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McBrownie

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Happy Birthday to me! 2 weeks early. TorqueMan is Santa Claus. He put me on his list and, even though he didn't find it, it found me. A 397.19591 1/2 HP, commercial, crown top, 7", rear-vent beauty. It has all of the parts except the quench tray. No date stamp, but I'm thinking late 60's or early 70's. A little rust on the tin, but the label is good, so no problem. Has 2 like-new wheels and came with a new set of rubber feet. This one wasn't $25, but at $90 I still think it was a good deal.

Even though my other flat top 1/2 HP runs well, this thing is a serious tool. Much more stout than the non-commercial. I'll post more pictures later.
 

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torqueman2002

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Happy Birthday to me! 2 weeks early. TorqueMan is Santa Claus. He put me on his list and, even though he didn't find it, it found me. A 397.19591 1/2 HP, commercial, crown top, 7", rear-vent beauty. It has all of the parts except the quench tray. No date stamp, but I'm thinking late 60's or early 70's. A little rust on the tin, but the label is good, so no problem. Has 2 like-new wheels and came with a new set of rubber feet. This one wasn't $25, but at $90 I still think it was a good deal.

Even though my other flat top 1/2 HP runs well, this thing is a serious tool. Much more stout than the non-commercial. I'll post more pictures later.
Sweet! :rocker:

Thanks for the shout out, even though I didn't help, I was wishing you well.
 

torqueman2002

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OK, I've been a working on an idea to pull together resources for these little machines that are tough like an English Bull Dog.

At first I kept a .txt file, lately an XL file, with the bits 'n pieces of information collected while searching and researching for and about the Block grinders.

Website links, for any number of things:
  • Make a cast grinder wheel cover
  • Make a sheet metal grinder wheel cover
  • Dressing Grind Wheels by tubalcain
  • eReplacement Parts - quench tray
  • a thread about ordering bearings online.
  • Grinding on the Side of the Wheel?
  • rubber grommets/feet/things
You get the idea.

So, why not put them on the forum?

The thread starts with most newbies' 1st question - What is a Block grinder? :dunno:

It shows the early round top, later flat top, and commercial & industrial rated models.

That's as far as I have gone with it as of 8:00 pm, but I will update the 1st post, to put the above links and many others in 1 place in the thread (if you have one or more links, etc ... that will help others, PM me, I'll fit them in).

I expect this will take a little time, but it will grow and get more useful as it ages and is tweaked.

Here's the link, it's also in my sig. line. "Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinder - resources"
http://tinyurl.com/CM-Block-Grinder-Resources
Cheers & Beers to ya!
:beer:
Mike
 

torqueman2002

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Thanks TorqueMan! I just used it with a buffing wheel. Wow! Much faster than my old 1/4 HP Doerr grinder. Any guess as to the year of manufacture?
McB;

Funny, about 45 mins. ago, I was looking for a pic. of a 1/2 HP round top Commercial for a thread. I could have used yours!

Anyway, the link to VM says the Block in the link's date of manufacture was '1969'. Wander around their site, easy to get lost, but there's a wealth of information on the Sears Craftsman grinders and who made them and when. So, you may get a little closer than 'about 1969'.

Heck - I was at Woodstock in 1969. The 1st Woodstock. Peace, Love, and Block grinders for everyone!:rocker:

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=6242
 
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rickhigginshtbr

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So, just an FYI, when you buy a brand new stand from Sears, the old block's don't line up. 15 minutes after assembly, I drilled two new holes into the new stand for my 1/2HP Commercial. BTW, didn't realize my 1/2HP was a 7".... running 6" buffing wheels is okay to do, right?
 

McBrownie

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McB;

Funny, about 45 mins. ago, I was looking for a pic. of a 1/2 HP round top Commercial for a thread. I could have used yours!

Anyway, the link to VM says the Block in the link's date of manufacture was '1969'. Wander around their site, easy to get lost, but there's a wealth of information on the Sears Craftsman grinders and who made them and when. So, you may get a little closer than 'about 1969'.

Heck - I was at Woodstock in 1969. The 1st Woodstock. Peace, Love, and Block grinders for everyone!:rocker:

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=6242

I bet you have a story or two. :D

I spent some time on VM looking at 397.19590's and 397.19591's. It seems like the metal eye shields with metal riveted nameplates were made in the early '60's. It must have been the mid '60's when the plastic eye shields and adhesive nameplate were introduced, but they still had the metal toggle switch. Then the plastic "paddle" toggle switch was most likely introduced around 1969 as your link shows.

I also found some information on NEMA motor classifications that I will post on your other thread in the near future.
 

torqueman2002

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McB;

Woodstock was everything people say; mostly because the Law Enforcement agencies handled it the right way and the crowd was well mannered.

Great performances.

VM is a great resource, but a little clunky to navigate.

It's gonna be people like you that can pull together and document when changes to the Blocks happened.

