American Precision Museum

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Currently Closed - Will Reopen May 25, 2019

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James N. Heald (1846-1931)

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HFHeald

After graduating from Worcester Polytechnic, Heald became a partner with his father in the blacksmith shop, foundry, and machine shop his family had operated for 60 years in Heald Village near Barre, Massachusetts. In 1903, James Heald obtained financing to buy the firm from his father and moved it to Worcester. He had already developed a lathe attachment for both internal and external grinding and a successful drill point grinder. In 190S, Heald introduced a rotary grinder for the sides of piston rings. This brought him in contact with the problems encountered with cylinders for auto engines. Up to that time, boring, reaming, and lapping were the usual methods. Grinding was ruled out because of the difficulty of rotating the engine block around the cylinder centerline. The thin walls would spring away from the boring tool, causing an uneven surface. In 1905, Heald devised a grinding machine with a planetary action that was so well designed that such machines differ little even today. Heald's grinding machine quickly became the standard production method for both auto and aircraft engines. Later Heald added automatic size control, and developed hydraulic table feed and centerless internal grinders.

Elected 1998

  • BannowR. Bannow (1897-1962)
  • BLANCHARDT. Blanchard (1788-1864)
  • BlissE.W. Bliss (1836-1903)
  • BrainardW. Brainard (1912-1976)
  • Joseph R. BrownJ. Brown (1810-1876)
  • BryantW. Bryant (1875-1931)
  • Edward P. BullardE. Bullard (1872-1953)
  • Frank Lyman ConeF. Cone (1868-1936)
  • Ralph E.Ralph E. Cross (1910-2003)
  • T. William DavenportT.W. Davenport (1861-1937)
  • Charles B. DeVlieg C. DeVlieg (1892-1973)
  • Edwin R. Fellows E. Fellows (1865-1945)
  • Robert M. Gaylord R. Gaylord (1888-1980)
  • Frederick V. Geier F. Geier (1894-1981)
  • James GleasonJames Gleason (1868-1964)
  • George 0. Gridley George Gridley (1869-1956)
  • John H. HallJohn Hall (1781-1841)
  • James HartnessJ. Hartness (1861-1934)
  • James N. HealdJames Heald (1846-1931)
  • John HerkenhoffJ. Herkenhoff (1905-1996)
  • Frederick W. HoweF. Howe (1822-1891)
  • Winthrop IngersollW Ingersoll (1865-1928)
  • Edwary J. KingsburyE. Kingsbury (1893-1973)
  • Ralph KrautRalph Kraut (1908-1985)
  • Ebenezer G. Lamson E. Lamson (1814-1891)
  • Abraham B. LandisA. Landis (1851-1923)
  • Franklin F. Landis F. Landis (1845-1932)
  • Richard E. LeBlond R. LeBlond (1900-1995)
  • Richard K. LeBlond R. LeBlond (1864-1953>)
  • William Lodge W. Lodge (1848-1917)
  • Richard P Moore R. Moore (1896-1987)
  • Simeon North S. North (1765-1852)
  • Charles H. Norton C. Norton (1851-1942)
  • John I ParsonsJohn  Parsons (1913- )
  • Louis PolkLouis Polk (1904-1991)
  • Francis A. Pratt F. Pratt (1827-1902)
  • Henry Prentiss Henry Prentiss (1848-1943)
  • William Sellers W. Sellers (1824-1905)
  • Henry D. Sharpe H. Sharpe (1872-1954)
  • Lucian Sharpe L. Sharpe (1830-1899)
  • Ambrose Swasey A. Swasey (1846-1937)
  • Frederick W. Taylor F. Taylor (1856-1915)
  • Francis J. Trecker F. Trecker (1909-1987)
  • Theodore TreckerT. Trecker (1868-1955)
  • Eli Whitney Eli Whitney (1765-1825)
  • Leighton A. Wilkie L. Wilkie (1900-1993)
  • David Wilkinson D. Wilkinson (1771-1852)

About the Hall of Fame

The American Precision Museum Machine Tool Hall of Fame provides permanent recognition for those who have made significant contributions to the American machine tool industry, starting in 1765.

The Hall of Fame project was a joint effort of the American Precision Museum and the The Association for Manufacturing Technology. AMT represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members—those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Founded in 1902 and based in Virginia, the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis. AMT is the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce. AMT owns and manages IMTS — The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is the premier manufacturing technology event in North America.

The Machine Tool Hall of Fame project began in 1982 and forty seven members have now been elected, including the four inductees in 2004. As a Hall of Fame partner, AMT provided services that supported the selection of new honorees. Nominees were judged for their inventions, their innovative use of others' inventions, or their leadership of a machine oriented group. In its early years the Hall of Fame exhibit was on display at the museum but is now more accessible from the web.

About

  • About the Museum
  • Our Mission
  • News
  • Building Restoration
  • Museum Founder
  • Annual Reports
  • Affiliations
  • Board and Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Employment
  • Newsletters

Exhibits

  • Current Exhibits
  • Past Exhibits
  • Machine Tool Hall of Fame

Collections

  • Collections Tour
  • Donating an Artifact

Education

  • Educator's Notes
  • The Learning Lab
  • School Visits
  • Traveling Education Kit
  • Working Machine Shop
  • Manufacturing Week
  • Workforce Development
  • Quests

Events

  • Upcoming Events
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Model Engineering Show and Maker Space
  • Past Events

Visit

  • General Information and Directions
  • Area Attractions
  • Explore Vermont

Shop

  • Museum Shop

Support

  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Corporate Membership Benefits
  • Corporate Spotlight
  • Planned Giving
  • Volunteer
  • Collections Tour
  • Donating an Artifact

American Precision Museum, 196 Main Street, PO Box 679, Windsor, Vermont 05089 | 802.674.5781
Open Memorial Day weekend through – October 31 - 10am – 5pm daily