Burgmaster
Burgmaster was an American machine tool manufacturer founded in 1946 by Fred Burg and his son Joe Burg. The company produced turret drilling and tapping machines that were used in industrial manufacturing in the mid-twentieth century. Burgmaster is cited in industrial-historical and business literature as an example of postwar American machine-tool building.
History
Early years
The company was founded after World War II by Fred Burg, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia who had experience working as a lathe operator and toolmaker in industry. The company emerged during the period of postwar industrial expansion in the United States, when demand for manufacturing equipment increased across sectors such as the aerospace industry, automotive industry, and general manufacturing. Burgmaster specialized in machines designed for repetitive production operations, including turret drilling and tapping machines.Growth and development
In the 1950s–1960s, the company began producing automated metalworking machines, including equipment incorporating elements of numerical control. By 1957, such machines were being demonstrated at national industrial exhibitions.The company's economic growth in the 1950s was linked to technological developments. According to financial data, in 1954 the company's revenue amounted to USD 574,000, and its workforce numbered 62 employees. By the mid-1960s, staff had increased to 275 employees, and sales volume reached USD 9.6 million by 1965.
Acquisition by Houdaille Industries, decline, and subsequent revival
In October 1965, Burgmaster was acquired by Houdaille Industries. After the acquisition, a new manufacturing plant was constructed. From the 1970s onward, the company experienced a prolonged decline.On September 24, 1985, Houdaille announced a corporate restructuring that included the liquidation of several divisions. On October 1, 1985, the closure of the Burgmaster plant in California was announced. Burgmaster ceased operations in October 1985.