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8th May 2018, 11:26 PM #1Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Historical Hercus distribution WA
I think info about this has been posted before but I can't find the post, but anyway the photos were lost, so for latecomers to Hercus here are a few photos I took when Visiting Mike Fiora at Fiora Machinery in Perth. In past decades Fiora used to be a Hercus agent in WA when they sold many machines to schools and cafes. As a bit of a history tribute they set up a display area with some older machines.
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Mike has retired and is part time refurbishing old mainly Hercus machines. His workshop at teh back of Fiora Machinery has dozens of machines in various states of repair and is well worth a visit.
One big draw back is that (as the Fiora Machinery Admin staff say) Mike is truly "living in the 70's", does not have a mobile or landline and does not use the internet. You have call Fiora and ask to speak to Mike and he may or may not be there.
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9th May 2018, 09:29 AM #2Mechanical Butcher
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I would love to go to a cafe where they had metalworking machinery.
Is that shaper a Hercus? It looks different from the Douglas/Hercus model.
Jordan
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9th May 2018, 10:35 AM #3Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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9th May 2018, 12:54 PM #4
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12th May 2018, 11:09 AM #5Intermediate Member
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Imagine the OHS issues around that drill press these days!! You could get your whole body stuck in that thing, not just a finger!
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14th May 2018, 10:18 AM #6Mechanical Butcher
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The shaper made by Hercus came later, still badged Douglas (as well as Hercus).
It has upgraded features, some of which may be worthwhile. They were advertised by Hare & Forbes for $6490 new.
Differences of Hercus 270 shaper from Douglas shaper
--------------------------------------------------------
Gearbox instead of stepped pulley and belts for stroke speed.
Helical bull gear teeth
Metric
Stroke scale on opposite side of ram
Stroke scale in centimeters, max 28
Ram has Hercus cast on the side, Douglas chrome badge on opposite to usual side
Trapezoidal (Acme?) thread on toolpost leadscrew, rather than BSW.
Parallel pin rather than taper pin on clapper box
Movable graduated ring on topslide
Different arrangement of slotted table mounting
Round bar with hole to clamp slotted table, rather than hex.
Slotted table has v-slot, like early Douglas
No hole for switchgear in base
3 switches: ON-OFF-JOG installed into shaper body
No clutch on 270
Manual crank for ram position, with square end for handle, and safety interlock switch in case you forget to remove it.
Different nut at base of vertical screw for table lift, looks like the Hercus Model O mill type
Front of body is more enclosed, so less swarf can go down behind and into the mitre gears.
Different clamping arrangement for vertical slide
Lantern type tool holder takes larger tooling
Heavier, bigger ratchet plunger
Larger diameter thrust washer/block at left end of table traverse leadscrew.
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14th May 2018, 03:13 PM #7
Thanks for that - adds to the knowledge base re the history of Hercus machines. On the down side, it makes me wish I'd found a Hercus in my hunt for a good shaper, rather than my Douglas! Still, the old Douglas gets the job done.
I reckon $6490 was big bucks in those days. I guess H&F would have been called Herless at the time. I go back far enough to remember Herless - still have a few bits of machinery with their name on it, which I bought new. Things are certainly (relatively) cheaper nowadays, but you don't necessarily get the same quality.
Cheers, Tony
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14th May 2018, 04:19 PM #8.
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You are probably better off asking for Mick Fiora rather than Mike!
The shaper is a Boxford.
BT
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14th May 2018, 04:37 PM #9
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14th May 2018, 07:13 PM #10Mechanical Butcher
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14th May 2018, 07:18 PM #11.
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No need for confusion Tony. I've probably looked at that Boxford fifty times over the past fifteen years. I've stood next it painstakingly measuring the dividing head and tailstock on the little Hercus mill. I bought my Douglas from Mick Fiora about twelve or so years ago and funnily enough I've just spent most of the day using it.
Bob.
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14th May 2018, 07:22 PM #12.
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14th May 2018, 07:28 PM #13Intermediate Member
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IMAG0178.jpgIMAG0179.jpgIMAG0180.jpg
Perhaps the shaper shown is the one described in the last page (the typed one) of the leaflet shown.
In short it says Hercus purchased Douglas and were bringing out a new model that combined the best of the Douglas and Hercus brands.
I assume it is probably common knowledge for the keener members of this forum but I thought it maybe useful to some.
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14th May 2018, 08:03 PM #14Mechanical Butcher
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14th May 2018, 11:43 PM #15Golden Member
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BT
I meant to point out that the shaper was a Boxford. I used one at school in 1972 to do a bit of knurling on some vice jaws.
Eric
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