Bridgeport Mill Helper Step Identification

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TomGun

Plastic

Joined

Apr 24, 2020

• Apr 24, 2020

• #1

Hello Everyone,

I am a retired automotive teacher with very limited machining experience, so I know I'm out of my depth on this forum. Please forgive me.

I have a very good amateur machinist friend that is looking for what I think is an accessory "helper step" for an old Bridgeport mill, although I guess it could be used on any "tall" machine. I have searched the internet for hours and cannot find even so much as a reference to this thing.

I have attached pictures from the only one either of us have ever seen and it's mounted to the base of a mill at a shop he works at, but no one there has any idea where it came from, as it has been there "for ever."

Has anyone seen one of these and maybe know who makes it, what it's officially called, or where I can find one? The part number on it says "SLBP001" Maybe means "Step ?? Bridge Port 001" ???



Many Thanks for allowing me to post here.

Tommy G.

 

J

James H Clark

Stainless

Joined

May 11, 2011

Location

southern in.

• Apr 24, 2020

• #2

Don't know who makes them, but I want one. Have thought about making it but would like to buy one.

JH

 

Thunderjet

Stainless

Joined

Jun 24, 2019

• Apr 24, 2020

• #3

James H Clark said:

Don't know who makes them, but I want one. Have thought about making it but would like to buy one.

JH

Click to expand...

Ditto on that^^^^^^^^^^^

As a vertically challenged person, I'm constantly annoyed by have to reach/climb/step to do my job.

This thing would be perfect.

 

TeachMePlease

Diamond

Joined

Feb 11, 2014

Location

FL

• Apr 24, 2020

• #4

I feel like OSHA would have some sort of problem with this.

But at 5'3" and barely able to turn the drawbar with my thumb... I want one anyway.

 

D

DDoug

Diamond

Joined

Oct 18, 2005

Location

NW Pa

• Apr 24, 2020

• #5

Smack you ankle into it qty (1) time and it will get removed. That is a trip hazard for sure.

It needs the arm to be on both sides.

why not just sawcut the concrete floor and spend 1 hour with a shovel ?

 

moldcore

Hot Rolled

Joined

Dec 15, 2005

Location

UTAH

• Apr 24, 2020

• #6

I've used one of these for years:https://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-S...l&qid=1587749507&sprefix=step,aps,191&sr=8-32
Cheap, lasts forever, not a trip hazard, won't tip over, just kick it out of the way.

 

crossthread

Titanium

Joined

Aug 5, 2004

Location

Richmond,VA,USA

• Apr 24, 2020

• #7

I'm 6'5" so I don't have any problem reaching the drawbar on my Bridgeport. However for some reason I am a lot more comfortable if I have one foot elevated. I rest one foot on the Ferndale stop bar of the lathe. On the mill I use a small bucket that I use to clean up swarf. I know it is not OSHA approved but I don't really know what would be. At least on the lathe I'm ready to stop things up in a hurry.

 

T

TomGun

Plastic

Joined

Apr 24, 2020

• Apr 24, 2020

• #8

I think it swings away easily?

digger doug said:

Smack you ankle into it qty (1) time and it will get removed. That is a trip hazard for sure.

It needs the arm to be on both sides.

why not just sawcut the concrete floor and spend 1 hour with a shovel ?

Click to expand...

I think that this is meant to swivel out of the way if you run into it, and it can be kicked out of the footpath for "storage" between uses, although I have not seen this thing in person, only the pictures and what was described to me.

Tommy G.

 

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Bill D

Diamond

Joined

Apr 1, 2004

Location

Modesto, CA USA

• Apr 24, 2020

• #9

Reminds me of every high school soldering bench I have ever seen. They have iron tractor seats mounted on swing arms attached to the bench legs. They swing under the bench out of the way when not in use. I think the seats pivot so the student can move it as close to the bench as needed depending on student height and reach.
That design does reduce the maximum distance under the quill by an inch or so. It may have a spring loaded detent so it does not swing out and trip you while the machine is vibrating
Bil lD.

 

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Andy St

Stainless

Joined

Oct 9, 2005

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

• Apr 24, 2020

• #10

I have never needed one on any mill that didn't have a riser block. A guy that I use to work with who was very short had one. He would take it from Job to job and put it on the mill he was using at the time. His had a swivel and you would just kick it out of the way when not using it. It was made by the same company that made a really nice clamp on drill press tray / tool shelf. I remember looking the company up years ago to buy one of the trays but they were out of business then. They made several other simple but clever cast iron attachments.
That one might not have been the same brand as the one pictured. The name might come to me but I can't remember it now.

Andy

 

G

guest

Guest

• Apr 24, 2020

• #11

Put the money in a power drawbar, no more reaching...

 

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Bill D

Diamond

Joined

Apr 1, 2004

Location

Modesto, CA USA

• Apr 24, 2020

• #12

Reminds me of barber chair pedals.
Bil lD

 

gbent

Diamond

Joined

Mar 14, 2005

Location

Kansas

• Apr 24, 2020

• #13

guest said:

Put the money in a power drawbar, no more reaching...

Click to expand...

Erickson Quick Change even better. Do away with the crappy R8 at the same time.

 

M

Mark Rand

Diamond

Joined

Jul 9, 2007

Location

UK Rugby Warwickshire

• Apr 24, 2020

• #14

I'm 5' 4" and needed a step stool even before I fitted an 8" riser block and a movable base to my mill. I'd been trying to work out how to fit a foldable ladder to the base. This idea looks briliant.


If the pivot has a light spring in it to raise the step up a bit, with a serrated face on the bottom of the step and top of the support parts of the pivot (think Newbould indexer or Bridgeport clutch), then it would lock solid when you put your wight on the step, while being easy to kick out of the way.

 

T

TomGun

Plastic

Joined

Apr 24, 2020

• May 1, 2020

• #15

Precisely!

Mark Rand said:

I'm 5' 4" and needed a step stool even before I fitted an 8" riser block and a movable base to my mill. I'd been trying to work out how to fit a foldable ladder to the base. This idea looks briliant.


If the pivot has a light spring in it to raise the step up a bit, with a serrated face on the bottom of the step and top of the support parts of the pivot (think Newbould indexer or Bridgeport clutch), then it would lock solid when you put your wight on the step, while being easy to kick out of the way.

Click to expand...

That is exactly how I am given to understand that it operates. Now if only I could find some old geezer like me who never throws anything away and has a box of these in the basement!

Tommy G.