let's see your craftsman block grinders

[exmaxima1]

Something you block heads might appreciate surfaced this AM in my yardsailing:

A NOS, disc sanding attachment (notice the pics on the manual):

Here's what it looked like on a block grinder I sold recently. If the table was a bit more substantial I probably would have kept it. Good find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks for posting that Ex!

 

[Merklife]

anyone knows who made the craftsman block grinders with the 115. prefix? i have 1/4 horsepower one i picked up for $5 at a relatives friend yard sale. Actually i had about 4 other items included for that $5 bucks as well.

 

[Outlawmws]

Packard Electric (Division of General Motors) Purchased by Delco in 1932

 

[torqueman2002]

anyone knows who made the craftsman block grinders with the 115. prefix? i have 1/4 horsepower one i picked up for $5 at a relatives friend yard sale. Actually i had about 4 other items included for that $5 bucks as well.

Packard Electric (Division of General Motors) Purchased by Delco in 1932

What Outlaw said. ^^

Note: That style/model has an internal switch in the RH housing. Care is needed when disassembling. The centrifugal sw will be damaged if the bearing stays on the arbor/shaft when separating the housing. There are detailed restoration threads that can guide a disassembly, let us know if you'd like the links.

Also, from the thread: "Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinders - What's the Fuss (with resource information)", see link in my signature line for more information.

CM Block motor style grinder
Re: Vintage Craftsman "Block Motor" bench grinder info -
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2012, 07:50:25 AM » goodfellow
A point of clarification. Sears sold many "block motor" designed grinders from several manufacturers, but the block design must be considered secondary. Of primary concern is the manufacturer.

The best engineered, most durable, and desirable "Block Motor" grinders were made by Paramount/Allegretti & Co.

These grinders have the 397 or 257 serial number prefixes.

Overall, the "Block Motor" designs were also made by Rixon, Royal, and B&D -- just to name a few.

These grinders do not have the higher quality field windings and castings that the Paramount/Allegretti units had.

Re: Vintage Craftsman "Block Motor" bench grinder info -
« Reply #38 on: August 14, 2012, 10:15:50 AM » toolguybak
Source code 115 is Packard Electric (Division of General Motors), which included Sunlight Electric Motors (and grinders) back in the 1930s.

Source code 257 covers Allegretti & Co and Paramount, who continued the Delco models for Sears.

Source code 397 is Delco (Division of General Motors).

Re: Vintage Craftsman "Block Motor" bench grinder info -
« Reply #40 on: August 15, 2012, 02:14:56 PM » toolguybak
The Packard Electric grinders (115) have the centrifugal starting switch on the rotor, like their regular motors.

The centrifugal switch is a pair of weights connected by springs, that slide an actuating sleeve.

The actuating sleeve engages or disengages a contact ring mounted on the end bell for the start windings, based on rpm.

The Delco grinders (397) and subsequent 257s have a starting relay instead.

I believe all of the 6" grinders were split-phase.
Some of the 7"x¾" grinders were split-phase.
Almost everything else was capacitor start.

General speaking, the commercial grinders are rated for industrial use and dual voltage.

The non-commercial grinders are usually single voltage 6" and some 7" for homeowner use.

 

[toddmp]

If anyone has an extra wheel guard cover for a 1/3hp block please pm me.

 

[WWShop]

Can anyone be kind enough to help me get a new label please? Thank you!

 

[HockeyDave13]

Picked this one up at an estate auction for $22.50. They even had the owners manual!!

 

[toddmp]

I finally had a chance to clean up my 1/3 horse this past weekend. Now to clean up the guards, get some new wheels and find a spare wheel cover (or continue to use the spindle sander add-on.

 

[paulm12]

I finally had a chance to clean up my 1/3 horse this past weekend. Now to clean up the guards, get some new wheels and find a spare wheel cover (or continue to use the spindle sander add-on.

looks great Todd, what colors did you use?
.

 

[toddmp]

looks great Todd, what colors did you use?
.

thanks. Rustoleum Sage and hammered silver down the middle. I have a 1/4th horse I will be working on this weekend and trying to decide colors on.

 

[erty67]

Yes, that was a 1970s Craftsman vise (probably made by Columbia). It also could have been a Craftsman vise made in Japan. I can't say for sure because I didn't go to the estate sale myself. A kind co-worker of mine who lives nearby stopped by and grabbed the block grinder for me. I had no problem paying the asking price since it was all complete (no missing shields, etc.) It runs very quiet and smooth.

