http://www.bpt.com/
Find out who the local dealer is for Hardinge/Bridgeport then determine if they're worth contacting. Ask a few shops who have those brands what support they get from the dealer and make a determination about whether you want to use them for service work. Some dealers are very good about service/support while others are schmucks that are only interested in new machine sales.
Contact the factory and find out what their support is like. Some OEMs don't want to support older machines so they charge for access to tech support while others offer unlimited phone help. If they're willing to help you troubleshoot over the phone, you can do most repairs yourself. The machine isn't all that complicated and you can fix things usually with some guidance and procedures.
It sounds like it might be a good machine for you, especially since it fits in the garage and the price is right.