These machines were a platform for production.? They were generally always at the cutting edge of performance and imagination.? Creating things that were almost more sculpture than mere components.
The "TRACER" Mills and Lathes made this a process of precision and repeatability , never previously possible.
My entry into the industry ,now nearly 50 years ago, saw the beginning of the next transition. The CNC , which I ran as a mere introduction in 1975.
It was a * Punch Tape Drive" on a Bridgeport of this same platform.? Easily half of the machining done at one of my FIRST employer's , was done on TRACER Lathes. None on the milling machines yet. Well ,we did have ONE Tracer Mill. I ran two others in other shops over time.
We made -Rockets- , as in Missiles mostly in that factory. From the? shoulder fired *Stinger* to the Submarine launched C4 . The Trident and it's successor.
The multiple heads at the time made the identical process on multiple parts simultaneously.
I had seen several Multiple Head DRILL PRESSES over the years,but never saw them in use. See them all the time at auctions.
My pic here was at a " TURBINE Factory " auction about 4 years ago. This Bridgeport weighed about 5000 lbs.
Marty