It does look like a Japan vise. Mine is identical to it. I love it. As for my blocks, I'm learning i do need two. I put a wire wheel on my 7" but dont like it. Ended up putting the 6" back on the bench. Now i need one if those nice stands so i can put the grinder wheel back on the 7 and have the best of both worlds.....darn GJ. Lol

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[JZiggy]

Todd, looks like you just need a stand for that bad boy

 

[toddmp]

Todd, looks like you just need a stand for that bad boy

Yes sir, cant wait.

 

[thecody59]

I Picked up another craftsman block grinder today for only $10! Is looks like a newer one tho because it has more plastic parts but it is in great shape and i didn't think twice when i saw it marked at the garage sale for $10.

 

[nine4gmc]

Cody, that's not a block, it's more like the super cheap distant relative, by marriage(not blood).

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

 

[thecody59]

Is it not a good grinder? It is a made in the usa craftsman so i assume it is better then a lot of the Chinese grinders now.

 

[nine4gmc]

If you really need a small, cheap grinder it may work for you but personally, I would have kept my $10 for something else.

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[Shiftless]

If you really need a small, cheap grinder it may work for you but personally, I would have kept my $10 for something else.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

IMHO, it is probably worth more than $10

I recently acquired (free) a much smaller really poor yellow Black and Decker grinder...you know the ones with the 1/2 inch wide 4 inch diameter stones. it took about 5 seconds to get up to speed. The original cord was gone and replaced by the P.O. with one end of a dirty half worn out orange extension cord. (Get the mental picture?)
Anyway I put it on the table at a neighbor's garage sale and it sold right away for my asking price...$10
I plugged it it to demonstrate it for the guy. He handed over his money without a hint of negotiating.

 

[Blue Frog]

I'm trying to purchase this one off C/L today.








Blue Frog

 

[Reversepolarity]

I'm trying to purchase this one off C/L today.








Blue Frog

How much?
Looks like a dandy!

 

[Outlawmws]

IMHO, it is probably worth more than $10

I recently acquired (free) a much smaller really poor yellow Black and Decker grinder...you know the ones with the 1/2 inch wide 4 inch diameter stones. it took about 5 seconds to get up to speed. The original cord was gone and replaced by the P.O. with one end of a dirty half worn out orange extension cord. (Get the mental picture?)
Anyway I put it on the table at a neighbor's garage sale and it sold right away for my asking price...$10
I plugged it it to demonstrate it for the guy. He handed over his money without a hint of negotiating.

Was it Cody?

 

[MercLSU]

Before the last, recent garage sale that Nine and I had, I let my elderly neighbor pick things over first. He saw my HF grinder (which I would have asked $10 for), and quickly asked to buy or trade for his CM grinder. It was identical to Cody's, which I had a hard time selling for $10, but I did in a bundle deal. They're not terrible but they're certainly not block quality and I would submit that the HF grinder I traded him was more useful to him, even if it may not last as long (arguable). Unless I specifically needed a grinder I wouldn't purchase one of those; I found it under powered and the light was more or less useless.

 

[Outlawmws]

Before the last, recent garage sale that Nine and I had, I let my elderly neighbor pick things over first. He saw my HF grinder (which I would have asked $10 for), and quickly asked to buy or trade for his CM grinder. It was identical to Cody's, which I had a hard time selling for $10, but I did in a bundle deal. They're not terrible but they're certainly not block quality and I would submit that the HF grinder I traded him was more useful to him, even if it may not last as long (arguable). Unless I specifically needed a grinder I wouldn't purchase one of those; I found it under powered and the light was more or less useless.

Was it Cody?

 

[Shiftless]

Outlaw:
Cody would have had to travel 2000 miles to get to the sale on my block. Garage sales are certainly a study in human behavior.
I know a woman who holds a PhD in Psychology who makes her living running estate sales. She enjoys doing that WAY more than being a professor.

 

[Blue Frog]

I'm trying to purchase this one off C/L today.








Blue Frog

Got it, and it's as nice as it looks! The wheel on the right side is original and both shields are scratch free. The only problem is a broken plastic cover for the light, which Sears still has in stock, so it's on order.

The PO said that it was his grandfathers and had been sitting in the basement for years. The PO was afraid to use it! For the vintage and condition, $100.00 was a fair price. Also, I couldn't believe the size of this grinder - 3/4 hp and 8" is much larger than the 6" one that I have.

Blue Frog

 

[WWShop]

Nice find for $100. I would definitely have paid that.

 

[Pupuhd]

3/4hp with 8" wheels for $100? Sweet deal in that condition. Excellent find.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[torqueman2002]

Got it, and it's as nice as it looks! The wheel on the right side is original and both shields are scratch free. The only problem is a broken plastic cover for the light, which Sears still has in stock, so it's on order.

The PO said that it was his grandfathers and had been sitting in the basement for years. The PO was afraid to use it! For the vintage and condition, $100.00 was a fair price. Also, I couldn't believe the size of this grinder - 3/4 hp and 8" is much larger than the 6" one that I have.

