Van Appledorn’s Western Michigan Machine and Tool

Van Appledorn’s Western Michigan Machine and Tool Machine reconditioning, creating fixtures, tools, and prototypes, as well as general machining.

Valley City Machine Works model No.12, 10” pedestal grinder.This company from Grand Rapids, Michigan was formed in the l...
07/20/2026

Valley City Machine Works model No.12, 10” pedestal grinder.

This company from Grand Rapids, Michigan was formed in the late 1880’s or early 1890’s to produce woodworking and grinding machinery. All though the name is rather obscure, the legacy is enormous. In 1923 Valley City Machine Works merged with Union Machine Company and Grand Rapids Grinding Machine Company to create one of the greatest names in grinding machinery. Gallmeyer & Livingston.

Gallmeyer & Livingston continued to produce surface grinders, universal grinders, id/od grinders, and tool/cutter/drill grinders under the “Grand Rapids” name until discontinuing operations and the sale of the business in 1999.

To rescue this machine, it will need the following:

-New wheel guarding
-New (and much larger) motor, belting, and belt guarding
-New tool rests
-Pour new Tin Babbitt bearings
-New felt wicks
-Clean and repaint

It already lasted 100 years. I see no reason it shouldn’t last another 100 years.

Grinders in all shapes and sizes seem to follow me. From 6” - 16” wheels, and from a couple pounds, to a couple thousand...
07/20/2026

Grinders in all shapes and sizes seem to follow me. From 6” - 16” wheels, and from a couple pounds, to a couple thousand pounds.

06/06/2026

Conical spindle bearing scraped to match the tapered spindle journal. With the geometry corrected, next up will be lapping the surface with a non-charging abrasive to improve the surface finish.

Thank you Flywheel Supply / Essex Brass for continuing to manufacture quality drip lubricators, and RepcoLite Paints for...
02/05/2026

Thank you Flywheel Supply / Essex Brass for continuing to manufacture quality drip lubricators, and RepcoLite Paints for mixing up this awesome epoxy coating.

Sometimes when an off the shelf solution doesn’t exist, you have to make your own tools.I made this two handed bearing s...
02/04/2026

Sometimes when an off the shelf solution doesn’t exist, you have to make your own tools.

I made this two handed bearing scraper so I could reach through the long tapered front bearing. The hss cutter is double ended. One side is 1/2” wide for roughing, and the other side is 1/4” wide side for finishing. The hardened round shaft acts both as a guide and a burnishing tool to knock the tops down on any burrs left on the bearing surface from the cutter. So far the results are promising, and material can be removed far easier and with more control deep inside the bearing.

This long tapered spindle bearing is going to take a lot of scraping to match the spindle. The front spindle bearing is ...
01/26/2026

This long tapered spindle bearing is going to take a lot of scraping to match the spindle. The front spindle bearing is 9” long, and I can only work from the front with a traditional three edged bearing scraper due to the tapered profile. I think it is time to invent a new scraper to make this situation workable.

Got the motor on the Barnes all geared self oiling drill press wired up for a test run. Even though the motor currently ...
01/10/2026

Got the motor on the Barnes all geared self oiling drill press wired up for a test run. Even though the motor currently fitted is underpowered, it can push a 1.25” drill through a block of aluminum with no issue. All it needs is an oil change, clutch adjustment, a proper motor, and it will be ready to rock!

01/10/2026

Start with the basics.

The plot thickens…

Previous owner syndrome at its finest.

11/10/2025

A table that doubles as a vice.

11/09/2025

At over a century old, all the gearing and oiling still works!

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Holland, MI

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