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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Charlestown NSW
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    Default Old GMF Grinder - original colour?

    The wrinkle paint thread got me thinking about my old GMF grinder and not wishing to hi-jack the wrinkle paint thread, I thought I'd start a new one.
    I have a very old GMF bench grinder (I've had it over 30 years and it was old when I got it) that has been repainted a few times over its life.

    Is there any one here who might have an idea what the original colour would have been? When I got it it had hardly any paint at all on it and at the time I just used some green enamel that I had.

    Now I'm starting to think it would be nice to try and repaint it in the original colour.

    thanks
    bollie7

  2. #2
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    Sep 2008
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    Jimboomba Qld.
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    Default

    Hi bollie7

    Either a Battle Ship Grey or a dull Gold.

    I have a several GMF's in the workshop i'll post some pics tonight of the Grey and a Gold one. I'm leaning toward the dull gold one in this case.


    Cheers


    Steve
    Discover your Passion and Patience follows.
    www.fineboxes.com.au

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    ACT
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    84
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    268

    Default

    Hi,
    Have you looked under the base that could still be original other than that under the name plate or inside the motor, but that's probably more trouble than it's worth.
    Regards
    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

  4. #4
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    Aug 2008
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by A Duke View Post
    Hi,
    Have you looked under the base that could still be original other than that under the name plate or inside the motor, but that's probably more trouble than it's worth.
    Regards
    Thats an idea. I've had the grinder off the base and apart to put new bearings in but that was at least 25 years ago so I can't remember if there was original colour there or not.
    All the more modern GMF's that Ive seen have been the dull goldie colour that Steve mentioned but I've never seen another GMF grinder as old as mine.

    bollie7

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    Default

    I'm pretty sure the dull gold superseded the green of my 70's grinder. I have a couple of NOS wheel guard cover plates that are gold. There was a shop near me that had a new gold painted 8'' grinder for sale about 15 years ago. Back then they wanted 600 bucks for it. I reckon that Bollie's grinder could be 50's or even late 40's vintage. I'll have a look in my old McPhersons catalogues from that era. They won't mention colour but there maybe some other useful information.

    Bob.

  6. #6
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    Sep 2008
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    Jimboomba Qld.
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    Default

    the other ones I have are the newer grey green colour but here's the gold one.


    Cheers


    Steve
    Discover your Passion and Patience follows.
    www.fineboxes.com.au

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Default McPhersons Catalogues

    My copy of the 1949 catalogue has an illustration of Bollie's grinder fitted with a Douglas sharpening attachment. I wonder if it's the same PK Douglas that made the little 10 1/2" shaper?

    The 1960 Centenary catalogue shows the model of grinder that both Steve and I have. My 8" Heavy Duty grinder has an anodised and painted name plate and cast iron motor end caps. Steve's look like aluminium. My 8'' Utility has a paint filled, etched brass name plate and cast iron caps. This is painted the same green as the HD. Just to chuck a spanner into it, the 6" Handy grinder is blue.

    Who knows what colour they used during the fifties.

    BT

  8. #8
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    Aug 2008
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    Charlestown NSW
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    Default

    Bob
    thanks for posting the pics, Looks like the old grinder was either black or white. LOL.
    Mine has a brass name plate which I'm assuming was paint filled at some point but the paint is long gone. Mine also didn't have the end covers when I got it but I picked up a pr of later pressed steel ones in a box of stuff I bought at an auction once.

    bollie7

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Blue Mountains
    Posts
    195

    Default Paint Colours?

    Hello Bollie,
    I might be able to help with the colour of your grinder as I have one the same. Mine has been repainted hammertone green however the underside still has a very good covering of gloss battleship grey paint which is original. The name plate is infilled with black paint except for the GMF logo area which is red.
    Mine has an unusual issue in that after switching the grinder off it comes to a stop within 20 seconds, there is nothing wrong with the bearings except that they have very tight seals. How long does yours take to stop?

    I have also included some pictures of a Mark 2 (I think) GMF grinder. the blue one, which has a factory I D plate giving the purchase date of DEC 1953 and the purchase price of 50 pounds. Looking under the base of this one, it appears to have been originally painted in a dull matte green.
    Last edited by Metalman; 10th Feb 2011 at 07:08 AM. Reason: picture removed (double)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
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    65
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    Default

    Metalman
    Thanks for going to the trouble of unbolting your grinder and taking pics. I appreciate it.
    Not sure that I'm all that keen on Battleship grey. I have some nice hammerfinish in a funny pinky-purpley colour. (I've no idea what its called, being a bloke I can only see 5 colours. lol) so when I get to it I might paint the old grinder in that.

    bollie7

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Athelstone, SA 5076
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    4,255

    Default

    red.....who said that...??? ..lol

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Blue Mountains
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    Default

    I often paint rotating bits bright red, it helps when cleaning up.
    Mm.

  13. #13
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    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Default

    50 quid back in '53 makes the 600 dollars for the gold GMF in 1995 sound like a real bargain! As a comparison, you could by an Taiwanese 8 inch Abbott and Ashley bench grinder for about a hundred bucks, 15 years ago.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Default

    Phillip,

    Cleaning aside, the contrast of a bit of red works well on machinery. F and R Tough and GMF must have thought so when they included it in their colour schemes.

    Bob.

  15. #15
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    Default

    [QUOTE=Metalman;1275121]Hello Bollie,
    Mine has an unusual issue in that after switching the grinder off it comes to a stop within 20 seconds, there is nothing wrong with the bearings except that they have very tight seals. How long does yours take to stop?QUOTE]

    I've never timed it but it takes a couple of minutes to slow to a dead stop. I have to give mine a spin by hand to start it most times. I'm not sure if it has start windings or not. Its been that long since I had it apart that I can't remember if it has a centrifugal switch in it or not. Thinking about it though it doesn't sound like there is a switch in there so maybe it needs a start cap. Its never been an issue though.

    bollie7

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