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Midwest -- A local-to-me (in California's "Silcon Valley") machinery repair-and-rebuild service company that my employer has worked with for close to 25 years stopped rebuilding Bridgeport mills a few years ago. They now sell new Sharp brand Taiwan-made "clones" of the BP for what is essentially the same money as rebuilding a worn machine. The man who is now president of this company, the son of its founder, tells me that the Sharp machines are every bit as reliable and accurate as his rebuilds. I don't have any first-hand experience with the Sharp machines, but I have represented my employer in a few purchases of metrological equipment from this particular service company and consider them to be "straight shooters", and I've learned to give their recommendations very serious consideration. So, I think you should consider and evaluate the Sharp machine. From personal experience -- which is very dated -- I've found that the Lagun knee mill is a very worthwhile alternative to a Bridgeport. Finally, I'll mention my personal favorite light vertical mill, the Tree #2. A fantastic machine, but unless you stumble on a pristine machine at a giveaway price I can't recommend it. It's been many years since Tree #2s were made, and Tree Machine Company is passed into history. Parts and service are now too hard to come by to make a Tree #2 a practical purchase for a commercial enterprise. John
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