"DT" wrote in message
news:8q6dnVrjkOBMPbDVnZ2dnUVZ_v3inZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
During a discussion a year or so ago, when I posted that I was working in
the
same area as his company, Tom said to drop on in for a tour. I didn't make
it
then, but found myself in the area once again, so I decided to take him up
on
the invite. Surprised him, but he cheerfully showed me around the place,
Ohio
Brush. Ohio Brush is in an old industrial area of Cleveland, called the
Buckeye-Woodland area as I recall. Judging from the buildings being torn
down
in the same area, it may be one of the last companies on the block.

It was quite interesting, and a real contrast to the ultra high-speed
brush
machines shown on "How it's Made". Ohio Brush has been family owned since
1879,
and some of the machines are nearly a century old. One machine is the
first one
he designed, when he was 16! It had what looked like a giant chain saw
blade,
and each tooth grabbed a bundle of wires as it came by and moved them into
position. It's pretty neat watching the machines drilling holes and
stuffing
bristles in them, all done by mechanical cams, no electronics.

The wooden brush heads are made from polished select maple, not a blemish
in
sight. Tom explained that his market is primarily specialty brushes, since
the
cheap imports have taken over the common brushes. Many of the brushes
being
made I have never seen before, such as the double sided brushes (one side
with
flattened scraper wires, the other with standard bristles) with 4' long
wooden
handles for reaching deep into commercial grills or ovens to clean them.

They machine their own tooling on site, with several vintage lathes. One
Warner
& Swasey turret lathe was dedicated to roll engraving and threading some
small
parts. There were two more lathes in the tooling area, one was
Reed-Prentice. A
Brideport stood a short distance away. Machinery is tucked into every
available
corner. The air is filled with the smell of freshly cut wood, and a steady
chung, chung, chung from the machines.

Tom is a very nice guy, and I certainly hope that he and Ohio Brush
continue
making quality brushes in the good ol' US.

--
Dennis


I was on good behavior that day! Next time, come for lunch! There are a
few nice hole-in-wall restaurants in the area that have good food and
vintage atmosphere. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and you were lucky to
see the cats awake...a rare sight, unless they are hunting.