Earle Single-Purpose Lathe, 1916
Earle Gear & Machine Co. manufactured Lea-Simplex cold metal saws, Simplex circular saw sharpening machines, cut gears from over 40,000 patterns, speed reducers, and other operating machinery. The Lea-Simplex was developed by Lea Equipment Co., 136 Liberty St., New York City, and manufactured by Earle Gear. Lea Equipment Co. was dissolved in late 1914, and Earle Gear began selling the saw. In 1916, Earle began manufacturing a lathe specifically for turning high-carbon steel.
Earle Gear's assets were sold to Steward Machine Co. in 1986, and Steward continues to make Earle Gear speed reducers as of 2019.
Information Sources
- American Machinist, Vol. 30, No. 45, Nov. 7, 1907, Pg. 346.
- American Machinist, Vol. 42, No. 8, Feb. 25, 1915, Pg. 349.
- Steward Machine - Earle Gear reducers
- Earle Gear & Machine Co. machine shop photographs