Francis J. "Frank" Lapointe was the son of broaching-machine pioneer Joseph N. Lapointe, who had founded Lapointe Machine Tool Co. of Hudson, Mass., and then, after being forced out in a power struggle, left and founded a competitor, J. N. Lapointe Co. Frank worked for his father at both of these businesses, but in 1919 he left the latter business along with about a half dozen other employees in order to pursue the burgeoning automotive business that was centered in the mid-west part of the country. With interest reportedly expressed by Henry Ford himself, Lapointe established American Broach & Machine Co., in Ann Arbor.

American Broach primarily served the automobile industry, producing a series of new models for various specialized applications. The company expanded rapidly over the next couple of decades. In 1937, Lapointe sold the company to Sundstrand Machine Tool Co., of Rockford, Illinois, makers of milling machines and sanding and grinding machinery. Lapointe stayed on as manager.

During World War II the factory worked around the clock building machines and tooling for rifling guns and artillery. After the war, business slowed down drastically and Lapointe left the company to start a new business in Kentucky. In 1957, Sundstrand consolidated the American Broach operations into their headquarters in Rockford. In 1961, employees Harold Holly and Everett Vreeland bought the former American Broach business from Sundstrand and moved it back to Ann Arbor, where it remains today.

Information Sources

• See the entry for Lapointe Machine Tool Co.
• The Ann Arbor Observer had an article on American Broach & Machine Co. in May of 1989. The article provides some personal reflections on events in the company's history.
• August 1920 Machinery.

  ORIGINATORS OF BROACHING MACHINES

  In connection with the article published in the June number of Machinery entitled "Modern Broaching Practice," it is believed that a statement should be made as to the present connections of the men who were instrumental in developing the broaching trade and more especially some of the machines shown in this article.

  J. N. Lapointe, mentioned in the article, is no longer actively engaged in the manufacture of broaching equipment of any kind. He is known as the originator of the Lapointe broaching system. The machines shown in the article were designed and patented by Francis J. Lapointe. Joseph N. Lapointe, who originally organized the J. N. Lapointe Co. of New London, Conn., sold out his controlling Interest in this firm at the end of 1917, but agreed to remain one year in the employ of the company, after which period he agreed that for ten years he would not engage in or be interested in any plant making or selling broaching machines and equipment. Francis J. Lapointe, his son, is the patentee of the inventions made and sold by the J. N. Lapointe Co. up to 1918, having transferred his patents to it when it was controlled by his father, Joseph N. Lapointe. Francis J. Lapointe is now president of the American Broach & Machine Co., Ann Arbor, Mich., and is not connected with any other firm manufacturing a similar product.

  American Broach & Machine Co.
  Ann Arbor, Mich.

• Machine serial numbers from 1920 to 1957 may found here