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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                           CHEMUNG CANAL TRUST COMPANY


                                   MASTER NOTE

$8,000,000.00                                                  ELMIRA, NEW YORK
                                                               DECEMBER 24, 1999


For value received, the undersigned, HARDINGE, INC. ("Borrower") promises to
pay to the order of CHEMUNG CANAL TRUST COMPANY ("Lender"), on demand or when
due as provided herein, at its office at One Chemung Canal Plaza, Elmira, New
York, or at any other office designated by Lender, the principal sum of
EIGHT MILLION and NO/100 ($8,000,000.00) Dollars, or so much thereof as shall
equal the unpaid principal amount of all advances made by Lender to Borrower,
plus interest on the principal amount outstanding from time to time.

This Note shall be evidence of indebtedness and shall constitute the terms
of payment by the Borrower to the Lender of principal which may be borrowed,
repaid and reborrowed from time to time, it being understood that the Lender
may, in its sole discretion, decline in whole or in part to make any advance
requested by Borrower, the excess of borrowing over repayments shall be the
principal balance due hereunder from time to time and at any time.

The Lender may, in its sole discretion, make an advance to the Borrower upon
oral request. Each oral request shall be conclusively presumed to have been
made by a person authorized by Borrower to do so, and any credit by the Lender
of any advance to or for the account of the Borrower shall establish the
Borrower's obligation to repay the same in accordance with the terms of this
Note. The Lender shall incur no liability to any party by reason of making an
advance upon an oral request. The Lender will endeavor (but shall be under no
obligation) to send to the Borrower written confirmation of the date and
amount of such advance, but its failure to do so will not relieve the Borrower
of its obligations hereunder, including its obligation to repay the advance
when due.

Each advance made to Borrower shall be deposited in Borrower's account at
Chemung Canal Trust Company, identified below. Any advance made hereunder
shall be in an amount of not less that $2,500.00.

Interest shall accrue at a rate equal to the sum of (I) the Prime Rate in
effect from time to time plus (ii) 1/2% per annum. Prime Rate, as used
herein, shall mean the annual rate of interest announced by the Wall Street
Journal, as the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. The rate of interest payable
hereunder shall change on each date on which a change in the Prime Rate
becomes effective. Interest will be calculated for the actual number of days
on a 360-day basis.

Advances in excess of $500,000.00 shall accrue interest at a rate equal to
the sum of the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) in effect from
time to time plus .50% per annum. The LIBOR rate as used herein shall mean
the annual rate of interest announced in the Wall Street Journal. All
advances will carry the LIBOR rate fixed for one month. All advances under
$500,000.00 and any advance paid prior to the one month maturity will have
its interest rate revert to the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. All interest
will be calculated for the actual number of days on a 360-day basis.

Lender may, at its sole option, declare the entire balance of principal and
accrued interest due and payable at any time, and in that event, the Borrower
will immediately pay the entire balance in full.

All or any part of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note may be paid
without penalty at any time.

Any payment not received within ten (10) business days after it becomes due
may, at the option of the Lender, be subject to a late charge equal to 2%
thereof or $25, whichever is greater.

All payments shall be in lawful money of the United States in immediately
available funds.

If the Lender demands and accepts partial payments, such demand or acceptance
shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to demand the entire unpaid
balance due hereunder at any time in accordance with the terms hereof. Any
delay by the Lender in exercising any rights hereunder shall not operate as a
waiver of such rights.
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The provisions of any separate Security Agreement or mortgage executed by the
Borrower shall become a part of the terms of this Master Note.

If this item is checked, ____ notwithstanding any other provision of this
Note, the Borrower agrees that for a period of ____ consecutive days during
each of Borrower's fiscal years, there shall be no principal balance and
accrued interest outstanding under this Master Note.

Borrower, and endorsers and guarantors hereof, waive any demand, presentment
for payment, protest and notice of protest for non-payment of this Note. This
Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses, including
attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred by Lender in enforcing this Note.


                                 HARDINGE INC.
                              ONE HARDINGE DRIVE
                          ELMIRA, NEW YORK 14902-1507

                          BY:  /s/ Robert E. Agan
                               -------------------------
                                 ROBERT E. AGAN
                CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER