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Gary,
you wouldn't happen to have any photos or know where i could find some of these machining operations you describe? I'm a machinist myself and have considered doing up a tank manufacturing diorama for some time but other than a few shots of M-48s and 60s in the old squadron /signal books I haven't had much luck. Last March my brother and law and I went over to the old chrysler plant in Newark for their auction, and having known they used to manufacture these vehicles there I was somehow hoping to see something related to it such as old fixtures or something . Other than a painting of an M-48 on the cafeteria wall there was nothing.
I've been in Lima a couple time (maybe three), and did get the tour once. The other times I was there on business, as they were seeking my help in getting machine parts rebuilt correctly at a decient price. I've also been in Warren Park and Cleveland (just once in Cleveland) a couple times for business purposes. Never was in the Chrysler plant, but I do know they all used similar machining practices just from their input. Lima has some of the biggest machinery I've ever seen!
The comments I made on the raw turret castings were really an educated guess as I came out of that business. In that time frame nobody really built any vertical spindle equipment big enough to do an M48 or M60 turret, but G&L and a couple others did build horizontal spindle equipment capable of handeling the procedure (size as well as being able to handle the weight of the fixture and casting itself). We did have some conversations with Chrysler on this back in the late 1970's, and bought a couple pieces with their advice. Machining in Cleveland was similar, but a little smaller in size (they were doing M109's and Sheridans). Suggest you do a search on G&L's website (they also took over K&T later). When you thinking of manufacturing a tank you have to remember the actual out put is in low numbers, and the physical size is huge. A lot of the equipment they buy is custom made by one of three manufacturers (G&L, K&T, or Cinncinatti). But in the end it all ends up being a machining complex of one form or another. Warren Park was pretty much an all assembly plant with not a large amount of metal cutting. I know this is confusing, but just about everybody back in those days worked in a similar pattern. There was no CNC equipment per say, and what automated equipment there was ran off of a tape. And the folks I mentioned were about the only ones doing this on a large basis (there was Sundstrand as well, but don't ever remember seeing anything that big out of them).
As for photos, that would be a no no! Still there are a few here and there floating around. The only thing I have in my pocession is from the Cleveland plant, and they are nothing more than the final hull assembly line (and also pretty old). Surprisingly the line in Cleveland looks similar to what the Germans used in WWII. Lima is vastly different.
Just a side note: Catapillar is about the only other company I can think of (other than aircraft companys) that owns machinery in that size range and type. They have a wharehouse in IL that sells used equipment, so you might be able to see what they have for sale to give you an idea. Boring mills have not change a whole lot over the last fifty years in looks. That's where I'd start and then use a little artistic license. Inside photos are closely guarded by each manufacturer. Still if I were to walk thru that plant and look at the floor alone, I could probably tell you at least how they laid the plant out.
gary
