Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

[lafester]

That’s a great score Lafe, and good call on the shields and flipping it! I initially thought the Lot# was the price! .

It was $40, but fuel will double that. Fortunately I found a couple other things to pick up as well so overall I should come out ahead.
I've been accumulating parts (and grinders) a lot faster then I thought I would.

 

[ALLFAST]

Well the shields are worth at least 50 to 80 dollars, but yes, you didn’t do too bad as you’ve described!

 

[lafester]

Yeah I paid about $80 shipped for my last set but they are in beautiful condition.

 

[ALLFAST]

Same here…116 shipped and I’ve not seen a pair like this in a long while…I’ll be outfitting the beast with these. You did really good on that one!

 

[leg17]

What the hay kind of grinder uses "kerosene" in the quench trays!!?? Taken from the internet, not mine.
Photos should enlarge.

Diesel??

 

[wrenchguy]

In the !st photo there is signage mentioning "kerosene".

 

[lafester]

I just noticed that Dayton carried on with the KC eyeshield design. Not made in USA but the lamp switch is a nice feature along with the flex mount version. Available nos on ebay... I didn't see any other sources.

 

[ALLFAST]

Those look very nice Lafes!

 

[ALLFAST]

Just this afternoon I mocked up these unknown vintage 10 inch wide eye shields on my 165 pound beast. I’m working on my mounting design , but I think they match the mid to late 1930s Baldor pretty well.

 

[ALLFAST]

A member here recently directed me to an out of print Baldor catalog, and it lists the 10 inch, 1 HP single phase models as weighing 175 pounds! I set up a nice level weighing deck atop my scale (the grinder was level, and resting securely, unassisted by me) and it was 165 even. Once I add proper spark arrestor brackets, toolrests, eye shields, and all related hardware, this will be every bit of 175. It makes the coolant jug look smallish!!

 

[Copymutt]

Never thought much about this old US Electric Tool 6”, and I use it most every day. Very nice operation. Quiet and takes 2 minutes to come to a stop.
I’ve looked thru the multiple threads here as well as over on Vintage machinery & US Electric Tool site and not found it. Anyone have a date for this gem?
The riveted tag above the switch leads me to think it was once a company asset.

 

[Capt. Curt]

My early 1950's Delta Homecraft 6" Model 23-600 grinder after a complete restoration.

This Homecraft grinder was made in the USA by the Doerr Electric Corporation for Delta-Milwaukee/ Rockwell Manufacturing Co. of Milwaukee Wisconsin. Grinder is a 1/4-HP, spins at 3450 rpm's and weighs 30 pounds. Their is no factory serial numbers on the name plate so I have no way to accurately date this grinder for sure, and there is one casting number under the name plate that reads "790".

Some Electric Motor History: Doerr Electric Corporation was never merged into the Baldor Company founded by Emil Doerr (which actually started out as the St. Louis Electrical Works). Instead, it is of the Doerr Electric Company founded by Emil's son Lee Doerr and is not related to Baldor except for the father-son connection. Many believe the Doerr company which manufactured this grinder was sold to Emerson Electric in the 1970s. Lee Doerr's sons then began the Leeson Electric Company. All three of these electric motor manufacturing companies founded by the three generations of Doerrs still exist today, always separate except for the family connections.

 

[ALLFAST]

Never thought much about this old US Electric Tool 6”, and I use it most every day. Very nice operation. Quiet and takes 2 minutes to come to a stop.
I’ve looked thru the multiple threads here as well as over on Vintage machinery & US Electric Tool site and not found it. Anyone have a date for this gem?
The riveted tag above the switch leads me to think it was once a company asset.

Hello Copymutt, I’d go into the Vintage Machinery photo index for your manufacturer. I’d bet it’s pre 1942 , maybe even late 1930s , based upon the lack of case tie rods and the tag script design.

