Well, I'm the one who spoke for Doug's EE.
He asked me $8500 for it, which is a rather staggeringly high price for one of those, to be sure.
If I understand correctly, he had given Dave $6500 for the machine, and had then put another $2K into more tooling for it, hence the $8500 figure.
Now, the irony is that we've really never needed all that much tooling for any of the EE's we've had, other than the standard 5C collet nose and closer, a good (underline 'good') 4-jaw chuck, a 6-jaw Buck chuck, the original steady rest and taper attachment, and, of course, the Aloris tool post and its collection of toolholders.
I can think of less than, maybe, a dozen times over the last thirty years when we've ever done a faceplate setup on the EE, for example, and, even tho we've the large diameter collet closer noses, it seems that we seldom use them, as its actually quicker to just make up an aluminium nest for a workpiece in a chuck, with half a thou clearance, then tighten the chuck jaws to deflect the nest in by that half thou to clamp the workpiece delicately.
No, the only reason I'd pay that price is for 'condition, condition, and condition', the assurance that that particular EE is still unworn, within the original specs for accuracy.
All the other machines we've ever owned have paid themselves off, generally many times over......this one wouldn't......I'll never amortise that $8500 with the amount of close-tolerance turn work I'm seeing in our future here, but I need that accuracy level for some of the work that I get asked to do.
That $8500 does put a rather serious dent in my 'float' cash, to be sure, but, as I may have mentioned, I'm recovering from some health issues, and would much rather be able to get a 'turn key' or 'ready to go' EE, than to have to invest the time/energy to pull mine down for some work it really should have. The one I have now is a 1966 vintage 'modular' EE, with no bad way wear, but it really should have spindle bearings, and have the apron oiling system done up.
I've been using it for years now, just oiling it like a South Bend, which one really shouldn't have to do. Its been down with an electrical glitch, and, if all goes well, I'll be able to get an electrical engineer friend to diagnose/mend the glitch. I've already put new C16J's in it and a new one of the control tube, whose name I can't remember. I think that large transformer at the back of the machine may have a problem, and was able recently to get an allegedly 'known good' one of those from a '67 vintage EE which was being re-powered with some fancy new system. Presumably, that transformer will be the correct part.....at least I sure hope it is......
If all works out, and I am able to get that EE from Doug, I'll probably be offering quite a bit of the tooling collection here, to recover some of the investment......If I remember correctly from an e-mail, Doug said he'd be sending me photos of the machine and tooling, and an inventory of the tooling items.
Now, one thing occurs to me......transportation of a machine that delicate from Colorado to the S. F. bay area of California is no joke.....worst case, it could be a deal killer.
Doug mentioned having to handle the EE out of its current location with a backhoe, which is a bit frightening. If that machine were local here, and I could simply hand its owner the cash, put some rollers under it, and get it up onto a tilt trailer, no problem.......but......arranging suitable careful transportation is the 'key' to my being able to get this machine......and, for you who are reading this, being able to get quite a bit of EE tooling I'd not be really needing. (I already have all the EE tooling I'd ever really need, and then some......such parts as a steady rest, of course, would have to stay with its original machine)
I'd really appreciate any good advice about shipping this EE......worst case, and I'd really rather not do this, If someone is in the Colorado area and wants the machine as badly as I, and I can't arrange certainly reliable transportation, then it may be prudent for me to offer to step aside and let someone else have the machine.
The thought of a machine like this, if not in the grade of crating originally built to protect it when it originally left the Monarch, being subject to the usual sort of 'freight handling' commonly done these days, is scary indeed.
If this deal can work out alright, then the EE I now have will be up for sale. I'll have its electrical issues sorted and taken care of, so that it will be under power, running as should be, before I formally offer it up.
One alternative does occur to me.....if, for whatever reason, the transportation issue can't be worked out adequately, and its prudent for me to stand aside to let someone in that area have Doug's EE, I'd be very interested, and would pay a top cash price. for a truly excellent EE here in California.
I really don't need features like the electrical spindle stop for threading and constant speed system, all that would concern me is condition as relates to original factory accuracy level.
cheers
Carla
