Alright,, it’s all my weak willpower...

[OldCarGuy]

Darn that Defective Gene causing my everlasting addiction for tools and machines. But I just couldn’t resist,, and such a bargain at $2,000.00, I just had to buy this Bridgeport. It’s less than 15 years old and spent the last 7 in storage. Causing a slight cover of rust. And included a LW machine vice (made in Toledo Ohio) and other small tooling including a set of R8 collets.

I know, I know I already have Two milling machines including a CNC EZ-Track Bridgeport in my Garage Toy Shop. But it might be handy to have a manual Bridgeport too,, No?

It has chrome plated ways and lead screws that show little wear. Neither X or Y travels binds their entire limits. And both have less than .020 backlash. The motor is whisper quiet even at 3,000 RPM’s. This one’s like new

 

[Deafautotech]

wow that is very nice machine. you can make anything that you need to use for part or stuff...

my mom's largest district school in Indiana as Indianapolis Public School. that schools have lot of vocation classes that includes of milling machine classes, else classes that use machines. the schools decided to have public auction in bigger garage of school buses area. i did went there because i was graduated from Tech high school for automotive mechanic classes as they do auction of old automotive transmission jack, electric testing, else. i got Lincoln transmission jack for 25 dollars and snap on electric testing for battery and alternator for 12.50 dollars. both are working great.
then i did looking around and found there is about 5 to 10 vintage milling machine and big ole drill press machines. they just auction and sold for the about 300 dollar to 1,000 dollars range each. all machines are old but still working....

 

[Jay H 237]

You can't go wrong with an almost new Bridgeport for that price.

Having 3 machines means you could set up one or two now for certain operations and not have to redo them if you need to do something else.

 

[-lecroix-]

Nice find. Helluva deal ... especially considering the chrome and hand scraped ways, vise and collets.

Want to make $500 on it?

 

[chevy302dz]

Nice machine

 

[eschoendorff]

I'd be jealous, but I don't have the space, lol!

 

[bmwpower]

Man, oh man. You have a sickness.

What's the maintenance like on these things?
How about consumables?

 

[M.Ribz]

schools have lot of vocation classes that includes of milling machine classes, else classes that use machines.

that would be sweet, I graduated 1992 and my Jr and Sr years in high school we didnt even have shop or auto body classes! new school and not in the budget BS i think they opted for teaching "suing people for dummies"

Awesome Bridgeport, you put my tools to shame

 

[eschoendorff]

that would be sweet, I graduated 1992 and my Jr and Sr years in high school we didnt even have shop or auto body classes! new school and not in the budget BS i think they opted for teaching "suing people for dummies"

Awesome Bridgeport, you put my tools to shame

Grrrr.... that's all too familiar. Let's build buildings instead of people or programs!

 

[wilbilt]

Darn that Defective Gene causing my everlasting addiction for tools and machines. But I just couldn’t resist,, and such a bargain at $2,000.00, I just had to buy this Bridgeport. It’s less than 15 years old and spent the last 7 in storage.

Huh. I have always considered it to be a Rare and Superior Gene that causes this behavior.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Looks like a great investment

 

[OldCarGuy]

Man, oh man. You have a sickness. That I do!

What's the maintenance like on these things?
How about consumables?

Actually there’s very little maintenance required, particularly on newer Bridgeports. A good cleaning after each use is the most time consuming. It has a one shot single point way and lead screw lubrication system, whose reservoir needs to be topped off twice a year with way oil. Just pull a single lever once at the beginning of each day’s use and a few times during the day. And add a few drops of spindle oil to the cups on the head once a week. On my CNC Bridgeport the one shot lubricator is automatic and tied into the controller.

By consumables you mean items like drill bits, drill blanks, taps, reamers, counter sinks, HSS & carbide end mills, carbide inserts for index able mills. I’d imagine that I have a collection easily costing over $2,000.00. Having the capabilities to sharpening most everything I can get a lot of use out of most everything if I don‘t break it first. Even then it may be used for something else. Making the cost of most simple milling operations insignificant other than my time and electricity.

 

[OldCarGuy]

that would be sweet, I graduated 1992 and my Jr and Sr years in high school we didnt even have shop or auto body classes! new school and not in the budget BS i think they opted for teaching "suing people for dummies"

Awesome Bridgeport, you put my tools to shame

I’m saddened to hear that so many schools have discontinue their shop and car repair programs. Not so many years ago, a machinist was highly thought of. A good trade to support a family and it would only take a day to land a new job in any town across the USA. With all the OEM’s going across the pond, there is far less call for machinists and toolmakers. Therefore making less of a need to train any of the new generations.

For the past 30 years I have given six local high school graduates monetary scholarships. In the beginning half were for further college education, the other half was for the trades. Over the past ten years or so, few if any would apply for trade scholarships. And now they have dismantled the classes all together. Dismayed I discontinued them and now only give toward earning a college degree. The machinist and toolmaking trade that served me so well for so many years in going like the Dinosaurs in the USA, extinct…

 

[cc_rider]

$2000 for that? You're a THIEF! And I hate you.

Kidding of course.

You made a major score there, that's a sweet machine. I'd love to have one but don't have the space. At least we have a CNC here at work, I can bribe our guy into making parts occasionally.

c.

 

[...dave]

The machinist and toolmaking trade that served me so well for so many years in going like the Dinosaurs in the USA, extinct…

It's depressing, and also scary in some ways... i'm sure you're aware of how important the US manufacturing base was to the outcome of WWII... and now it's all moved to China, of all places... Every year in high school i tried to take Auto Shop as an elective (graduated in '94), and each year the class was dropped from the schedule because there wasn't enough interest. They did have a Metal Shop 1, but the interesting stuff from years gone by- the smelting/casting rig, vertical mill, etc., were all off-limits...

But, you can always make a belated contribution to our nation's future by mailing me that spare Bridgeport

...dave

 

[russlaferrera]

You made a great score. You did us proud son. That is one sweet machine in great shape.

I have been told that most clunkers are refurbished and sold to 3rd world countries.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

that's a nice machine? did i see it on craigslist??

you live near clevland.....lot's of old industrial machines for reasonable prices.......

 

[wrigh003]

I passed one of those driving up 65 the other day- I think it was rustier than that, but I paced the guy for a minute/ a few seconds to look it over. The rusty parts were jsut the body of it- the actual working parts were in fine shape. Couldn't help but wonder who the guy was and what he was going to do with it- you just don't see that type of thing too much any more.

 

[OldCarGuy]

that's a nice machine? did i see it on craigslist??

you live near clevland.....lot's of old industrial machines for reasonable prices.......

No it wasn’t on Craigslist. It was a private unadvertised sale with a Cleveland industrial plant that just had no use for it and decided they needed the space and wanted to get it off the books.

The used equipment values have been depressed for the past 5 years, particularly in our part of the country. Along with industrial buildings, and residential homes. Mainly because of the vast decline in manufacturing base in Ohio and the USA.

 

[Jokeman]

Nice looking mill. Up here in new england those things go CHEAP. Ive seen them go as low as 300 in decent shape. You can score one in real good shape usually for about 1000.

Have fun with it.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Old Car Guy, I just happened to see pics of your "Garage Kingdom" over in the Garage Galleries and I'm sure you have the space for it.

Congrats again on a great machine and a great shop