From about 1946 until 1956 or '57, Small Machines, Inc. made the "ManSon" miniature metal-turning lathe that had a 2-inch swing, and the "DuoLathe" with a 3-inch swing. The lathes were complete with backgears and integral universal motor. Their construction was mostly of diecast aluminum. In about 1953 the miniature lathe business was sold to the newly formed MasterSon Engineering Co., which introduced three new models of miniature lathes, known as the "Master Model S", "Master Model BS", and "Master Model BWW". The latter two had ball-bearing spindles and the BWW had a heavier spindle.

We have not been able to find any information on the business ownership or organization. A 1949 business letter from the company is signed by George H. Reis, and given how small a business it must have been, it seems most likely that he was the owner.

ManSon 2x3 lathe from November 1947 "Popular Mechanics"

Information Sources

• The lathes.co.uk page on the ManSon model lathe from this maker has a company history plus excellent photographs of the lathe and accessories. A separate page on the DuoLathe reports that the ManSon was the first product of Small Machines Inc., and the DuoLathe was the second. It also reports that the motor was made by Bel-Air Products of California. A set of photos of a DuoLathe are on a separate page. Another page, on the ManSon Master Lathe (actually a line of three new models) provides information on models introduced in 1953/54. The address of MasterSon Engineering Co. is given here as 1416 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles.
• Ad in November 1947 Popular Mechanics.
• 1948 American Machinist (vol. 92 issues 1-5, p. 134).

  MIDGET LATHE-Richter Tool Co., 141 West 41st St., New York, N. Y. ManSon metal-turning lathe, for small, precision work, is 9 3/16 in. long, 3 11/16 in. wide, and 6 3/4 in. high. There are 3 in. between centers...

• A 1949-01-08 letter from Small Machines, Inc., is signed by George H. Reis.
• A 1949 issue of Engineers Digest has the following:

  Fig. 12 shows the ManSon lathe manufactured by Small Machines Inc., of West Los Angeles, California, many parts of which are made as aluminum die-castings. Its frame, shown in Fig. 13, has a uniform wall thickness of 1/16 in. Two thick sections for added strength are located at the headstock and apron, where greater stresses occur. The carriage, cross-slide and many small parts are produced by the diecasting process.

• A 1949 Popular Science publication lists Small Machines Inc. as the maker of the DUOLATHE, a miniature back-geared metal working lathe, with 3-inch swing. Address at that time was 2010 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles 25, California.
• Listing in a 1951 issue of Hardware Age.
• A 1953 issue of Telescope (Vols. 1-4 page 7) mentions this firm: "Last month we mentioned that the Masterson Engineering Company was sending us one of their model makers lathes. Mr. Bradley of the Bradley Machinery Company delivered the lathe himself. It has measured up to our expectations and is a real gem."
• 1955 issue of Model Railroading mentions "L. R. Reis of MasterSon Engineering Co."
• 1994 NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) Bulletin, Vol. 35 page 490.

  Shortly after World War II a company, Small Machines, Inc., of 2010 South Sepulveda Boulevard in West Los Angeles, began manufacturing a very small instrument and model maker's lathe called the ManSon lathe. These lathes have a serial # on the right side of the rack in front of the bed.

  Sometime in the late 1940's this machine was modified to take WW collets and renamed DuoLathe. Ads were then placed in horological magazines, and sales to jewelers and watchmakers began. A further modification eliminated the power feed and a new model, the MonoLathe, began to be sold. They did not resemble traditional watchmakers' lathes (see Figure 13).

  in 1949 MasterSon Engineering Co. of 1416 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, took over manufacturing these lathes, later renaming them Master lathes. Manufacturing seems to have ended in the mid 1950's. I am researching the development and demise of these lathes. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has information about these two companies and their lathes. I am also trying to reconstruct the serial number lists for the various models and will send a questionnaire to anyone who has one of these lathes. Thank you for your help with this project. Please reply to Daniel M. Semel, 245 East 80th St., New York, NY 10021-0515..."

• Various ads and articles mention "Patent Pending" in relation to various models of the MasterSon lathes. We have searched for patents associated with Small Machines, Inc., MasterSon Engineering, Inc,. and George H. Reis (or anyone else named Reis), with no success.
• There were perhaps a dozen men named "George H. Reis" who were roughly the right age at the time that these lathes were being made. Using genealogical records we have not been able to identify a particular George H. Reis who is a likely candidate for the man associated with this business.