Game time... Date that grinder!

[Firefyter-Emt]

No, like seriously.. I just picked up this old school Black & Decker 3/4hp bench grinder for $20. I am going to clean it up and give it a fresh coat of Hammerite to match my other shop tools. I have a serial # on it of 4270430. I am curious of the age of this thing. Take a close look at the old brass push button switches. What do ya think? Good deal for $20?? For another $20 I also picked up a almost new 30' auto-retractor air hose reel, a heavy duty drop light reel with a broken lamp (hello florescent head instal) and a tiny 6" drill press of obvious overseas build. but in like new condition.

I also made this tonight for my chuck key. It is once of those retractable keychains that I removed the belt clip and bolted it to a perfect matching magnet base. This is stuck to the side of the press so I can just pull, use and retract. No more missing keys. Total cost, $3.99

 

[kartracer55]

Not bad for 20 a pop. Take the shrouding off the bench grinder if you can to expose the motor, might have a date on it.

Jim

 

[l_bilyk]

What a great deal for the reel! Reels are expensive

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

I will have to look at the motor, but I believe that that is a solid cast housing, not tin covers. I am also curious what is under in the box! It would look nice without it, but the wheels would not clear, and I just have to keep those cool push buttons. The top is push for on, and the bottom is push for off.

I also love the air reel, It even had the proper chucks! The female chuck was even one of those sweet push button release ones. Take a peek..

Here is the rest of the "candy" I picked up.. All for $40, man I love a good deal!
the drop light... www.yankeetoys.org/lee/11292.jpg
and the drill press.. www.yankeetoys.org/lee/11294.jpg

 

[Fast Orange]

From the looks of it,I'd say you found one of the last of the good B&D tools.The decal/color scheme comes from the early 70s,I'd say-just before B&D started really making junk.Note the mounts for eyeshields-that dates it sometime after the 60s,when OSHA came to be and standards were set.

George

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Oh, and if anyone has or finds a photo of what those shields are supposed to look like, I would love to see it. I know the basic design and plan to make some new ones... But Hey!

 

[Uncle Buck]

The site WWW.Old wood working machines may have some helpfull pictures, I troll around over there from time to time doing a little tool research, hope it helps.

 

[Uncle Buck]

By the way, with that pentogram shape on the front, and that hammered silver color I would definitely say 1960's-70's. I think you could find some suitable eyeshields at Grainger or McMaster Carr. At least some that would look period correct.

 

[Fast Orange]

Another missing part-toolrests

George

 

[krooser]

Great grinder....will probably outlive you...

 

[Thumper]

I'm gonna guess and say late 50's -early 60's.

 

[kartracer55]

I'm gonna guess and say late 50's -early 60's.

I dont know, maybe later. The only reason I say this is because of the caution label on the thing You dont see too many idiot warnings like that on older tools. Looka t when you buy a tool know... the manual has more saftey info and what not to do than it does operating instructions because of all the morons out there who stop chainsaws with thier ******** lol

Jim

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

You know, I was thinking just that last night when I was taking it apart. The caution lable did not dawn on me at first, but that did make me wonder. It "may" be added on from something else, but that is all a guess. Once the gaurds were off I was looking at them and they look like Geo Metro rear brake drums! They just weigh a bit more.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

The site WWW.Old wood working machines may have some helpfull pictures, I troll around over there from time to time doing a little tool research, hope it helps.

Cool site, I think.. http://www.owwm.com/ If this is the one you mean.. There goes some more time....

Check it out... it has a twin!
lookie here

 

[Uncle Buck]

Firefyter- Yup thats the site. Does your grinder have the toolrests that wrap around on the sides of the wheel as shown in the pictures on the link? If it does, I change my guess from late 60's-early 70's to more like the 1950's- 1960's. The specifications for toolrests, wheelhouse openings and tongue guards come from ANSI standards. These are the design criteria manufacturers build to. I think the wraparound toolrest would have disappeared by the early sixties at the latest. My 2 bits

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Sadly, I am missing the tool rests. I am going to frab up my own while I restore the unit. I am going to look into the shields, If I can eaisly buy a prefab set up I will go that route.