What is a 14" South Bend Drill Press Worth?

[Prof Steve]

My father owned a precision machine shop from around 1960 until the 1990s when he retired. At retirement he sold off his Hardinges, and much of the other equipment, but he held onto a 14" South Bend drill press, and various odds and ends machine tools. He has passed away, and my sisters have asked me to liquidate what remains from his shop. The drill press and a Palmgren rotary vise are the two most valuable items. But I am having a hard time figuring out what their value is. I have tried getting AI to help me in the process. Unfortunately, the Microsoft AI program Co-Pilot, the Google AI program Geminii, and the Open AI program Chat GPT, don't agree. And I don't mean by a little. Chat GPT assures me I should offer the drill press for $1000 and expect to get $900. But the other programs think it's value is only a few hundred. I would like to sell it for a fair value, but does anyone have any input on what people would pay for the drill press?

It's in good condition. The machine runs smoothly and has its original South Bend badge, its original General Electric 1/3 HP motor, and Jacob's chuck. It has multiple spindle speed via stepped pulley drive, smooth quill feed, adjustable table with smooth surface. If you were listing it for sale, what would you ask for it, and how much would you expect to get? Your input in very much appreciated.

 

[RTM]

Unfortunately, the Microsoft AI program Co-Pilot, the Google AI program Geminii, and the Open AI program Chat GPT, don't agree. And I don't mean by a little. Chat GPT assures me I should offer the drill press for $1000 and expect to get $900. But the other programs think it's value is only a few hundred.

As a general rule, the various AI programs thinks every tool is rare and worth a lot. Surprised one is lowballing you, it may want it for itself.


But as a benchtop model, only 1/3hp, in what looks to be ready to run, I’d guess $300 would be high end (more than cheap me would pay). Your location will definitely impact that. Some places good DP are under every rock and tree, other places very rare.

 

[txvwnut]

Drill press appears to be all original and in really nice shape. I'd put $500.00 on it and see what gets offered but I wouldn't go any lower than $350.00. Need to see a picture of the Palmgren vise to see what you've got.

 

[Prof Steve]

Drill press appears to be all original and in really nice shape. I'd put $500.00 on it and see what gets offered but I wouldn't go any lower than $350.00. Need to see a picture of the Palmgren vise to see what you've got.

Here are photos of the vise. thanks

 

[txvwnut]

I'd say the same price range for the rotary table and the vises attached to it.

 

[rsanter]

Bench model brings the value down and older does not help. Yes I know the people on this board like the older stuff as I do but I am amazed how many idiots think they are better off with a newer China made than an old American made DP

i would be asking $150 for the DP and would sell the rotary table/vise seperate. Im guessing that will be $100-$150

 

[Prof Steve]

I'd have trouble selling the drill press for $150. I think I would sooner break it down and sell it part by part. I see on ebay the pulley systems are going for around $500.

 

[FrankLee]

I'd have trouble selling the drill press for $150. I think I would sooner break it down and sell it part by part. I see on ebay the pulley systems are going for around $500.

You can remove the intermediate pulley and sell that separately. Then, sell the drill press whole. I've done that many times with Craftsman drill presses.
You'd need to flip the motor pulley over and get a new v-belt.

 

[MongoTA]

I'm in the northeast and I love old iron.

At auction, those drill presses often go for less than $100. Yours looks in good shape, it's fairly clean, and retains its vintage look. I'm wary of old machines that have been repainted for resale. On FBMP you can get more than via auction, $150-$300 if you catch the right person. The market for the bench model is less than a floor model, but bench models make an excellent addition to a shop that already has a floor model.

By comparison, the last drill press I bought through FBMP was an old ~400lb Delta Rockwell 17-600 floor standing model. Seller asked $350 but it languished, on my first contact he discounted it to $250 if I came that day. I caught him at the right time, a couple days before he was closing out a storage unit. Press itself was in fine shape, the table had no bite marks in it, but the wiring needed touching up. He saw me looking at the wires and dropped the price further without me asking. I took it home.

There's a market for Southbends like yours, but I do think $895 is exceedingly high. Honestly, $300 would be an overpay based on my experiences so at $895 list I wouldn't even make contact as a potential buyer. If I was in the market I'd be happy loading yours up for $125 or so. But you never know who's watching.

The Palmgren, it looks like it has all the bits and pieces. I think $450 is not an outlandish asking price for local pickup. The selling price could be much less, but $450 as an opener isn't a total turn-off.

 

[Prof Steve]

Thanks for your input.

 

[Cruzan80]

There is a floor model SB with the belt cover about an hr or two north of me, that has been sitting on FBMP for $200 for at least a week or two.

I swear I had seen another person with a rotary and the small Palmgren recently, but can't locate it. Sometimes those can go for lots, but the last two I have seen/bought (for myself or friends) were under $60.

 

[Whitworth]

You might try listing the items here in GJ and owwm.org as well

 

[Prof Steve]

There is a floor model SB with the belt cover about an hr or two north of me, that has been sitting on FBMP for $200 for at least a week or two.

I swear I had seen another person with a rotary and the small Palmgren recently, but can't locate it. Sometimes those can go for lots, but the last two I have seen/bought (for myself or friends) were under $60.

The ones you saw might have been posted here by me. They were taken down because they went up too soon after I joined this group.

 

[Prof Steve]

You might try listing the items here in GJ and owwm.org as well

I will do that soon. Thanks.

 

[Cruzan80]

No, it is a different size and looks to have other accessories that yours doesnt have. It is still listed for sale, so not yours.