let's see your craftsman block grinders

[cajunfirehawk]

Good score today...never been used

Welcome to the club, that makes at least 2 of us on GJ with MIB blocks, mines staying in the box

​

 

[Tonellin]

You guys are just messing with us now right.... ? This grinder is like the mythical single fruit cake that gets passed around year to year... some of you guys are just passing it around to each other to tease the rest of us...

Fantastic score!


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Even crazier it had been listed for a week before I responded to the ad...I'm amazed they kept the box for nearly half a century

 

[Tonellin]

Welcome to the club, that makes at least 2 of us on GJ with MIB blocks, mines staying in the box



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https://flic.kr/p/S3VGR1

Whoa that's cool your box has the shipping directions that's pretty incredible. Despite mine not being used as well, yours is cosmetically in better shape this one has a paint gouge from storage I suppose

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Whoa that's cool your box has the shipping directions that's pretty incredible. Despite mine not being used as well, yours is cosmetically in better shape this one has a paint gouge from storage I suppose

Mine was missing one item but I have secured a replacement; both the metal and plastic lamp shade were missing, but I was thrilled to get it for what I paid for it, one sold before this one on ebay for over $300+, but I have less in this one than most of the used ones I buy , the lady posted it with just 2 pics and I contacted her and and ask for details and when she said new, I clicked buy now! Congrats again, the dilemma you face now is; do you use or or just save it?

 

[Tonellin]

Mine was missing one item but I have secured a replacement; both the metal and plastic lamp shade were missing, but I was thrilled to get it for what I paid for it, one sold before this one on ebay for over $300+, but I have less in this one than most of the used ones I buy , the lady posted it with just 2 pics and I contacted her and and ask for details and when she said new, I clicked buy now! Congrats again, the dilemma you face now is; do you use or or just save it?

I'd love to keep it but I've got two 1/3 hp already that are in pretty good shape and see a good amount of use so this one will be hitting ebay to find some other tool purchases. Also found the shipping label, not sure how I missed out on the first pass

 

[Beater5liter]

Just picked this 1/3 hp beauty up off CL. Eye shields still there and the light works. Gonna clean it up and put it to work. Anybody know a paint color that's close to this original factory color? My last one I painted with a hammered bronze.

 

[torqueman2002]

Just picked this 1/3 hp beauty up off CL. Eye shields still there and the light works. Gonna clean it up and put it to work. Anybody know a paint color that's close to this original factory color? My last one I painted with a hammered bronze.

That is a nice find! Well done.

Check the link in my signature line, that thread has some paint color information.

 

[torqueman2002]

I have listed this Block in the Classified section.
Link --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=357474

For the original thread: 'Craftsman 1/3-HP Round-top Block Grinder m-397.19580, restore',
follow this link. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6420222#post6420222

 

[r_olson_06]

Picked up this gem today with orginal paperwork and stand for $45

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[bubinga]

Torqueman, Thats Pretty.
r olson 06 nice, I have one, as new like that but I paid a little more than you.
Guy said he never used it. Think I gave $120.00 though.
You guys are making me want to re do the 1/2 I have down there.
I'll get to it.
I have been such a "ball O fire" lately.

 

[Swingpress]

Finally get to leave this here! Just got this today. Paperwork, extra wheel spent $25.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Awesome score Swingpress, yeah You ****, lol, good job!

 

[torqueman2002]

Awesome score Swingpress, yeah You ****, lol, good job!

I agree, that deserves a You ****.

 

[Swingpress]

Ya know....I got to thinking.. I would have gone my whole life not knowing what a block grinder was. Perfectly happy.... then you all showed up.......
Just kidding, thanks for being a good resource and educating the uninitiated like me!!

 

[M_George]

Swingpress... dito

 

[Smokeshow69]

Scored this 1/3hp block today off c list for $50...



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[cajunfirehawk]

Noticed when I was pulling off an old decal, appears sears started puting a protective clear decal over the actual foil decal, this looked too perfect to be owner added, Dr Torque, ever seen this before? Note the curled up corner on the bottom left side.


And another odd thing; notice the foam gasket on the top edge of the bottom wiring cover, is this common Never seen this before...


I got stoned over the weekend...

 

[exmaxima1]

And another odd thing; notice the foam gasket on the top edge of the bottom wiring cover, is this common Never seen this before...

I've done that before to quiet down the bottom plate. And I've seen it on other blocks as well, so others have done the same trick.

 

[bubinga]

Finally get to leave this here! Just got this today. Paperwork, extra wheel spent $25.

Awesome score Swingpress, yeah You ****, lol, good job!

I agree, that deserves a You ****.

Ya know....I got to thinking.. I would have gone my whole life not knowing what a block grinder was. Perfectly happy.... then you all showed up.......
Just kidding, thanks for being a good resource and educating the uninitiated like me!!

what am I missing?
Where is your grinder swing press?

 

[Swingpress]

I am having to go through all my posts and resize the photos. I always use Tapatalk so photo size is never an issue on my phone but I didn't realize they were all huge!!!

 

[Swingpress]

what am I missing?
Where is your grinder swing press?

Ok. Photos are back up and all is right with the world again until the next disaster.....

Swingpress...out!

 

[Beater5liter]

Got this baby cleaned up and put back together... time to put it to work

 

[M_George]

Looking good Beater5liter... looking good.

 

[Beater5liter]

Looking good Beater5liter... looking good.