 

[Copymutt]

Thanks, I’ve already gone through those files. Soo many grinders, but not mine. I did see another brand w/ the cleat that was a marine grade tool. That may be a clue. Thx for the feedback. Rewired the switch and cap today, very brittle and degraded wires.

 

[ALLFAST]

Thanks, I’ve already gone through those files. Soo many grinders, but not mine. I did see another brand w/ the cleat that was a marine grade tool. That may be a clue. Thx for the feedback. Rewired the switch and cap today, very brittle and degraded wires.

If you found nada on the VM, I’d say it’s pre 1940…The lack of tie rods is the big indicator for me. If it’s unusually heavy for its size, all the more likely!

 

[goku 4]

Aloha! Can anyone ID this old bench grinder?

 

[ALLFAST]

Aloha! Can anyone ID this old bench grinder?

Yes. It’s about a 1933 to 1939 Baldor. I just bought it’s BIG brother last month and needed to ID mine…took me a week. PM me if you have further questions. GREAT TOOL and nice find. Best Regards, Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

Yes. It’s about a 1933 to 1939 Baldor. I just bought it’s BIG brother last month and needed to ID mine…took me a week. PM me if you have further questions. GREAT TOOL and nice find. Best Regards, Shawn

If you can GENTLY clean the top ID tag with 0000 steel wool and a little WD40, post a picture of the data tag….I’ll try to decode it as best I can…

 

[Copymutt]

If you found nada on the VM, I’d say it’s pre 1940…The lack of tie rods is the big indicator for me. If it’s unusually heavy for its size, all the more likely!

Please explain, Tie rods? Not familiar w/ term applied to grinders. Thanks

 

[ALLFAST]

Please explain, Tie rods? Not familiar w/ term applied to grinders. Thanks

These: They might have a more proper term, but I’ve seen it professionally termed to vintage Dewalt radial arm saw motor housings….These threaded rods that span the end bells, through the motor body. They can be secured by acorn nuts or regular nuts/lock washers, etc.
On vintage bench grinders, they are most commonly used of the 1945 to mid 50s approximately…depending on manufacturer.

 

[goku 4]

Yes. It’s about a 1933 to 1939 Baldor. I just bought it’s BIG brother last month and needed to ID mine…took me a week. PM me if you have further questions. GREAT TOOL and nice find. Best Regards, Shawn

Mahalo! I haven’t picked it up yet. It’s on a local ad. The seller doesn’t have any details on it. Will likely pick it up tomorrow.

 

[slow_runner]

I have an old GMF 8inch Industrial bench grinder in the shed and an old orange Speedline 6inch with a lifting handle for wire wheel work outside. It works OK but stalls out quite readily. A;so, it is missing the end shields.
Anyhow, I have this 6inch Speedline that came my way recently. Small enough to pick up and move to where I am working at any time. It saves that back and forth bother.
It runs up fast and coasts down longer, no discernible vibration. The only flaw I can see is the broken cast iron support and a lead that needs replacing.
I am looking for images that show this grinder with the eye shields so I can fabricate copies to complete the machine.
It is only 1/3 HP; that is likely a true 1/3 HP and it is rated continuous.
There is not much info out there on the Speedline, except they were manufactured(?) in Wellington New Zealand.

Sunday 6 Feb 22.
I replaced the original lead. NZ made from the days before we became slaves to foreign economies.
The run up speed was 0:02 and the run down to stop was 2:30. A small bit of vibration that is likely out of balance wheels. I will dress them back and retest.
The end cover machine screw fastenings are too short so 6 off M5 x 15mm 0.8mm pitch are required.
Being metric, it places this machine sometime post 1967 when New Zealand officially went metric.

 

[ALLFAST]

Mahalo! I haven’t picked it up yet. It’s on a local ad. The seller doesn’t have any details on it. Will likely pick it up tomorrow.

Good

 

[ALLFAST]

Good

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Drmtsu]

First post here, inherited this and wondering if anyone can tell me what I have? My google-fu tells me it’s a 70’s era craftsman block grinder. I had no idea there was such an affinity for these it seems. Glad I’ve held on to it. Label is faded to the point that all you can make out is a serial #.

