That is gorgeous!
what's the router head on that from? And how old? Looks vaguely 1950's to me, but I don't recognize the make.
Sorry, sfriedberg - i missed seeing this.
It is a Rockwell, supplied primarily in their low budget so called pin router.
It could mount in the overarm, or up under/through the small table. Rockwell took over the Duro line sometime in the mid 1960's, you are correct that the original dates to the 50's,. maybe even late 40's. After Rockwell took over, I think they were still being made right up until production went to Brazil, but i have lost track of time, so maybe the late 80's?
See pages 7 through 11 for several machines they were originally used in:
Rockwell only continued the lightest duty machine, the Duro "router-shaper-carver" & renamed it a pin router in some publications, but it is very poor for that due to inadequate table pin and options, and spring loaded (not positive) table rise and fall.
The design of the router head is good - bearings and spindle for the cutterhead section are independent of the motor shaft. Biggest drawback is the unit screws to raise or lower it as a table router. The cord winds up and gets frayed and it is just a nuisance anyway. The 1/2" integral split collet chuck is ok to fairly decent, not quite where more modern individual/interchangeable collets are these days.
The router heads were available in 115 or 230V. Woodworkers Supply was selling a few NOS units just last year for reasonable prices, but i could not quite decide to pull the trigger. I actually use a more modern, quick detachable router under the Rockwell table, but it took a lot of adaptation.
smt
