Some years (actually decades) ago I acquired a couple of vintage machine tools: a small Gould & Eberhardt shaper and a hand cranked planer. My intention was to restore these, but life happened, and I never got around to it. Now I'm in the process of selling my southwestern Connecticut house, have dismantled my shop, and have to dispose of these tools. I'd really like to see them go to someone that would appreciate them rather than just cart them off to the scrap yard. Which brings me to this forum.
My hope is that someone here can help me more accurately identify these machines and perhaps give me some guidance as to their value (if any). Also, any suggestions as to where I might list them for sale would certainly be appreciated.
You can see multiple pictures of the first tool, the small Gould & Eberhardt shaper mentioned above, here (http://www.rtonthe.net/Vintage/Shaper.html if the link doesn't work). I think this dates from the 1880's, but I 'm not sure. I've separated the ram and the table/vise from the body of the machine to make it easier to move around (the body weighs in at 560lbs and the separated parts add another couple hundred). There is no serial number or model designation on the machine (none that I can find, anyway). Turning the drive pulley by hand, the maximum stroke appears to be about 9". That's adjusted for absolute maximum, however; I suspect the rated stroke was probably more like 8", but I have no idea what rating practices were in those days. The fore-and-aft position of the ram is adjustable over a 15" range.
The machine is in good working and cosmetic condition. There is little if any corrosion on it, and everything (including ram, tool head adjustment, and clapper box) move smoothly and freely. The only missing part is the handle which fits the hex-taper on the vise (a 7/8" deep socket will work if you can't find an authentic handle). The original drive was via a belt to the 4-step pulley on the machine... probably from a steam or water powered line shaft. A previous owner added a countershaft with V-belt pulleys so an electric motor drive could be used.
The second tool, a small hand cranked planer is pictured here (http://www.rtonthe.net/Vintage/Planer.html if the link doesn't work). I know even less about this machine than I do about the shaper. It has no markings of any kind -- it may be a one-off. Again to save weight while moving the machine, I've separated the table, which measures 12" by 25" (not counting the drip gutters at each end), from the machine. (The table weighs over 150lbs and I'm an 80 year old woose, so I can't lift the table onto the bed by myself.) The bed is 40" long and the cross feed height is adjustable over a 17" range.
The planer is in good working condition and like the shaper shows little or no corrosion. It does sport a really ugly "aluminum" paint job by a previous owner. The machine is complete with all of the (very few) parts needed for a manually operated planer EXCEPT the 1/2"-12 square-head mounting bolts for the gantry (proper nomenclature for a one-piece component comprising the two vertical columns and top cross-piece?). The mounting plates are tapped for these (8 needed), but 7/16 bolts, washers, and nuts can be used until authentic fasteners can be acquired.
I look forward to any wisdom the forum members would be willing to share regarding these two machines.
--RT
My hope is that someone here can help me more accurately identify these machines and perhaps give me some guidance as to their value (if any). Also, any suggestions as to where I might list them for sale would certainly be appreciated.
You can see multiple pictures of the first tool, the small Gould & Eberhardt shaper mentioned above, here (http://www.rtonthe.net/Vintage/Shaper.html if the link doesn't work). I think this dates from the 1880's, but I 'm not sure. I've separated the ram and the table/vise from the body of the machine to make it easier to move around (the body weighs in at 560lbs and the separated parts add another couple hundred). There is no serial number or model designation on the machine (none that I can find, anyway). Turning the drive pulley by hand, the maximum stroke appears to be about 9". That's adjusted for absolute maximum, however; I suspect the rated stroke was probably more like 8", but I have no idea what rating practices were in those days. The fore-and-aft position of the ram is adjustable over a 15" range.The machine is in good working and cosmetic condition. There is little if any corrosion on it, and everything (including ram, tool head adjustment, and clapper box) move smoothly and freely. The only missing part is the handle which fits the hex-taper on the vise (a 7/8" deep socket will work if you can't find an authentic handle). The original drive was via a belt to the 4-step pulley on the machine... probably from a steam or water powered line shaft. A previous owner added a countershaft with V-belt pulleys so an electric motor drive could be used.
The second tool, a small hand cranked planer is pictured here (http://www.rtonthe.net/Vintage/Planer.html if the link doesn't work). I know even less about this machine than I do about the shaper. It has no markings of any kind -- it may be a one-off. Again to save weight while moving the machine, I've separated the table, which measures 12" by 25" (not counting the drip gutters at each end), from the machine. (The table weighs over 150lbs and I'm an 80 year old woose, so I can't lift the table onto the bed by myself.) The bed is 40" long and the cross feed height is adjustable over a 17" range.The planer is in good working condition and like the shaper shows little or no corrosion. It does sport a really ugly "aluminum" paint job by a previous owner. The machine is complete with all of the (very few) parts needed for a manually operated planer EXCEPT the 1/2"-12 square-head mounting bolts for the gantry (proper nomenclature for a one-piece component comprising the two vertical columns and top cross-piece?). The mounting plates are tapped for these (8 needed), but 7/16 bolts, washers, and nuts can be used until authentic fasteners can be acquired.
I look forward to any wisdom the forum members would be willing to share regarding these two machines.
--RT
