Used Gorton Manual & Tool-Room Equipment and Machinery for Sale

George Gorton Machine Company was founded in 1893 in Racine, Wisconsin, initially as Gorton and Graham Machine Co., before re-incorporating as the George Gorton Machine Co. in 1895. The company grew from a small family operation into a respected American machine tool manufacturer, remaining family-owned for roughly 75 years before being acquired by Kearney and Trecker in 1967. The Racine plant ultimately closed in 1974, ending more than eight decades of domestic production.

Gorton's product line centered on precision toolroom equipment. The 265 and 375 series cutter grinders were among the company's most enduring designs, with the 265 handling single-flute cutters and drill bit ends and the more capable 375 series extending to end mill side grinding and drill resizing. The 375-2 Universal Tool and Cutter Grinder featured dual spindle speeds, a 6-inch maximum wheel diameter, and the ability to grind 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-flute cutters up to 1 inch in diameter. Beyond cutter grinders, Gorton produced pantograph engravers, vertical knee mills, die duplicators, and surface grinders, giving tool and die shops a broad range of precision equipment from a single source.

Gorton machines served industries where tight tolerances and repeatable accuracy were non-negotiable: tool and die making, mold making, aerospace component manufacturing, defense production, and general precision machining. During World War II and into the postwar era, Gorton equipment was widely used in military and industrial production environments, and the company's machines were adopted by the U.S. Army for precision toolroom work.

Used Gorton tool room equipment continues to attract serious buyers decades after production ended. Machinists and toolroom operators prize these machines for their heavy, rigid castings, precise spindle construction, and the kind of no-compromise build quality that keeps them accurate through years of hard use. The 375 cutter grinder in particular remains sought after because it handles a wide variety of grinding tasks that would otherwise require multiple machines, making it a practical and cost-effective addition to any toolroom.

Manual and tool-room machines are the general-purpose machine tools that keep a shop running alongside its CNC equipment — manual knee mills, engine lathes, drill presses, radial and gun drills, bar feeders, and other tool-room equipment. These machines handle setup work, maintenance, one-off jobs, and secondary operations that don't justify a CNC. Meadoworks regularly stocks tool-room and manual equipment from plant closures and shop liquidations across North America.

Meadoworks is your trusted source for used Gorton equipment. As third-generation industrial equipment dealers and AMEA-certified appraisers with over 50 years of experience, we offer quality-inspected Gorton machines at competitive prices. Most of our Gorton inventory sells before we can list it online — call 800-323-0307 for equipment not yet listed.

Every machine includes detailed specifications and high-resolution photos, and inspection visits are available for most equipment. We ship worldwide with experienced rigging partners and offer financing for qualified buyers. Have Gorton equipment to sell? Get a free valuation or contact our team.