Thread: Does an older Bridgeport column/knee/saddle/table have any value?

A friend works at a local shop where they are preparing to scrap an older Bridgeport base (column/knee/saddle/table) that has been used as an X/Y positioning stage for layout work. Here is a photo I found of a similar mill showing the style/age of the base:



My question is, does this base have any value (not monetary, but utility-wise) for anyone if it's available at no charge. I hate seeing something like this go to the recycler if there are people that can use it.

Thanks.

Mike

It looks o.k. to me,but no way to tell about wear from the picture.

I am not any expert on the history of Bridgeports,but it looks to me like an old M head type machine with a newer J head fitted to it. Or,maybe it's just an early J head machine that still has the round ram??

Seems to me that even if it was stripped down the screws, handles and various bits would be usefull.
Is the turret and ram still on it or does it stop at the column?
Where is it?

Originally Posted by rsharp

Seems to me that even if it was stripped down the screws, handles and various bits would be usefull.
Is the turret and ram still on it or does it stop at the column?
Where is it?

It stops at the column and it's near Gainesville, FL.

Originally Posted by mbraddock

It stops at the column and it's near Gainesville, FL.

Like this?

Originally Posted by mbraddock

It stops at the column and it's near Gainesville, FL.

Like this?

Originally Posted by gwilson

It looks o.k. to me,but no way to tell about wear from the picture.

I am not any expert on the history of Bridgeports,but it looks to me like an old M head type machine with a newer J head fitted to it. Or,maybe it's just an early J head machine that still has the round ram??

That is not the exact unit, just a photo off the Internet.

If there's little slop in the screws, the table is tight, etc. it is most likely better than most, and would represent an upgrade to many owners.

Many home shop guys would love to have one, even with the ancient and underpowered M-head because even a clapped out X/Y/Z table represents a huge upgrade over a regular drill press with no positioning ability. Many are unable or unaware of how they could get it into their workshop or how easily a 3ph motor can be run on single phase. I have no doubt that dealing with dumb and unprepared rednecks and scammers on CL has put more than a few nice or restoreable machine tools into the scrap pile

I personally bought a clapped out M-head BP of similar age and vintage for $300 needing some work, sold the M-head for $125, put a 2J Varispeed head on it (cost me about $800 after buying a motor, new belts and brgs) and sold the whole assembly for $1600 when I found myself an upgrade, fixed and sold that mill now onto restoring/retrofitting an older Lagun CNC

Yep, just like that !

Originally Posted by S_W_Bausch

Like this?

I would say the answer to your question depends on the amount of wear involved. As a worst case scenario if the wear and abuse isnt too bad, it could be used for parts for many newer Bports.

I used to have one in my shop like that. No turret, ram or head. I bolted a piece of 1" plate on top of the column and added an old drill press head I found to it. Had a nice table for a drill press.
Bill

Value depends on need and relative cost- no way to generalize.

I was going to suggest putting a different vice on each end of the table and having a very sturdy adjustable height vice base.

Mount a bench lathe to it and no one will accuse you of a flimsy base...

If you've got a way to haul it and space for it, it seems like a nobrainer to me. Get it home and check it out. If you don't like it, take it to the scrap yard. With scrap prices what they are, it'd be worth your time.

Neil

Lets see, a mill without a head, ram, or turret????
Unless you've got a specific idea for using it, you've got way more time and space than I do.
Maybe you've got a really big boat!
JR

One use for it,,,,
I have a big Cleerman upright drill.
Some had the X-Y positioning table.
Some say Jog bore table, but I'm not sure if they are jug bore class of machine.
Anyhow my Cleerman does not have the positioning table.
I had thoughts of getting a table-saddle-and knee from a BP,
and cutting down the knee and essentially making an X-Y table
that I could mount to the Cleerman drill, out of an old BP.
Maybe if I can get an old BP for $200-250 bucks I will.

--Doozer

If anyone can use a mill base like this, it's available for free to a good home ...