New Bridgport style machine for tool shop

[CADCAM396]

my boss just approached me saying they have extra $ in budget for a new machine. $25k is the top number. management is convinced we need a new bridge port type machine. those that run it do not even know how to tram the head.
any who. we have two true bridge ports. one is in pretty good shape the other used by those has been beat to hell.
what do you say my options are? I am partial to the true bridge port and rebuilding but what is out there that may fit a tooling shop monkey operator type situation?
we do have very limited floor space and preventitive maintenence is out of the question. lol I know that is destined for failure. no one here wants to think forward. so full CNC even with easy control I dont think is going to be a fit.
I have a Jet J head machine at home I like very much but not sure if that would hold up to abuse in our no care not my problem industrial situation.
thank you in advance for your input. kinda cool to have 25k to play with.

[Jeff]

$25k is the top number. management is convinced we need a new bridge port type machine.

They won't go higher? A new Bridgeport will likely be more than that.
I'd look hard at the Trak knee mills if they will move on their budget.

[Here's Johnny!]

Look at Clausing if you don't want CNC.

https://clausing-industrial.com/

[gcode]

Look at Clausing if you don't want CNC.

https://clausing-industrial.com/

I used to run old Clausing lathes back in the day, mostly vintage WW2 surplus stuff.
It looks like Clausing is just an importer/distributor now.
They may actually build some of those machines, but I couldn't tell from website.
I made a living as a prototype machinist for a lot of years on a Victor 1040 engine lathe and a Supermax
Bridgeport clone, both from Taiwan. They were good machines
I tried to buy a real Bridgeport back in the early 80's
The Supermax was $1900 available immediately. The Bridgeport was $7K with an 8 month lead time.
The Bridgeport was a far better machine, but $7k and an 8 month wait was out of the question.

[CADCAM396]

thanks for the input.
looks like they are opting to rebuild one or both bridge ports. they are good iron but one is very beat and both have been neglected for 20 plus years.
I have voiced going to a trak machine or even haas tool room direction but nobody wants to learn the automation side. stuck in the old school like many in the tool maker arena. I run a lot of small widget tooling on my 80 inch cnc so guess i get to keep my gravy.
some ones gonna eat our lunch.

[Here's Johnny!]

I used to run old Clausing lathes back in the day, mostly vintage WW2 surplus stuff.
It looks like Clausing is just an importer/distributor now.
They may actually build some of those machines, but I couldn't tell from website.
I made a living as a prototype machinist for a lot of years on a Victor 1040 engine lathe and a Supermax
Bridgeport clone, both from Taiwan. They were good machines
I tried to buy a real Bridgeport back in the early 80's
The Supermax was $1900 available immediately. The Bridgeport was $7K with an 8 month lead time.
The Bridgeport was a far better machine, but $7k and an 8 month wait was out of the question.

We have a couple of older Clausing mills and they look like they were made in Spain. They look like a copy of the XLO out of Canada. The new ones on the website look like imports as you suggested Tom!

[Here's Johnny!]

my boss just approached me saying they have extra $ in budget for a new machine.

Not sure if you are still looking for a manual mill. Sharp is selling them now as well. LMV-42 and LMV-49-DVS