Guild meeting Saturday, February 17 at 9:00 a.m. is ‘BYOC’ (Bring Your Own Coffee)

Northfield Foundry & Mach Company

320 Water St N,

Northfield, MN 55057

We will be hosted by Northfield Foundry. Herb Fick visited it prior to our meeting, and this is most of his report:

“The Foundry dates to 1920 when Mike Machacek moved to Northfield after an argument with the priest in New Prague MN. He developed a line of industrial woodworking machinery that was accepted worldwide. They closed the hot part of the operation in or about 1946.

“Jeff Machacek has offered a tour of the facilities on a Saturday when the shop is quiet. The equipment ranges from large lathes, boring machines, planers that handle very large castings, balancing equipment for large wheels, rollers and arbor motors which are purposely built at the foundry. Their catalog sales are based on table saws, bandsaws, drop saws, and jointers for the furniture industry. Their specials support local manufacturing industry.

“The rules: If we want chairs, we need to bring them. Expect to stand throughout the tour. Expect questions to be welcome. Do not wear your best clothes. This is an old shop, and the floors are not clean.

“The foundry has a website that will be interesting to some, but it is limited. Right now, their shop is booked out for about a year, so don’t plan on buying something to take with you. A personal note: Once you are familiar with the name, you will realize you will see their name anywhere you travel in the Western world.”

If you’re interested in going out to eat after the meeting, here is Herb’s culinary review of local eating establishments:

We have a pretty good selection of local eating establishments in town, my view.

• High end would be the Northfield Golf Club. They do a sandwich type of lunch. They have a liquor license.
• We have a Culver’s that is a little better than most Culver’s. They have a back room where we sometimes gather groups.
• The bowling alley on the south side of town has become popular with me.
• The Ole Store is up by St. Olaf College and does more interesting food. Usually very good.
• The Quarter Back is right on the highway and is popular. The owner is really good to the high school crowd that works there.
• Lots of people like Hogans, on Main Street. I don’t.
• The Reunion on Main Street is a bit upscale and usually good.
• I like Fielder’s Choice on the south side of town.
• And there is Perkin’s.
• There are some new places I have never tried, but there is no lack of opportunity.

— Herb

That’s it. Remember:  Saturday 9 am, Feb. 17, and eat first! If you have questions, contact me, (the meeting champion) Richard Zielike, at richard@edinaclock.com or 612-860-6120.