(erielack) Fisher Body Presses

[<rfederle_@_cox.net>]

Thought some sidebar info may be interesting to some.

Some correspondence with Mr Henry Rentschler, whos Father and Grandfather was part of the Hooven-Owens-Rentschler Corp. in Hamilton Ohio. H-O-R was building Corliss Engines in Hamilton Ohio. 

Its been a while and I may have a couple details confused but a merger with the Niles Tool Works in Hamilton Ohio, I beleive became General Machinery Corp. That Hamilton works partnered with Lima Locomotive Works to become Lima-Hamilton. Another branch of the General Machinery Corp was the Hamilton Press Co.

Below is an excerpt from the correspondence with Mr Rentschler on June 10th 2008:

The presses at Fisher Body were "underslung" meaning  
that the driving mechanism was down from the main floor.  Rather than  
having the gearing above and pushing the platens down and up, the  
gearing was below and pulled the platens down, or pushed up.  This  
type of press was a radical new design, that was quieter on the main  
floor, speedier, and space-saving on the main floor.  When Fisher Body  
was closed, now some years ago, the presses were sold to China, and I  have no idea of their whereabout today.  Take care.

Some may find that interesting. Thanks to Mr Henry (Hank) Rentschler for being very helpful in the past. I am sure he wont mind me copying some of that here.

Robert Federle

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