Help identifying Baldor buffer

[M J Peters]

Brand new to Garage Journal - have lurked for awhile and gained a lot of valuable information from the threads I've read.

I'm trying to find some information on a vintage Baldor buffer that has been in the shop out on the farm, where my sister now lives. Talking with my dad, he thinks my grandfather picked it up somewhere in the late 40's/early 50's. I've googled the catalog number but I can't find anything, and looking at google images of baldor buffers and grinders I can't find anything that looks like it.

The tag is intact so I have the specs, but I'm curious about when it was made and what the original color scheme might be. There's red on the base and rings on the ends, but it doesn't appear to have been red all over. Trying to talk my father into letting me break it down and restore it.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. (I also have an email into Baldor)

 

[454ragtop]

Nice buffer on the factory cast iron stand. I'm guessing it's pretty old, 50's maybe. That serial # looks suspiciously like a date code, Nov 57? I think the paint that is shown was added. Might try removing the guard around the switch to see what color is underneath it.
Good luck, Jim

 

[drivesitfar]

MJ: First off happy to see you decided to join Garage Journal so you can share the information you have learned and know and glad to have another person that likes old grinders.

did you read the vintage grinders thread? http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107092&highlight=grinders

you might want to post this grinder on that thread to get some of those guy's opinions in case they miss this one they might check that one. by the way i do like the split screen pictures and if you want to share how you did that i'm sure some of us would like to know.

i'm not sure that is an original Baldor stand because it doesn't look like the holes match up and i don't remember seeing one that looks like that, but i really like it. your grinder might be a 1957 built grinder like Ragtop mentioned, but to me it looks a bit older and maybe 40's. it is definitely worth the time to restore in my opinion and there are several Baldor threads where the owner's of them have taken them down to the basics if you can talk your dad or grand dad into letting you have it. how does it run now?

nice find

 

[WWIIjeep]

That serial # looks suspiciously like a date code, Nov 57?

Yes, the "serial number" on Baldor buffers and grinders is usually a date code.

i'm not sure that is an original Baldor stand because it doesn't look like the holes match up and i don't remember seeing one that looks like that, but i really like it.

Yes, it is definitely an OEM Baldor pedestal. It's a 40s/50s-vintage No. GA-1, which also fits the next larger size Baldor grinders/buffers, hence why it looks too large for the buffer. There are two sets of mounting holes on the pedestal: an inner set for 153C frame motors like the subject buffer has, and an outer set (visible) for the larger 183C frame motors.

 

[G_P]

Did someone work on that recently? The cord on it looks new, shiny and clean compared to everything else in the pic.

If it runs I would infidelity clean that baby up. Baldor makes great equipment.

 

[Trey T]

For an old look but modern touch, polish the through-bolt and paint the casing gray like all modern Baldor motors.

 

[M J Peters]

Thanks for all the information. I'll post this into the vintage thread later when I get home from work. My grandfather passed away in '88 and I'm not aware of Dad replacing the cord. Last time it was used it started up and ran fine so I'm hoping it would mainly be a clean up and repainting.

On the "split image" if you don't put a space between the image tags they should appear side to side

Again thanks for the help. I have some more research to do.