Bryant Computer Products
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Machine tool manufacturing |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Founder | William LeRoy (Roy) Bryant |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Vermont , United States |
| Products | CNC grinding machines |
| Parent | Fives (since 2015) |
Bryant is a Springfield, Vermont-based manufacturer specializing in CNC grinding machines. Since its acquisition by Fives in 2015, Bryant has enhanced Fives' range of high-precision grinders for internal and external diameters.
Established in 1909 by William LeRoy (Roy) Bryant as the Bryant Chucking Grinder Company, the business quickly earned a prominent place within the machining sector. Originally independent, Bryant was acquired by Ex-Cell-O Corporation in 1958, then transferred to Textron ownership in 1986. Textron sold the company to the Goldman Group two years later, and in 2002 Bryant became part of Vermont Machine Tool before joining Fives.
Early decades (1910s-1930s)
William LeRoy Bryant, guided by James Hartness from Jones & Lamson Machine Company (J&L), founded Bryant following his invention of a patented multispindle grinder designed for chucking lathes. Hartness provided financial backing for the startup, which soon became a major contributor to Springfield’s machine tool industry alongside companies such as Fellows Gear Shaper Company.
By 1910, Bryant operated out of a 20,000-square-foot facility and supplied machinery to leading automotive manufacturers including Ford and Cadillac. The firm built a solid reputation for producing equipment capable of both internal and external grinding, serving clients in automotive and aviation sectors.
The onset of World War I fueled demand for precision tooling. By 1917, Bryant had expanded to three production shifts and delivered over 100 machines to Ford’s Aircraft Division for Liberty engine manufacturing. The company also developed specialized models suited for aerospace applications and entered the rolling-element bearing market.
Following Roy Bryant’s death in 1931, leadership passed to E.J. Fullam from Fellows Company. Despite the challenges posed by the Great Depression on machine tool manufacturers, Bryant endured by emphasizing efficiency and accuracy, supported by export sales to countries such as the Soviet Union.
Throughout the 1930s, Bryant introduced innovations including semiautomatic controls, hydraulic systems replacing pneumatic ones, automatic sizing capabilities, and motor-driven spindles—advancements that fortified its market position.
World War II
According to Vermont Machine Tool, Bryant experienced rapid growth as World War II loomed. By 1938, sales had tripled, prompting the United States Army Ordnance Department in 1940 to request an expansion of Bryant’s manufacturing space to 127,000 square feet. By 1942, employee numbers reached 1,350 with women comprising approximately 200 workers. Like many wartime companies, Bryant licensed additional production capacity to meet demand and eventually manufactured licensed products for other firms including radar units for Raytheon and General Electric.
In 1946, Joseph B. Johnson—a longtime employee who later became Vermont’s governor—was appointed vice president and general manager. Export operations peaked during the Lend-Lease program but remained a key component of Bryant’s business strategy afterward.
1950s and 1960s
The Korean War era brought another surge in business. In the mid-1950s, Bryant capitalized on its spindle technology expertise to successfully enter the computer drum memory market. In 1958, Detroit-based Ex-Cell-O acquired Bryant. The Computer Products Division expanded rapidly and was relocated to Walled Lake, Michigan where it merged with another Ex-Cell-O division.
During the Cold War period, trade between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. was restricted but continued cautiously. In 1960–61, the U.S. Commerce Department prevented Bryant from fulfilling a substantial Soviet order for grinders due to national security concerns. Nevertheless, Bryant sustained strong export activity across Europe and Asia. Its dealings with the Soviet Union sparked ethical debates over democratic corporations supplying dual-use technologies to authoritarian regimes.
In 1959, under the Bryant Computer Products name, the company began developing computer disc drives featuring vertically oriented 39-inch platters.
1970s and 1980s
In 1972, Bryant expanded its product line by acquiring the precision external centerless grinder series from Van Norman Machine Tool Company. That same year, Bryant's shipment of 45 precision grinders to the Soviet Union generated controversy due to their role in enhancing missile precision and MIRV technology; however, objections were ultimately overruled by Henry Kissinger.
The Lectraline LL3, unveiled at the 1980 International Manufacturing Technology Show, was the first CNC machine capable of multi-surface grinding globally. Later additions to the series, including models LL1, LL2, and LL4, broadened grinding capabilities from a minimum internal diameter of .040" up to an external diameter of 88".
In 1986, Textron acquired Ex-Cell-O along with its subsidiaries such as Bryant. Two years later, in 1988, Textron divested Bryant Grinder by selling it to the investment firm Goldman Group.
1990s to 2014
According to Vermont Machine Tool, the Goldman Group’s lack of extensive experience within the machine tool sector posed significant difficulties for Bryant Grinder, its clientele, and suppliers. In February 2002, Bryant Grinder abruptly ceased operations, casting uncertainty over its continuation.
By July 2002, Vermont Machine Tool purchased Bryant Grinder and sustained its engagement in the CNC grinding industry throughout the subsequent decade.
2015 to present
Fives acquired Bryant’s technology and intellectual property in 2015. Since then, Fives Landis Corp., headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, has overseen and advanced Bryant Grinder’s technologies and service offerings by utilizing their resources in sales, engineering, assembly, and field support.