Larry (“LarGrin” as he is known on AOL) is a retired machinist living in West Virginia. He recently shot some video of his grandson running a classic LeBlond Regal lathe. In the video above, Larry’s grandson is working on a little steam engine.
Larry’s machining background started in a machine shop trade school in 1972. He went on to run an inspection department examining coal mining shears. He was in charge of writing detailed repair orders and inspected all new and repaired machined parts.
Larry used a LeBlond lathe at work for rough cutting like cutting radii in welded corners. He has used various lathes, both engine and turret types, over the years. He has used other machine tools, including cylindrical and surface grinders as well as drill presses and vertical and horizontal mills.
Larry retired near the turn of the millennium but still trains people in his own machine shop at no charge. Larry’s grandson is a shop regular and is “fanatical about all things mechanical.” He is 16 years old and will receive a newly rebuilt lathe with a vertical milling attachment for his high school graduation gift.
You can check out Larry’s website with a blog, photos and more video here. If you have video showing off a LeBlond family product and would like to feature it on this blog, send an email to LeBlond Ltd. Digital Marketing Specialist Michael Barnes at mdbarnes13[at]gmail.com.
If you’re interested in new LeBlond or K.O. Lee machines or require original OEM parts for your LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Johnson Press, Deka Drill and W.F. & John Barnes equipment, call LeBlond Ltd. at (888) 532-5663.