I'll do my best to capture and document them. I could use some ideas on a good way to do that. Like a time line, but that may not work well in an on-line forum. :dunno:

"NEMA motor classifications" cool, good find. :rocker:

Enjoy the Holiday Weekend!
Mike
 
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bczygan

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09-19495 Craftsman Bench Grinder Tool Sharpening Attachment

6578-A.jpg


Some links:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Craftsman-Parts/Grinder-Parts/Model-19596/0247/0721210

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=4420

http://phoenix.bidbut.com/a,41,3078953,CraftsmanEdgeGrindingAttachment-x002450SunCity.htm

A drill grinding attachment:

mKULO8X7yeT9PFBXSWaphDg.jpg


http://www.micro-machine-shop.com/Drill_grinding_attachment_9-6677_manual.pdf

Another possible source for feet:
http://www.harborfreight.com/180-piece-harness-grommet-set-67582.html

image_19933.jpg
 
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McBrownie

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Well, I'm not as fast as Balane who seems to be able to grow fully reconditioned block grinders in Petri dishes, but I did my center tin, screws, lampshade and gooseneck today. Here is a sample. Rustoleum silver metallic with clear coat.
 

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McBrownie

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McBrownie, is that a printed label or original? Looking good!

Thanks! Original label with only one small ding on the model number. The motor housings are in good shape and don't even need repainting. I'm thinking that it was kept indoors for a good portion of its life - so far, that is. It still has a ways to go as far as I'm concerned. :D
 

McBrownie

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McB;
I'll do my best to capture and document them. I could use some ideas on a good way to do that. Like a time line, but that may not work well in an on-line forum. :dunno:

I have no idea how this website was built, but it is referred to a on a regular basis over on "The Vises of Garage Journal" thread. A chronological listing with specs like this would be really nice.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

Also, do you want us to post material on your other thread or do you want us to PM you with ideas?
 

McBrownie

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This is kind of fun, especially for those of us old enough to remember Christmas catalogues from places like Sears and JC Penneys. This came from a 1968 Sears catalogue on the website. 192.185.93.157/~wishbook/

Take a look at item #1 on page 317. A 1/3hp 6" grinder for $43.88 ($298.93 in today's dollars!!!!). They don't have every model, but that "Y99 N 19583C4" sure looks like it holds part of the 397.19580 part number. I haven't confirmed that. So, lots of material to go through in the form of old catalogues. I wonder if there are hardware-only versions on line. The pictures of women in bras just aren't as interesting to me now as they were back then. :bounce:
 

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torqueman2002

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I searched searspartsdirect and it says tool rests are no longer available(model: 39719440). I recall reading that they can be purchased... where?

Hello? Anyone? :sad:

Is it possible you're mis-remembering? I've gone through every model on Searspartsdirect and ereplacementparts and have not found them.

Could be. I thought torqueman mentioned it.

Lemme see, I ordered and received (from eReplacementParts.com) part of a 3-piece tool rest for a 1 H.P. model 257.191600 GO-BLUE!, like the ones pictured below.

P1010096small.jpg


I received 2:
22005429 Tool Rest Arm (Upper)

I need (Not Available) 2:
22005398 Tool Rest
22005399 Lower Tool Rest Arm
5219087 Tool Rest Shaft
{part numbers taken from: 397.19360 1hp 8" Block Grinder Owner's Manual pdf file, on http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3 }

If the exact model is not listed on eReplacementParts.com, the "trick" I use is to search a model 'close/similar'.

Let us know how you make out or need any ideas.
 
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torqueman2002

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I have no idea how this website was built, but it is referred to a on a regular basis over on "The Vises of Garage Journal" thread. A chronological listing with specs like this would be really nice.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

Also, do you want us to post material on your other thread or do you want us to PM you with ideas?
McB
That looks like a workable layout. I wonder if it's possible on our forum and how to find out.

My initial thought is to have links, ideas, PM'd to me; and I'll update the 1st post in the thread to keep them in 1 place where, hopefully they'll be 'easy/easier' to find.

We might have to re-visit that idea, if it's not working or could be improved upon.
 

Outlawmws

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Dayids "engine" is media wiki. (Think Wikipeadia...) click on the icon in the lower right corner.

You can install it free, but you need a website to install it on.
 

nine4gmc

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I can host it on my website if anyone wants to do the hard part of organizing it first or walk me through it.
 

nine4gmc

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Nine4, are you up for highjacking Dayids 's vise site as well? I think there are some members on the Vises thread would thow you a ticker-tape parade if you offered that up. :thumbup:


IDK about hijacking but if the info is free to share, I don't mind hosting it.
 

bczygan

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Does the object on top of this grinder look like the Craftsman tool holder for bench grinders?

I thought it did, and sent the seller the $15 he was asking for the whole works.
My brother is picking it up as it is 2 miles from him.

Bill
 

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