The value of a vocational school education, coupled with years of work experience, an entrepreneurial spirit and the availability of affordable workspace, provided opportunities for self-starters to form their own businesses. Today’s topic focuses on one man’s quest to start and operate his own business, the Machine Tool Co.
Born on March 7, 1938, Kenneth Harold Lubold was raised and educated in Holyoke. He left high school early to marry Christine Blanchette in 1955. His early work years in the late 1950s show that he was a machinist at Fruehauf Trailers, a nationally known company with a manufacturing plant in Westfield.
From there, he was employed by Crompton-Knowles (C-K) Packaging Corporation, which maintained a plant in the Springdale Industrial Park at Berkshire and Race Street. C-K had purchased Wrap-King Packaging in October 1955 as a wholly owned subsidiary. The Holyoke Water Power Co. had sold Wrap-King the first parcel of commercial land in the park in July 1953.
Kenneth Lubold continued to work as a machinist for Crompton-Knowles after the company moved from Holyoke to the Agawam Industrial Park in July 1961. However, in April 1975, Crompton-Knowles announced it would be leaving Agawam as part of a consolidation with its plant in Bellwood, Illinois. The Agawam facility was slated to close June 30, 1975, resulting in a loss of 100 jobs. The Bellwood plant had twice the space of the Agawam site, with ample room to accommodate the move.
Mr. Lubold was faced with a major life decision. As a shop foreman, he was offered the opportunity to retain his job by relocating to the Chicago area. With his spouse and five children, he decided to remain in Holyoke.
He invested the small amount of money he had and, provided some of his former employer’s equipment, he opened his own business, the General Machine Tool Company. Mr. Lubold checked into several available factory spaces and leased a small space in the Cabot Street Mills, operated by the Holyoke Gas & Electric Department. The 1,000-square-foot space accommodated the shop and office area. Many new ventures started in this former Crocker-McElwain mill between the First and Second Level Canals.
General Machine Tool Co. opened for business in November 1975. The company performed machinery repairs and designed and manufactured parts to special order. The business also drilled and milled fixtures. Mr. Lubold hoped to advance to the production of packaging machinery used for food wrapping and other packaging products.
The company was awarded its corporate charter under its new name, General Machine Inc., on April 29, 1985. Kenneth Lubold was named as President and Treasurer of the business.
A month and a half later, on June 17, 1985, Mr. Lubold purchased a commercial building at 56 Jackson Street. The property was sold to him by Lester Bowen, the President and Treasurer of Bowen Motors, a new-and used-car dealer located on High and Jackson Streets.
General Machine continued to grow, and Kenneth Lubold’s two sons and, later, a grandson joined him in operating the business. His son, Mark Lubold, earned a degree in mechanical engineering and then a Master’s in Business Administration. He later became the General Manager of the business. During the early part of the 21st century, he served on the Board of Aldermen for several terms and ran for mayor of Holyoke.
The company had become international, selling packaging machines as distant as Korea and Saudi Arabia. Machines were designed and developed to “wrap everything from chewing gum to high-end chocolates to ball bearings and breakfast sandwiches inside local convenience stores.”
This is quite a success story from the ground up. The company remains a family-run business today, more than 50 years after its humble beginnings amid the mid-1970s era of economic uncertainty.
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