Blue Frog

Nice one! Plus you have the original manual.

If you are looking for the quench (water/cooling) tray, SearsPartsDirect and eReplacementParts websites have them.

534436227 Quench Tray

$22.16
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part-number/534436227/0071/358.html

$33.69
http://www.ereplacementparts.com/quench-tray-p-972856.html

 

[DWise]

I wondered who got it, I sent two emails and got no response, so you must have been first to reply.

 

[JZiggy]

Big thanks to BradinCali who made these two 1/2 hp flat tops possible. The first one is a bit newer, maybe late 70's and it is in nearly perfect condition. The first block grinder I have run across where I will *not* change out the original bearings.

Also, some interesting trivia... note that the newer grinder above has four main housing bolts. You can see the boss bump on both sides. All other flat tops I have seen use three.

 

[torqueman2002]

Big thanks to BradinCali who made these two 1/2 hp flat tops possible. The first one is a bit newer, maybe late 70's and it is in nearly perfect condition. The first block grinder I have run across where I will *not* change out the original bearings.

Also, some interesting trivia... note that the newer grinder above has four main housing bolts. You can see the boss bump on both sides. All other flat tops I have seen use three.

Nice 'side by side' compare.

Any dates on the bottom covers?

So many Blocks, so little time and $$.

 

[BradnCali]

Big thanks to BradinCali who made these two 1/2 hp flat tops possible. The first one is a bit newer, maybe late 70's and it is in nearly perfect condition. The first block grinder I have run across where I will *not* change out the original bearings.

Happy to contribute to your Block addiction and affliction! I appreciate your help and enjoyed your visit on Saturday.

Crazy back story on both these grinders. The newest one was part of a identical pair that I found nearby and passed the info on to Ziggy. I ended up picking them both up but one was missing the covers, shields and tool rests. I picked the complete one up for Ziggy and kept the incomplete one and later decided to put it back up for sale.

The second older one Ziggy found a couple of days later and sent me a text asking me if it was close to my house. I looked at the CL ad and realized that I had literally just returned from that very location buying some vintage delta lathe chisels. I remember seeing it there but I never asked him if it was for sale. Anyway, I called the guy who sold me the chisels and made arrangements to return the next day for the Block. When I showed up the next day, he told me he had a guy come by after I talked to him that saw the Block and was really pushing him hard to sell it to him, but told the guy that he'd already promised it to me. I brought it home and set it next to Ziggy's other Block.

The next day, I had a guy answer my CL ad for that other twin to Ziggy's newer Block and when he came by to pick it up, he saw the older one sitting there and told me about how hard he tried to buy it the previous evening! What a crazy series of coincidences!

Brad

 

[torqueman2002]

Small world.

And a great CL seller to honor his phone deal with you.

I've had great times buying and selling on CL.

 

[Blue Frog]

I wondered who got it, I sent two emails and got no response, so you must have been first to reply.

The seller certainly didn't respond to e-mails messages like most sellers on C/L. I sent a firm "I'll take it" almost immediately after it was listed, and gave my full contact information. I did not receive a response.

At 9:45 am on Saturday, I sent another e-mail message asking for the address and that I wanted to pick it up that day. I received a reply shorty after that giving me the address. Fortunately for me, I had plans to be in the general area where the grinder was located later that day, which I did.


Blue Frog

 

[CalsXS2]

Anybody want this last set of tool rests for $50 shipped.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5817333#post5817333

 

[Cruzan80]

Somebody must have either passed away, or is downsizing, because there are currently 5 block grinders up on ebth.com right now. "Everything But The House" is an online estate sale site run by auction, and has an auto-extension to prevent sniping. Currently 2-3 days on them. Currently on pages 2-4.

https://www.ebth.com/search?q=craftsman&state=active

 

[ARFLY]

I am picking up a 1/3 HP block grinder this evening. It is complete with light, guards, and quench tray. I have a 1/2 HP that is missing a few things like the guards. Are parts interchangeable between the 2?

 

[exmaxima1]

I am picking up a 1/3 HP block grinder this evening. It is complete with light, guards, and quench tray. I have a 1/2 HP that is missing a few things like the guards. Are parts interchangeable between the 2?

Yes, if it's the 6-inch split phase 1/2hp model. No if it's the cap-start version

 

[torqueman2002]

I am picking up a 1/3 HP block grinder this evening. It is complete with light, guards, and quench tray. I have a 1/2 HP that is missing a few things like the guards. Are parts interchangeable between the 2?

You can also verify what parts are interchangeable, explained in the following post.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5504167&postcount=7840

BTW - Publication Reprints (with part numbers) --> http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3