bruto
Stainless
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2008
- Location
- Benson, Vermont
I went to an estate sale yesterday, which included the remnants of a garage basement home woodworking shop, and gathered up some interesting bits, including an Atlas mortising setup. There was a rather rusted looking Atlas drill press in the dark space, priced at $75, and for some unaccountable reason I passed it up. I got home, and realized the mortising jig wouldn't fit my own press, and had whatever is the reverse of buyer's remorse. So I went back today, sale closed but owner home, drill press still there, and he took my offer of $60 (actually he would have taken 50, but I don't mind). I figured I could clean it up and make it useful.
So home it comes, and I realize that under the rust, this approximately 1947 vintage drill press is nearly new. This was probably the original owner. Original belt, original oiling tag on the handles, tight bearings, correct motor etc., and not one single tiny little divot on the table! I even found the instructions with it. Usually I kick myself for months when I miss something like this, but this time I got lucky, I guess.
I think this shop had been out of use for some time, and it was in the basement of a garage. The column was pretty rusty, and there's surface rust on just about everything else as well, but it should be a nice working machine. I am really surprised that nobody else bought it, even with its shabby appearance. I probably won't restore it, but just clean it up some, and dedicate it to woodworking, since it lacks very slow speeds. But I just had to gloat a little!
For some reason I get an "invalid thread" message when I try to post an attachment, but here is a quick picture via Imageshack:
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edit to add: bay the way, the little cap for the top of the spindle is there too. I just forgot to put it on before I snapped the picture.
So home it comes, and I realize that under the rust, this approximately 1947 vintage drill press is nearly new. This was probably the original owner. Original belt, original oiling tag on the handles, tight bearings, correct motor etc., and not one single tiny little divot on the table! I even found the instructions with it. Usually I kick myself for months when I miss something like this, but this time I got lucky, I guess.
I think this shop had been out of use for some time, and it was in the basement of a garage. The column was pretty rusty, and there's surface rust on just about everything else as well, but it should be a nice working machine. I am really surprised that nobody else bought it, even with its shabby appearance. I probably won't restore it, but just clean it up some, and dedicate it to woodworking, since it lacks very slow speeds. But I just had to gloat a little!
For some reason I get an "invalid thread" message when I try to post an attachment, but here is a quick picture via Imageshack:
edit to add: bay the way, the little cap for the top of the spindle is there too. I just forgot to put it on before I snapped the picture.