Bought another prehistoric piece of junk today.

Ultradog MN · Oct 29, 2020

Was out cruising on my tractor Sunday
afternoon a couple of weeks ago and saw
this inside the fence at a manufacturing
plant. Stopped by there a couple days later
and inquired about it.
Manager said it ran but had been taken out
to make room for a newer machine and left
outside for 3 months. He agreed when I said
that ruins them quickly. Then he asked what
I thought it was worth so I asked what he
thought it weighed...
We left it at that but he took my number.
Got a call from the guy today and he said I
could buy it.
I was thinking a couple hundred $.
He came right out and said they wanted $100
for it. I said I could be there with a
loader tractor after work about 4:00 PM. He
said fine.
So my pal Kenny came over and we went and
got it. It was about 3 blocks away and I
carried it home on the forks and got it in
the garage.
It has a decent 6 1/2" swivel vise on it.
Its 3 phase of course. Can't read the tag
on the motor but it looks like about 2 hp.
I have a single phase 1 hp I'll graft on
it. I really just need a decent low revving
drill press. This thing has 2 sets of step
pullys on it so should fit that bill, even
at half the hp. It might even still cut a
simple keyway. Someday. If you really
needed to...

Hobo,NC · Oct 29, 2020

I am sure you will figure out how to have some fun with it... What type of chuck/collet does it use...

Charles in Aus. · Oct 29, 2020

Well done , another marvellous machine saved from the scrap yard.
It does make you wonder what a new replacement would cost .

greenmech · Oct 29, 2020

The vise is worth that. Ron MN

Robert (ID) · Oct 29, 2020

thats awesome.. if i find a deal like that its 1/2 way across the country and the shipping and handling kills me..

Its always good to see good old tooling like that saved..

oldsarge · Oct 29, 2020

Looks like a Bridgeport's Grandfather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ted in NE-OH · Oct 29, 2020

It looks like in its first life it was driven by an overhead line shaft and had a different head on it.

Handsome Devil · Oct 29, 2020

I think it was a great save for a small shop and handy. Looks factory to me not that I am an expert. I have ancient machines. 1900 era radial drill, 1910ish P&W 13" lathe, had 21" Excelsior DP, Very ancient Ohio shaper sold off and a large Cincinnati Bickford camel back. All were overhead driven originally or ordered as either or. This machine looks newer to me and factory? Nice grab. Regards, John.

Hdonly · Oct 30, 2020

Leave the three phase motor on it and use a VFD. The price on them has come down.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3HP-10A-2-2KW-220V-Variable-Frequency-Drive-Inverter-VFD-VSD-Single-To-3-Phase-/363158889183?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0

DavidP,South Wales · Oct 30, 2020

Well done! We had a very similar occurrence about 40 years ago. My father and I were in a scrapyard in Barry in South Wales one day. He saw a substantial size pillar drill laying on it’s side. It all seemed to be intact. My father had more faith in getting it going than I did at the time. I think he paid £10 ($15?) for it. We got it home and fitted a single phase motor to and it was up and running. It served us well up to our sale in 2011. He got a lot of satisfaction from being able to rescue this old drill.
DavidP, South Wales

M-MAN · Oct 30, 2020

Not only ultradog, you're a lucky one too! Great find.

Fawteen · Oct 30, 2020

Gah! I've been looking for one for most of a year and all I can find is over-priced, worn out, beat up pieces of junk.

Congrats!

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2020

Nice machine!

John T · Oct 30, 2020

For that machine at that price YOU DONE GOOD. Switching out motors regardless if single or three phase plus a converter will work.

John T

bmack95hd · Oct 30, 2020

Well, if you didn’t already have a winter project lined up, you do now. I’m never that lucky when it comes to bargain finds but I also don’t have the room for an item of that size. Good luck with it.

Steve@Advance · Oct 30, 2020

Great save!

I've been having to work at a customers shop the last few days.

He has a Chinese Bridgeport knock off.

Never fully realized just how much I appreciate the real ones!

4wdtom · Oct 30, 2020

One hp will be enough for most anything you are probably going to do. As the tool diameter goes up the power required goes up but the speed (rpm) goes down so the reduction evens things out. Clean it up, oil it everywhere and start looking around to find out how to use a milling machine. You can do a LOT more than drill holes. As you learn about it you will find many more uses for it. There are a lot of you tubes on milling machines and machine tools and books are available too.

And keep watch out for the police--you stole that machine. But glad you did, it's certainly worth saving.

SDE · Oct 30, 2020

And it isn't even Christmas yet. Fantastic. I would spray it down with your preferred magic elixir. I might have been tempted to give them a little more than they asked for to to foster a little good will for future considerations. After all he has your number.

miangus · Oct 30, 2020

I see you also got the vice good work. I have a small older Index I bought years ago at the Mason steam show. Not a Bridgeport but very handy and I payed substantially more then a $100.00.

Blackhole49 · Oct 30, 2020

Here's my Index. It fell off the turnip truck 15 years ago. Makes a great heavy duty drill press. Mines 3 phase, I guy my brother knew make a converter for me for $50.

used red MN · Oct 30, 2020

Looks like a dandy, shame they could not have thrown a cheap tarp over it. I suppose to them it was just scrap. I will have to stop by sometime and check out what all you have going on there, I think you mentioned a lathe as well.

Dean · Oct 30, 2020

Weld a couple of hitch pins on it and it will make a great counterweight.

Just kidding, UD.

Great find.

I'm sure that you will bring it back to life.

Dean

Fred Werring · Oct 30, 2020

Keyways, slots, accurate holes.....shoot yeah!

Fred

JF in MI · Oct 30, 2020

It may be prehistoric but can be more than just handy. A little sand paper and steel wool can work wonders. Be nice if that Y axis drive works also. If the bearings in the quill are all right it should be nothing to get operational. What type of collets does it take (if any)?

Ultradog MN · Oct 30, 2020

Thanks fellas.
Its nice to know others share an interest in this stuff.
I've had a couple of evenings to look it over now. It doesn't seem to be in too bad a shape.
I'm sure it will do some useful work again.
It uses a #9 Brown and Sharpe collet.
Not the easiest to find those and more expensive than other types but not entirely obsolete either.
The phase converter idea is a good one but for now I'll use this other motor.
Will cost me almost 0$ to change it over.
I joined a hobby machinist website and a guy there says he has a BS 9 to morse taper adapter he will sell me. I have a bunch of #3 MT drills here.
The motor for the X feed looks like it is 110v. I plugged it in but no go. It's just a 1/6 hp job so should not be too hard to find if it's kaput.
I'd like to tear into this thing but no garage heat yet so it will have to wait till spring to do much with/to it.
Kind of like an old tractor that you bought to fix but gotta get your ducks in a row before you take it on.
Meanwhile I'll keep a lookout for a manual and maybe some tooling for it.

4wdtom · Oct 31, 2020

Any tooling or other treasures inside the door on the column?

Sawburner · Oct 31, 2020

Check this web site out its all about vintage machines. http://vintagemachinery.org/

Mark
Untitled URL Link

JMOR · Oct 31, 2020

just caps & momentary switch to run on single phase. Somewhat reduced HP.

Needs tidying up a "little".

JimKS · Oct 31, 2020

when I have bought older machine I have found it never hurts to ask if there is any tooling or parts laying around. They often are glad give them to you if the have no use for them.

Jim

560Dennis · Nov 1, 2020

Nice one ! Should do a fine job

Bought another prehistoric piece of junk today.

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