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Staunton Machine Works

Serving Staunton for 100+ Years

Our History

Located in Staunton, Va., Staunton Machine Works, Inc. is a full-service machine shop and crane service with a history that dates back more than 100 years.

Established as a foundry in 1898, it transitioned into a machine shop in 1902. Bobbie Arehart joined the company in 1947 following a tour of military service.

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1898

Staunton Foundry & Machine Works is Formed

Staunton Machine Works Inc. began as the Staunton Foundry and Machine Works in 1898, working out of a small garage.

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1902

New Location

By 1902 the Staunton Foundry had moved into a shop located in downtown Staunton near the B&O (Baltimore & Ohio) Train Depot. During this time the foundry transitioned into a machine shop.

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1906

Ad in the Staunton Spectator Vindicator

Pictured is an ad for Staunton Foundry and Machine works from the Staunton Spectator and Vindicator published July 20th, 1906.

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1907

Pictured is an invoice to Staunton Foundry and Machine Works from April 16th, 1907.

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1914

W.W. Walton in Staunton Foundry and Machine Works

Pictured is Staunton Foundry and Machine Works employee, W.W. Walton, cutting a rachet on a sharpener in Staunton Foundry and Machine Works, taken in 1914.

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1929

Downtown Staunton Shop Location

Pictured is the Staunton Foundry and Machine Works location in downtown Staunton near the B&O Train Depot, taken in 1929.

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1930

Article in the Recorder

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1947

B.A. Arehart joins Staunton Machine Works, Inc.

In 1947 B.A. Arehart started working at Staunton Machine Works, Inc. as a full-time machinist after his time in the U.S. military.

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1954

Local Machine Shop Decline

By 1954 machine shops in the Staunton, VA area saw a decline in workload. During this time many machine shops in the area were on the verge of closing.

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1954

B.A. Arehart Purchases Company

By 1954, Bobbie Arehart had accumulated enough knowledge and experience to put himself in a position to buy the company. At that time, Staunton Machine Works, Inc. consisted of three employees, including Arehart.

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1954 - 1960

Building Back from Decline

B.A. saw the opportunity to drum up business for machinist and repair service work as manufacturing plants were beginning to make their way into Augusta County.

Almost immediately he and his two machinists were working round the clock machining parts and repairing equipment for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

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1960s

Continued Growth in Staunton, VA

In the 1960’s, Staunton Machine Works was busy building high speed manufacturing equipment and needed more employees. Having outgrown their downtown shop, a new facility was built at 608 Richmond Avenue, which is where the company still operates as of present day.

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1969 - 1970

The Next Generation

B.A. Arehart's sons join Staunton Machine Works, Inc as the second generation. His first son, Steve joined in 1969, and his second son Jim started full-time in 1971.

Both sons were active in the machine manufacturing and the installation of the machines they built as well as repair work for the various factories
they worked at.

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1980s

Expansion of Services

After taking on a steel erection job, they found themselves in need of a hydraulic crane. By the mid 80’s they were in the crane business setting modular homes, HVAC units, cell phone towers, and anything else heavy that needed to be lifted.

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1980s – Now

Serving Staunton, VA and Beyond

Today, crane service, rigging work, and machine installation are a crucial part of our operations, and we have continued to grow our fleet and our capacities have increased, but the machining, repair work, and metal fabrication is our foundation. The machine shop for us has made everything else possible.

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2008

Featured on the Cover of Tree Industry Now Magazine