Great Grandfathers drill press.

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

This belonged to my great grandfather Bishop. My Dad, his uncle, and Dad brought this back from Bluefield WV 30 some years ago and I think it sat in my grandfather's barn until my Dad and I brought it home a couple years ago. It sat on the floor of my shed since.

I took on a job drilling some holes in NEMA boxes for a fellow ham a month ago. I have been using unibits and a cordless drill until now. I bought a set of Rotabroach bits last week and immediately realized that I needed a press to do it right.

Today I braced up the only bench I had room on and bolted it down and wired it up. I'm really digging it!

IMG_20190903_191015168.jpgIMG_20190903_191035047.jpg

[zippy1 Charter Member Find all posts View Profile Close zippy1]

That's pretty cool Travis.
Do you get that, "warm and fuzzy" feeling using it? When I use something of my forefathers, I get a "different" feeling going on. Hard to describe, but it's there...

[Jeff in Pa Charter Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff in Pa]

Very cool. Great it has a family connection. I have a 1935 Walker Turner drill press but since I bought, it's "just old" ( but still works great)
Jeff

(edit-- drill press is a 1935 model)

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

Todd, it is definitely a warm and fuzzy feeling as well as seeing green since it's going to make me $$$!

Jeff, I need to see if I can figure out what year this is. It has a Jacobs 6A chuck on it. I still need to get a key for it. I also need to slow it down some more. Slowest I can get it by the belt is 575 rpm. How about a picture of the Walker Turner?

Jonathan, I think we need a "Tool Shed" section.

I had to try it out tonight.

IMG_20190903_201038748.jpgIMG_20190903_201057027.jpg

[Jeff in Pa Charter Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff in Pa]

The correct key is a K3 ( I have the same chuck on my WT )
https://www.mcmaster.com/3169a15

You need the slow speed attachment which is another step pulley that mounts in between the two pulleys. With that set up, the motor pulley is turned "upside down" so the double belt set up can be used.

How 'bout a video ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULxY2PCyNqE

[Shrewcub]

As always, you went above and beyond! Thanks! That WT is cool, even though you bought it.

[J-Mech Owner Find all posts View Profile Close J-Mech]

Travis, that's really cool!

I should start a "tools" section. I'll see if I can get that done maybe this evening.

[Shrewcub]

Thanks Jonathan!

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

I found some more information on the drill press. It was manufactured in 1945 by Duro Metal Products Co. for Montgomery Ward. Looks like it has a 1/2 HP G.E. motor on it.
IMG_20190903_234326348~2.jpg

My Dad told me that his grandparents had moved to Princeton, not Bluefield, about that time. My great grandfather was a a machinist but ultimately ended up working in the coal mines. That led to black lung and and early death. My mom's grandfather also died of black lung in SW PA.

Anyway here's the link to the info I found.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=657

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

The drill press has been working great! I've cut 60 3/4" and 20 5/8" holes in 14 gauge hot rolled steel with the annular cutters and drilled 120 1/4" holes through 3/16" aluminum. I got curlies everywhere! My chuck key showed up Saturday. I'd be happy to never pick up a handheld drill again.

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[J-Mech Owner Find all posts View Profile Close J-Mech]

Ok...... what the heck are you making drilling all those holes??

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

IMG_20190724_152413151_HDR.jpg Your answer is in the first post. All I am making is $$$$. Here is a picture of the finished product minus some wiring. My job is just making the holes.

[jaynjeep Charter Member Find all posts View Profile Close jaynjeep]

Very Nice Travis!! I couldn't get along in my shop without a drill press.. might use it three times a day and then not use it for a month.. but it's always ready if I need it.. The old stuff is always the best.. nice that you have a story to go with it.. some of my favorite tools are 60 plus years old.. stuff was just made so much better back then!

[Shrewcub Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shrewcub]

Thanks Jay! Yesterday I brought home the matching bench grinder. My great uncle (GGF's son) had this since he brought it back from WV. I just need to finish the wiring tomorrow. IMG_20190918_204656341.jpgIMG_20190918_204818093.jpg

[jaynjeep Charter Member Find all posts View Profile Close jaynjeep]

Awesome!! More cool old tools!!