Picked up a Drill Press Older than I Am

Amazing score.

In reply to MadScientistMatt:

Thanks. When I get back from the LeMons race at CMP this weekend I plan to dig into the motor.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: I have a floor model atlas that was my grandfathers. It's a good machine but basic. Here is a 1950 atlas price list. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/51/12579.pdf The 1020 is the closet model listed as a basic drill press. The price in 1950 without accessories is $87.50. Adjusted for inflation this is an $850-900 tool today. I'm sure jet sells something comparable for that price.

Keep in mind that price probably doesn't include a motor, JET will actually sell you something comparable for about 50% less than the old one.

This JET actually a little better since it includes the historically optional center step pulley that allows low speed operation for driving bigger bits in steel and whatnot, and has a larger 3/4hp motor and 5/8" chuck. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200403065_200403065

I'd say $87.50 in yesterday's money is a pretty good buy at $5.00 in today's money. I like old stuff and hate throwing away stuff that is useable....just look at my collection of motley cars.

My dad's drill press. Was used by my grandfather in the early 1940s. It was old back then.

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In reply to Kramer:

you have a line shaft driven lathe.. you win.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: In reply to Kramer: you have a line shaft driven lathe.. you win.

Answer what purpose piston rings have on a line shafts and win 50 points. I still love watching them, especially when they switch positions. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

In reply to Kramer: no clue, enligthen me please.

Piston rings keep the shaft from rusting so you can remove the pulleys if necessary. And they provide mesmerising entertainment! The drill press pictured above was electrified maybe 80 years ago. The lathe belonged to my great uncle and is from about 1890. The line shaft was in a great grandfather's shop powered by a stationary steam engine until it was electrified and the steam engine scrapped during WWII.

That's just awesome. You got some real gems there.

A hot setup for refurbing a drill press motor is to run a 3 phase motor and a small VFD. This gives you infinitely variable speed, forward, reverse, and brake and it all runs on 120VAC single phase. You can overspeed the motor to 2x its rated speed with a VFD, so you end up with a pretty versatile setup.

I bought a motor off Ebay, 3/4HP 1200 RPM Marathon for $60 and another $160 in the VFD. If you are not concerned with originality its a great way to go.

In reply to 93gsxturbo:

I don't like the vfd setups from what I have heard at least. There is a pretty decent cut in power output from the motors. The VFD controllers get pricey too.

Instead I suggest DC treadmill motors. You and use pulse width modulation controllers and keep the power output. You can get them cheap and free from the curb and craigslist. I have a 1920 or so bandsaw I did this swap on. I ground out the old cast iron motor housing and pulled the coils put some pc fans in. Kept the old motor look and went from a 1/2hp hacked RI motor to a "2hp" dc motor that was 1/4 the size around but just about the same length.

In reply to jere:

I like that idea.