 

[lafester]

First post here, inherited this and wondering if anyone can tell me what I have? My google-fu tells me it’s a 70’s era craftsman block grinder. I had no idea there was such an affinity for these it seems. Glad I’ve held on to it. Label is faded to the point that all you can make out is a serial #.

Yeah probably mid to late 70s. I think they are a great way to get started with older machinery.

 

[goku 4]

Good luck and keep us posted!

Just picked it up for $30. Still works including the lamp. Sorry for the poor pics. Will take better ones after the weekend.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Lotta nice grinders posted!

 

[shyam]

Cool but I prefer my Rockwell/Delta & Baldor grinders, Rockwell sold Delta almost 40 years ago, and anything in recent years were made by the ChiComs for them, Baldor is still made in the US but ****** expensive, the 2 Rockwell machines are sweet running, 1 is single phase, other is 200V 3 phase, (supply voltage 208) that came from a school, that is running off 240V 1Ø with a VFD. Vintage grinders beat most of what is marketed today, I strongly suspect that also applies to the OP's Skil grinder.

 

[wrenchguy]

FYI,
I have a US Electric Tool Co. grinder S/N 450313, they dated it 9-49 when they were still in business.

 

[Capt. Curt]

Here's my belt driven Majestic 65 grinder I restored a few years back. Looks to be a high quality cast iron unit with a beautiful Art-Deco style base design and it actually has ball bearings and not the bronze sleeve type bushings.

 

[Capt. Curt]

I got this Baldor 7" grinder on the factory cast iron pedestal stand from a friend who who bought it for $30 in a school auction in the Austin area. Did a total tear down restoration giving the inside a through cleaning, the bearings were still in good shaped and left in place.

 

[lafester]

Hard to beat a Baldor on the cast iron stand. I had the 3/4 for awhile and that thing was so smooth, but no stand unfortunately.

 

[wrenchguy]

$25 FB MP USETCo. buy with stand. Liddle older than Copymutts (above) with different tag "IF" serial numbers were sequential. Like its serial number! LOL. Its 8", 6.6 amp, some mods with Craftsman light. 1939 information VM.org has indicates this "Heavy Duty" model 1/2hp,, 115lbs @ $90.

 

[wrenchguy]

Thanks, I’ve already gone through those files. Soo many grinders, but not mine. I did see another brand w/ the cleat that was a marine grade tool. That may be a clue. Thx for the feedback. Rewired the switch and cap today, very brittle and degraded wires.

Your "Utility" line grinder is shown in the 1935 and 1939 catalog pdf's on VM.org.

United States Electrical Tool Co. - Publication Reprints - United States Electrical Tool Co. Catalogue 44 | VintageMachinery.org

 

[slowtwitch73]

Wrenchguy..... WOW

 

[Copymutt]

Your "Utility" line grinder is shown in the 1935 and 1939 catalog pdf's on VM.org.

United States Electrical Tool Co. - Publication Reprints - United States Electrical Tool Co. Catalogue 44 | VintageMachinery.org

Yes, thats got all the right configs except for the cleat on top. Much thanks. Used it again today to clearance a handle for homemade strap/ metal brake.

 

[wrenchguy]

My "Heavy Duty 8" is not in this 1946 catalog while the "Utility" line seems to take over bench grinder line. The smallest H-D model looks to be a "Model 10" which is dedicated pedestal.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1877/26174.pdf

 

[lafester]

That is pretty sweet. Love the tool rests, they remind me of lathe tool holders.

 

[ncgun99]

Picked up this Baldor 8250W today. Been looking for one for a while that was reasonable. Had to share it with someone other than the wifey…she wasn’t as impressed as I was. $100. Missing a few things but runs perfectly!

Finally got this thing all put back together. Long summer in the Midwest, then waiting on parts followed by a little bit of procrastination.