Good to meet everyone. Although the info here has been assisting me for a good while this is my first post. I picked up this post drill a while back and have recently gotten around to messing with it. I was hoping someone could help ID it. Only thing I can find on it is "Champion Forge Co, Lancaster PA" on the right side if facing it and "Warranted" on the left side. No model I can find, at least prior to disassembly. It resembles a a 96 but there are some distinct differences in, what I believe, is a quick return system. I have scoured pics and period ads for these and have yet to find one that exactly matches.
help identifying old Champion Forge post drill
- Thread starter Todda323
- Start date
RTM
Well-known member
Yes sir. I looked at every champion post drill they had. I could have missed it but I tried to be as thorough as possible. I will go back througj thm again. I even scoured every vintage ad I could find including ebay. So far no joy. The search continues. I am grateful for your suggestions. Keep them coming
four.cycle
Well-known member
Champion / Champion Blower & Forge Co., Lancaster, PA / taps, dies, screw plates / "Electric" screw plates / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/imagedetail.aspx?id=2867 /
the only documents I have for "Champion Blower & Forge" are advertisements and catalog listings for "Electric" screw plates.
nothing at VintageMachinery.org or International Tool Catalog Library ?
Welcome to the site. Because you are looking for "Champion" you are going to have to wade through a lot of stuff you are not looking for. There were a couple dozen different "Champion" brands and manufacturers. here's the LIST
the only documents I have for "Champion Blower & Forge" are advertisements and catalog listings for "Electric" screw plates.
nothing at VintageMachinery.org or International Tool Catalog Library ?
Welcome to the site. Because you are looking for "Champion" you are going to have to wade through a lot of stuff you are not looking for. There were a couple dozen different "Champion" brands and manufacturers. here's the LIST
OK. Whew. I need to thank fciron over on the practical machinist site. He pointed me to a catalog list I hadn't been through. Looks like a 94 is the closest thing i can find yet. If anyone has any actual photos of one it would be greatly appreciated. Looks like the patent file date is 1877. This photo was found in a 1922 catalog.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Here's the patent document, but I don't know if the patent drawings are going to answer your questions.
Where did you find the link to the catalog?
Where did you find the link to the catalog?
I missed it on the vintage machinery site. If anyone has photos of one they can share so i can verify it's identity I can move to a disassembly and detailed inspection. I don't think a "pretty" restoration is in order but I think I may go functional and as accurate as possible for the nature of the drill. Keep the patina but make it usable and relativly accurate. Winter is almost here and the potential of motorizing it isn't out the question. Playing around with pulley sizes to keep rpms under the max etc. I have some old books that discuss line shaft design I may crack open. Just something to keep my brain working on days I can justify not working outside.
crguy
Well-known member
It's a nice bonus to have the back gears, most post drills didn't have them. When post drills are converted to electric motor power, it's a challenge to get the speeds down low enough.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ Todda, you might want to send an inquiry with that question to the "site historian" on VintageMachinery.org - it's most likely either Jeff or Mark - there's always the off chance one of them might have some contact information.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ It's a stab in the dark, but I've managed to find a LOT of information by simply reaching out and making contact with "site administrator" on dozens of different websites. And there's always somebody who knows somebody else.
Cleave
Well-known member
Great post drill, I picked one up recently that's very similar but without the back gears or quick withdrawal.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
post drill madness on face book if u do face book. experts there, seem very helpful. https://www.facebook.com/groups/936984203038872
Unfortunately I don't have facebook. I tried it once and got hacked within a week and never looked back. The return gears on mine are missing a bunch of teeth. Tge main forward gears are fine. I may see if a machinist buddy of mine could remake them. There's the option for re building the teeth too. If anyone has any input or suggestions I'd love to hear them
wrenchguy
Well-known member
i been on internet 22 years and just started fb a few months back. i'm on 30+ vintage groups there with the info abundant. I started a post drill thread here a few years back...It died like a door nail. I don't think i been hacked on fb yet??? What happens?
I only wanted marketplace. No profile pic. No friends etc. Within about a week i Started getting notifications that I had new friends and a new profile pic. So I decided to see what I looked like. Last i looked in the mirror my profile pic looked nothing like me. Turned off the account and never looked back. I've been told that fb is illigal in some countries. accounts get hacked so younger generations have the opportunities of social media. Didn't bother me too much to say goodbye to it. Too much trouble a week in to it to bother with it
As an update, one machinist friend of mine forwarded me to a company called Motion Systems INC in Michigan who he spoke highly of. I spoke to a helpful fella and this may be a viable lead as they offer repair and re work services. I made contact and they were quite pleasant. Of course cost is yet to be established as I have not begun the disassembly process. I need to send the gears to them for evaluation, which is a logical request. I have another acquaintance who is a machinist at another local shop I need to check with before I send the parts off. I will keep you guys and gals updated.
crguy
Well-known member
You're going to get a crazy amount of money invested in that drill if you hire someone to do evaluation/repair/replacements on those gears.
Yeah I'm cautious of that. I'm hoping my other buddy can do something with it as he works for a more formal outfit with insane manufacturing capabilities. I just haven't had time to check in with him yet. Work and life are keeping me on the run. Throw in a dash of Christmas and you get some crazy. All in all if it is possible at a reasonable cost i will move forward. If not it's still a fun project. I ended up printing this out on hand made paper and hanging over it.
Attachments
four.cycle
Well-known member
1930 Union Hardware & Metal Co. catalog Champion Blower & Forge ad pp 1153
1930 Union Hardware & Metal Co. Champion Blower & Forge ad pp 1154
four.cycle
Well-known member
Cleave
Well-known member
I was missing a change gear for my circa 1900 Barnes lathe, and couldn't find one anywhere without going custom.
I didn't want to hand file all 52 teeth, so got the closest 3d model from McMaster, modified the file in Solidworks, and got it 3d printed from black nylon. The gear is doing fine for my application and doesn't look too out of place on the machine.
Just something to consider as if you have to make a custom bevel gear it'll cost a fortune.
I didn't want to hand file all 52 teeth, so got the closest 3d model from McMaster, modified the file in Solidworks, and got it 3d printed from black nylon. The gear is doing fine for my application and doesn't look too out of place on the machine.
Just something to consider as if you have to make a custom bevel gear it'll cost a fortune.