a scrap pile. The wheels are 12” diameter and 2” wide. 2 Tags on the front, one identifies it as a Hartman Induction Motor from Hartman Machine & Electrical Works Oakland Ca. It’s 440 volts.
The other tag states it belongs to the War Department San Francisco Ordnance District.

 

[Roberts210]

What a great find. Love the history of this one.

 

[RoninB4]

Cool old grinder, I've worked on/with a lot of machinery that had the war tags on them and always take a moment to consider what contribution it made. Machinery that old is almost always worn out but I try to treat them with some respect. Yes I know that sounds crazy, can't help it.

Looks like some ***** was grinding aluminum and loaded up the wheel.

 

[wrenchguy]

Great save, i hope?? You gonna keep it? I have several "WAR EFFORT" pieces. There should be "HOMEFRONT WAR EFFORT" machinery thread.
Thanx 4 posting.

 

[RTM]

So, how far from its birthplace and home did you find it?

 

[K and K]

Thanks guys, I’m definitely going to keep it. I completely agree with what RoninB4 said about paying respect. When I first saw the War Department tag I paused for a moment of silence. That time in our history means a lot to me. I would like to restore this in both appearance and function. I’ve never had a 440V tool before, but I’ve never owned a tool I knew was used in the war effort. This area had a lot of war material production. I definitely would like to save this piece of history.

 

[K and K]

So, how far from its birthplace and home did you find it?

In Oakland

 

[Plombob]

Consider letting Zeet restore it for you and convert it to 110. You'll be able glad you did.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391200

Zeet's north of Los Angeles.

 

[Old Steamer]

Very sobering yet still a sweet find. Good job!

 

[RTM]

In Oakland

Wow, elusive company. the Internet is releasing very little on them, I am only finding two identical listings in the La Jolla newspapers in Oct 1949.

Listed at 421 E 12th St Oakland.

Here is a different company in Red Bluff, CA, from 1921, wonder if it is a predecessor.

 

[K and K]

Thank you RTM, that’s mire than I was able to find. I looked last night for a long time and didn’t even find that. I did learn a lot about the San Francisco Ordnance District but nothing on the tool’s manufacturer.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Nice grinder...

 

[davethorik]

I bet you a dollar it originally had a pedestal, then someone took the grinder off, scrapped it, and kept the pedestal.

 

[RTM]

Thank you RTM, that’s mire than I was able to find. I looked last night for a long time and didn’t even find that. I did learn a lot about the San Francisco Ordnance District but nothing on the tool’s manufacturer.

Yeah, Regular google, google books were both nothing easy. International tool catalog a blank.

Even the digital newspaper didn’t give it up easy, who would have thought LaJolla first, then Red Bluff.

Suspect Lugz knows exactly where to look for their war contracts tho.

 

[jabberwoki]

What a treasure. Are you going to restore it?

 

[K and K]

What a treasure. Are you going to restore it?

Yes, the paint doesn’t look original, so I don’t mind restoring its appearance. I need to preserve it and restore its function. Any tool that serves our country deserves nothing less.

 

[RoninB4]

When I first saw the War Department tag I paused for a moment of silence.

-In that silence I always look the old girl's battle scars over as I oil the ways and ask for just one more workpiece before firing her up. In that moment I join the long line of journeymen that made this country what it once was.

Hope the grinder serves you well.

 

[RTM]

Looks like around Oct 11, 1921 the Red Bluff company started using the full name.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=RBDN192...BDN-1-byDA-txt-txIN-“Hartman+machine”-------1


In 1922 he was reported to have returned to hunt after moving to Oakland.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=RBDN192...n--20-RBDN-41-byDA-txt-txIN-“Hartman”-------1

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Suspect Lugz knows exactly where to look for their war contracts tho.

Hartman is not listed in the War Production Board (WPB) Major War Supply Contracts. That could mean their contracts were small (less than $50,000). Hartman is also not listed in the WPB's Authorized War Manufacturing Facilities. I have that reference in A to Z form, nationwide, and also by State and County.

I suspect they were small. And I also suspect they probably weren't making anything else but grinders (or other machines) that were then used in other facilities where war materials were being made. Jeeps in Ford's Richmond plant, for example. Tanks at the Ordnance Dept's tank plant, also in Richmond. Or something at Benicia Arsenal. Or one of the manufacturing facilities built or converted for war production in the Bay Area. The Army's Ordnance Dept had thirteen (13) districts. Each district had an arsenal or two, depots, maybe a proving grounds, and authority to manage all government owned contractor run manufacturing facilities. Those data plates only tell us two things: it was made by Hartman, and it was owned by the Army Ordnance Dept's San Francisco District.

 

[K and K]

Thank you very much for that information. It almost means more that it’s from such a small manufacturer that took part in a bigger effort. I always remembered a friend of mines small town lil machine shop was asked back in the day to make a small part for the space shuttle program. I always thought that was neat.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oh, for sure. When you consider that we were rounding up unused tools to melt down in steel drives as late as late 1944, the phrase "every little bit helps" was not just a patriotic morale booster.

 

[jabberwoki]

Yes, the paint doesn’t look original, so I don’t mind restoring its appearance. I need to preserve it and restore its function. Any tool that serves our country deserves nothing less.

Perfect sentiment, that Marchaltown rotary shear i had was from the Navy and very probably had a hand in building vessels for WW2 .

So it`s now in a pair of very worthy hands to get the resto it deserves.