Thanks, now I just need to figure out some more projects to use my 3 grinders on lol!

 

[torqueman2002]

Thanks, now I just need to figure out some more projects to use my 3 grinders on lol!

Yes, looking good!

As far as what projects, that's easy. More Blocks!

 

[Rileysan]

Yes, looking good!

As far as what projects, that's easy. More Blocks! [emoji481]

Don't listen to him - it's a trap!

I fell for it, already. I'm up to 2, 1/3hp, 3, 1/2hp, and 1, 3/4hp blocks ... And I'm still looking!

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[Beater5liter]

Yep, I'm screwed as well . Kids let this be a warning !

 

[bubinga]

Finally get to leave this here! Just got this today. Paperwork, extra wheel spent $25.

that's good. (good price and nice, 1/2 HP too)

 

[cheechi]

tried the search, couldn't come up with a phrase that helped out.

Can anyone tell me about when did they change from the 'princess leia' side guards to the stamped ones? Or were the stamped ones older?

How about the plastic cover on the power switches vs the stem vs the paddle?

Not urgent just curious as I have 3 different era models and no idea which is oldest. Looking at another and it got me to thinking. thanks in advance.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think the stamped ones are lower HP, vs the cast ones for higher HP. Some really low HP models I believe torquman said didn't even come with the side cover plates!

I would think the metal switch would be oldest, then paddle, then the safety style plastic.

 

[cheechi]

makes sense on the switches.

I have two 1/2 HP models one with incomplete princess leia's and one with complete stamped style. Maybe i can date them with the switches if you're right. They seem to both be about equal although I do have two different style wheels on them each.

 

[torqueman2002]

I'll take a stab at these deceptively simple question. My replies/comments are in RED below.

If you can post pictures, the answers can be better focused.

tried the search, couldn't come up with a phrase that helped out.

Can anyone tell me about when did they change from the 'princess leia' side guards to the stamped ones? Or were the stamped ones older?
I'm thinking PL side guards/Wheel Guard Covers (WGC) are the following.

Stamped WGC.

How about the plastic cover on the power switches vs the stem vs the paddle?

Stem style power switch

Plastic covered power switch

Paddle power switch

Not urgent just curious as I have 3 different era models and no idea which is oldest. Looking at another and it got me to thinking. thanks in advance.

I'll take manageable bites, rather than try to answer this all at once.

I'll post updates here.

First, I sampled my photo library and made the following notes for 1/4 & 1/3-HP pre-Blocks & Blocks.

No WCG - pre-Block
CM 0.25 HP 115.19500 115V GJ
CM 0.25 HP 115.19500 115V Columbus

Block
CM 0.33 HP 397.19390 115V for m_fumich
ftop
paddle Power Switch (PS)
stamped WGC

CM 0.33 HP 397.19391 NIB
ftop
paddle PS
stamped WGC
Manual date 11/76

CM 0.33 HP 397.19410 115V with Brake Utica, NY
rtop
stem PS
stamped WGC
May 20 1968

CM 0.33 HP 397.19580 115V Ft. Gratiot Dan
rtop
stem PS
stamped WGC
Feb 24 1967

CM 0.33 HP 397.19581 115V Battle Creek
rtop
paddle PS
stamped WGC
Jun 5 1974

For more information, follow this link. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4000528#post4000528

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

I thought the PL side covers were on anything with a rear exit spark shoot? Like the 1/2HP and up?

 

[bubinga]

I thought the PL side covers were on anything with a rear exit spark shoot? Like the 1/2HP and up?

what's "PL" mean?

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

what's "PL" mean?

"Princess Leaia" or however the star wars chick's name is spelled

 

[cheechi]

torqueman you are exactly right in each of the photos referring to the styles I mean.

seems the stems predate the paddles for sure. Still a relatively reasonable assumption paddles are going to predate the plastic 'safety style'.

Far as the stamped vs exhaust port, could they have been manufactured concurrently? I wonder if the exhaust port was an optional component and therefore two of the same year and otherwise identical could have had different guards. Has anyone tried putting the stamped guard assembly on a grinder that originally had dust ports or vise versa?

I'm going to look at mine as well as I can to see what I can tell for dates. One is attached to a pedestal now and will be a bear (the 1HP model) to try as there's no sturdy flat surface near to put it. Thanks so far for the info.

Princess Leia


Block grinder with dust port 'Princess Leia guard'

 

[exmaxima1]

Princess Leia


Block grinder with dust port 'Princess Leia guard'

I'm under the impression that the PL guards are the fluted type found on block grinders. The lower pic looks like a Pre-Block grinder (looks like cast iron rather than die-cast alloy), and I don't think there's a name for those guards.

 

[cheechi]

You may be right, but it's the closest I could find to illustrate it. The castings on mine are much heavier but they are the same general shape.

So here's what I got;

257.191401 1/2 HP
no year
stamped guards & red paddle switch

397.19440 1/2 HP
Jul 9 1974 A printed on the galv motor cover plate
Leia guards (mine has inners but no outers) & red plastic 'safety' switch

257.192190 1 HP
I think it has a date but it's on the ped so I will update if I ever move it
Leia guards (these models have the longer shafts also) & red plastic rocker switch

edit with better photo from earlier in this thread

 

[bubinga]

That's Funny

 

[M_George]

Went to the local flea market today. Tried to resist the temptation, but came home with another block today. I like it though, older than my others it's a 1966 round top for $25.