CNC Machining and Screw Product Family BusinessJ.C. Gibbons is a third generation family-owned screw machining and CNC machining center located in Detroit, Michigan. We do precision prototyping as well as a variety of other machining. Our progress over the years can be seen in the timeline below: September 1959
Sharing a space with Beck Screw Machine Products, J.C.Gibbons Manufacturing found its first home on Zugg Island. Using just 100 square feet of space, John and his son Jerry manufactured 25,000 directional levers a month. 1960J.C. Gibbons Mfg. moved to Finkle and Meyers streets in Detroit, Michigan into a 450 sq ft vacant building with 7’ ceilings that was previously used by a coal company. John and Jerry fixed it up and rented it for the next five years.
1962Purchased first used OG Brown and Sharpe. 1963Purchased two used 7/8” Acme Gridley’s Model G. Each machine cost $300 and was considered junk. John and Jerry
1965Moved into a 2,400 sq ft building with a 1,200 sq ft steel shed at 12715 Braile St. in Detroit. John used all his financial resources to make the move happen. Within the week, he was notified that the bulk of the directional lever work that helped build the company was moving south. John and Jerry had to regroup and develop a new customer base immediately. 1969
Funny Note: The reason that JCGibbons even got into Davenports was because of the bushing job they were manufacturing. That job was a result of Jerry’s wife Carolee who gave the owner of the company she was temping for Jerry’s business card. John and Jerry received the PO and production increased so much that they purchased the Davenport to meet the demands of production. 1972Purchased first two new Davenports. 1975Built a 2500 sq ft. addition as additional screw machines were added. 1985First CNC Machine – Mori Seiki SL4 was purchased, expanding capacity, adding prototype capabilities and upgrading technology. 1987Glendale building next door was purchased as additional storage and future home of additional equipment. Miyano BNC 34T CNC Lathe was purchased. 1993Eurotech Elite SL 5 axis lathe and Excel 510 vertical mill were purchased. Glendale building was turned into CNC machining center housing all CNC equipment. 1995Jerry’s son Jeff decided to make a career change and join the company. 2000With floor space maxed out and production requirements increasing, it was time for a move. A newer 22,000 sq. ft. location in Livonia was identified and purchased, marking the first move in over 35 years. JCG now had room to increase production and space for growth in the future. 2007Jerry’s third son Dan joined the JCG team and became the third Gibbons to join the fold. 2009A second Eurotech Elite CNC machining lathe was purchased, increasing capacity to three CNC machining lathes. 2011
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John Clifton Gibbons (the original JCG) used entire savings of $4000 to purchase three Traubs (two A25’s and one x A15), one chip spinner and a Toledo Scale to start the company. It left him with $18 in the bank. John was laid off by Ford as a machine repairman for the second time when an opportunity presented itself through two customers, Inland Tool and Servco Inc., to manufacture directional levers for Chevy, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick.
Purchased a used air compressor to help with production on Traubs
fixed and repaired both machines making them production ready.
John and Jerry Purchased their first used Davenport from AMSCO and Wendel Rogers for $4,000. Their first job was to manufacture 300,000 bushings a month. With five spindles and the ability to back burr, the one Davenport out produced the three Brown and Sharpes and one Acme Gridley that had been previously running the bushings. Ironically, they nearly sold the Davenport before it was even unloaded for $5000 but better judgment told them they were on to something and they kept the machine. Today J.C.Gibbons has 20 Davenports in its arsenal.
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