Hi just picked up this old Craftsman drill press but i dont see any tags on it or model number. It is gray but looks like a green underneath. It has the middle pulley and table elevator. The motor says A 50 so i think the motor is 1950. I thought this style drill was from the 30s but maybe not. Please advise. Thanks
What year is this ancient Craftsman Drill press?
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LB-1911
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11b30b4's Vintage Classic Craftsman Drill Press Information Thread
I went back and forth over what I would do with this post. Should I make it an additional post to FrankLee’s Craftsman Drill Press thread, or should I start a new thread? I know there are enough of us experienced guys to carry on Frank’s thread but none of us have access to the thread to index...
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FrankLee
Well-known member
Haven't kicked the bucket yet.
I'm not all that familiar with the Atlas machines, but believe that one is definitely pre-war. I believe the oval switch plate is early.
The slow-speed pulley is nice and the chrome spire is often missing.
I believe that is the original paint.
The head lift looks like Walker-Turner.
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FrankLee
Well-known member
Also, the Supreme chuck is not original. A drill press of that vintage would not have come equipped with a chuck with a safety collar.
Because of the spring housing design, I believe your machine is '38 or earlier.
Compare the '38 catalog to the '39 catalog.
What are your plans for this dp?
Because of the spring housing design, I believe your machine is '38 or earlier.
Compare the '38 catalog to the '39 catalog.
What are your plans for this dp?
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Thanks Frank.
Since it has no tag on the base is that indicative that it is pre 1937? Any truth to that?
It was an impulse buy. I saw the slow speed and table elevator and made a split second decision to take a chance for $150.
It runs and drives fine. Needs belts, cleaning, polishing, love. Seems complete. Are you saying the elevator is not Craftsman?
I just spent 2 hours on vintage machinery looking at readers rides and Craftsman power tool catalogs. Im thinking 1935 or 36. I see 39 and up have a belt guard that looks like a firemans helmet. What is the deal with that?
Since it has no tag on the base is that indicative that it is pre 1937? Any truth to that?
It was an impulse buy. I saw the slow speed and table elevator and made a split second decision to take a chance for $150.
It runs and drives fine. Needs belts, cleaning, polishing, love. Seems complete. Are you saying the elevator is not Craftsman?
I just spent 2 hours on vintage machinery looking at readers rides and Craftsman power tool catalogs. Im thinking 1935 or 36. I see 39 and up have a belt guard that looks like a firemans helmet. What is the deal with that?
FrankLee
Well-known member
I'm not sure.
Yeah, that's a good deal.
Those columns are usually a pita to pull from the base.
Correct. It looks like it's from a Walker-Turner drill press.
I believe it is shown in the 1950 W-T catalog.
That belt guard was an option. Read the description for catalog number 99 PM 2399. I always thought they resembled an alfa-class submarine.
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Great info Frank. Much appreciated! The elevator seems to work fine. I would like the press to be all Craftsman if I am going to go all out on a restoration. Im perplexed why I see traces of the dark blue, a turquoise green and the color we see in the photos which is just a machine gray. In the photos you can see the different colors. Sometimes it seems the turquois is a previous color covered by gray, and then in some places there is drips of turquoise on top of the gray. Its odd.
FrankLee
Well-known member
FrankLee
Well-known member
These are curious.
FrankLee
Well-known member
I suspect that the original quill lock cylinder was lost or broken. A new cylinder was fabricated and the nut was pinned to the new cylinder to prevent it from turning when locking.
I can't imagine what that socket head screw is for. That side of the feed stop guide doesn't look broken. I suspect its threaded hole goes through to the quill bore and the screw reduces quill slop.
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I believe it might be more appropriate for this thread to be in the vintage section.
Upon closer examination I found that it is broken and the screw is holding it on. I wonder if I could mig weld it on and take the screw out. I read that if you heat the cast iron first and then while very hot, it can be mig welded. Can anyone confirm this?
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Your suspicions are correct, those are indeed roll pins. I have not yet tried to remove it to see what the cylinder looks like. I hope they didnt enlarge the hole. It would be great if I could find a replacement original cylinder set. Maybe there is still hope for this dp. Im prepared to put the hard work in to make her beautiful and useful again. If the MIG welding fix will work then I will go all out on her.
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FrankLee
Well-known member
That is interesting. I've never seen a break like that before. That fix actually looks pretty good with the screw countersunk. If the piece is solid and not moving, I think I'd leave it.
Thanks Frank. I think I will take that advice. I think I can make it look seamless with some strategic paint prep. Do you know what part I may need to restore the quill lock to factory? Im going to make it mechanically perfect with new bearings and thorough cleaning of all moving parts, evaluate function and decide if it is worth a strip down and repaint. If nothing is bent or broken I intend to proceed. Should I replace the chuck? What year did thread on safety chucks appear on the Craftsman dp scene?
FrankLee
Well-known member
The quill lock looks like this. Not my auction.
1940s Sears | Craftsman Bench Model Drill Press Headstock Quill Lock 101.03587 ? | eBay
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Not to sure about this part, but the picture shows the style of press it came from.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Please ask questions if you have any.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0...
www.ebay.com
I have a Walker-Turner quill lock on my Craftsman 80.
I wouldn't.
Take it apart, clean it, lube it and reassemble. Supreme chucks dismantle much differently than Jacobs. When you get to that point, reach out.
According to some advertising, Jacobs chuck with the safety collar was an exclusive for Craftsman drill presses in early 1951. Craftsman started using Supreme chucks sometime later on some models.
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Ok will do Frank. ThanksThe quill lock looks like this. Not my auction.
It is fairly common size across several manufacturers.. Each cylinder is 7/8" diameter by 1" long. Do you have the lock handle?1940s Sears | Craftsman Bench Model Drill Press Headstock Quill Lock 101.03587 ? | eBay
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Not to sure about this part, but the picture shows the style of press it came from.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Please ask questions if you have any.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0...www.ebay.com
I have a Walker-Turner quill lock on my Craftsman 80.
I wouldn't.
Take it apart, clean it, lube it and reassemble. Supreme chucks dismantle much differently than Jacobs. When you get to that point, reach out.
According to some advertising, Jacobs chuck with the safety collar was an exclusive for Craftsman drill presses in early 1951. Craftsman started using Supreme chucks sometime later on some models.
Popular Mechanics
books.google.com