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Oldbikerider
21st Sep 2016, 08:47 PM
I've recently acquired this old drill press. Can anyone help me identify the manufacturer? There is evidence of where some sort of badge was placed, but that has been taken off. Apart from that there are no other markings or tags showing model or make, and no cast-in brand. I haven't even found a serial number yet.

It's about 1.8m (6 ft) high, and is obviously of the "camelback" style referred to in the US. It has a second, fabricated, rear mounted vertical column running from the cast iron base up to the top of the main casting where it is fixed with bolts tapped into the main casting.

It's surprisingly heavy, maybe 300 or 400 kg or more. It has an original looking electric motor fitted at waist height with a flat belt running up to the top shaft.

It's been painted green, but it looks from the paint under where the badge was located to have been painted black originally. Does this give a clue to it's age?

I've been searching on the web for similar machines, and so far I can see that it has a resemblance to early Hercus drills, but it has a forked base that I've seen on Denbigh machines. The controls show a resemblance to some Cincinnati-Bickford models I've found. Possibly it was made under licence in Australia?

I will be stripping it back to bare metal for a full restoration. Any help identifying the manufacturer or age would be greatly appreciated. I had to pull it apart to get it back to my workshop, but here are some photos of the major components.

Thanks,
Graham.

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YBAF
21st Sep 2016, 09:17 PM
I've been looking at how to ID machines that have missing or no manufacturers plates. A search of old Practical Machinist threads put forward the idea of using the patent numbers that are often cast into a machine. Apparently a search of the patents office web sites will give a wealth of info. There was also a mention of a google patent search facility.

Here's a start: Issue Years and Patent Numbers (http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/issuyear.htm)

DSEL74
22nd Sep 2016, 08:22 AM
The forked foot doesn't look like the one on my denbiegh; nor does the rest of the drill. I'll follow your progress with interest.

Oldbikerider
22nd Sep 2016, 10:08 AM
The forked foot doesn't look like the one on my denbiegh; nor does the rest of the drill. I'll follow your progress with interest.

Yes, I found the pictures of yours, and I agree that there is not much resemblance, but Denbigh and Hercus are pretty much all I could find that used a forked base. I thought that might be a clue.

The feed lever on mine is very much like the Cincinnati-Bickford here: Cincinnati camel back drill press (http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/cincinnati-camel-back-drill-press-148702/)

or here: Cincinnati-Bickford drill press (http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/cincinnati-bickford-drill-press-178887/)

Other styling/design details in the column casting are also similar, so this is my best guess so far.

YBAF, that's a good idea, I'll keep an eye out for any markings as I strip it down.

Keep the suggestions coming guys.

Thanks,
Graham.

DSEL74
22nd Sep 2016, 01:00 PM
Yes the cincinnati does look similar. I was wondering if the cut out to the base is a modification?

Have you done a look through here: Photo Index - by Machine Type | VintageMachinery.org (http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/bytype.aspx)

Oldbikerider
22nd Sep 2016, 01:18 PM
The base is original, un-modified.

I'd looked at vintagemachinery.org by make, but didn't realise there was a photo index. I'll have a closer look tonight - thanks.

Graham.