Check this production drill press out

[R.Anderson]

Allen 6-Precision six spindle Drill Press on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALLEN-6-PRE...716?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d17f78ed4

"Built in 1980 for the Kollsman Instrument Company, this Allen 6-Spindle Drill Press is custom-built and very unique. The condition is very good and ready to use! The feed lever for all six is wooden with a brass adjustable index. The table in in perfect condition (no holes or nicks from abuse). This unit would be perfect for a technician -hobbyist or craftsman or a high-quality precision manufacturing or fabrication facility.

The Kollsman Instrument Company (now the Kollsman Instruments a subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America) builds high quality aviation instrumentation. Paul Kollsman was the inventor of the aircraft altimeter enabling fly by instruments. It is clear that the people who used this machine were craftsman and loved their tools.

Table Working Surface: 14” x 66”
Table Size Including Coolant Trough: 20 1/2” x 73”
Distance Between Spindles Center to Center: 10”
Center of Spindle Back to Head Vertical Ways: 8”
Center of Spindle Back to Column Face: 9"
All Spindles Hand Feed
Spindles 1 through 5: #32 Jacobs Chuck (0 to 3/8" Drill cap and uses a K32 Key)
Spindle 6: #2 Jacobs Chuck (0-3/8 0-10mm cap; Super Chuck)
Spindle Speeds (all heads): 500 to 4500 RPM
Maximum Distance Spindle to Table: Approx. 22"
Minimum Distance Spindle to Table: Approx. 4"
Manual Traverse to Table Up & Down with Approx. 16" of Travel
Spindle Travel: 4" with Micrometer Type Depth Stop (Manual)
1/2 HP Motor Each Spindle, 3 Phase, 60 Cycle, 203-230-460 Volts
Presently Wired for 3 Phase, 60 Cycle, 208 Volts
Control Circuit 1 Phase, 60 Cycle, 120 Volts
1/4 HP Coolant Pump & Piping, 3 Phase, 60 Cycle, 230-460 Volts
Overall Dimensions: 74” L x 45” W x 73” H
Weight: 3,545 Lbs. "

The one spindle pictured alone needs a little work on the spring tho.

Wouldn't mind having this one if I had the space and the cash to chuck at it.

 

[A_Pmech]

The quill handles are pretty neat!

 

[Packard V8]

Beautiful machine. However, with that BIN, it's clear the seller does not trust the eBay marketplace to value it as highly as he does.

Would be an interesting exercise for a electronics/electrician to wire a VFD to that with a control which would allow switching from one motor to the next with a rotary switch.

jack vines

 

[zkling]

From a design standpoint that thing is really cool. However I question the sellers point of the practicality of a hobbyist owning that. One would have to be a pretty serious hobbyist to own that. Maybe a knife maker or model maker.

 

[R.Anderson]

The quill handles are pretty neat!

With the wood and brass handles I would of thought it was older than 1980's.

From a design standpoint that thing is really cool. However I question the sellers point of the practicality of a hobbyist owning that. One would have to be a pretty serious hobbyist to own that. Maybe a knife maker or model maker.

I had the same thought about the seller saying that bit

 

[454ragtop]

My single spindle Buffalo 14 has a similar quill handle and sliding head setup, it's probably my favorite drill press, at the moment. The Buffalo quill handle uses a knurled nut to hold the handle, and by loosening it, you can reposition the quill handle to the desired location via a pretty fine spine cut into the back side of the handle.
I too think the Ebay seller is dreaming, don't think that is really a hobbiest's machine, even a real serious one. It takes up too much space, and is really made for a manufacturing environment, with parts moving from station to station. I do think a 2 or maybe 3 headed machine would be cool to have though.
Jim