old Craftsman drill press

[Arachnotron]

I've been searching craigslist for one of these for some time and finally found one yesterday. The model # is 103.23100. The manufacturer is King-Seeley corp. It has a working General Electric motor, but the tag is missing from it. I found the manual, dated july 1946, on vintagemachinery.org. I'm not sure how tall the column is supposed to be, but on this one it is 40" high. All the ones I've seen online look shorter. I'll post more pictures as I take it apart and clean it up.

 

[Packard V8]

Nice little DP. You are correct in that the column is a non-standard height. Probably, the column is a cut-down from a floor model. My guess is someone wanted to mount it on a bench in a basement with a low ceiling. They cut it down to fit where it had to go.

jack vines

 

[torqueman2002]

I've been searching craigslist for one of these for some time and finally found one yesterday. The model # is 103.23100. The manufacturer is King-Seeley corp. It has a working General Electric motor, but the tag is missing from it. I found the manual, dated july 1946, on vintagemachinery.org. I'm not sure how tall the column is supposed to be, but on this one it is 40" high. All the ones I've seen online look shorter. I'll post more pictures as I take it apart and clean it up.

Sweet! Nice looking DP! Congrats on the successful hunt.

Thanks for the info. I am also looking for a CM dp to go along with the CM 'block' grinder I just painted up.

I'm looking forward to your posts.

Woo Hoo! Another vintage Craftsman resto!

 

[Arachnotron]

Anyone know what height the column was originally?


I'm looking for a "block" grinder as well.

 

[Lightfoot]

I have the floor model and the length of the pole is about 63 inches. I kinda doubt that was a floor model cut down due to the size of the base. (unless they changed the base too). The base on mine is much bigger than the size of the adjustable table part (probably close to twice as large). From the pix, it looks as if yours are nearly the same size with the bottom base being slightly larger. There are some guys on here that have the benchtop model, i'm sure they'll chime in shortly with the correct length for the pole for the benchtop.

Nice press

 

[Arachnotron]

The model number indicates it is a bench top model drill press.

 

[torqueman2002]

OK Arachnotron, what have you done to me!?

I've found 3 vintage CM drill presses that I'm going to look at.

Looks like I have another CM resto lined up. I already have CM grinder ('blocky' like, but not a true block) model 115.xxxxx, and a 80's era tool base I'm going to use as a service/storage cart.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Prefix is different, but from the time Atlas was making the ones I am used to (had three Atlas'es, sold one), there was a 12" a 15" and a floor model. You might look at some of those because if that maker didn't make them taller, I would think it is from a 15" model (don't really know why they called them that, never took the time to find out).

 

[whelenfan]

sharp dp. i'm still looking for a nice one around my way! hopefully soon!

 

[FritzA]

Just curious....do bench tops from this era usually have tables or just the base?

 

[domain]

Very Cool! The History Behind That Drill Press makes it even COOLER!

 

[tool_scrounge]

On a similar 103.23131, the pole length is 33" (total length, removed from the base)

 

[84scrambler]

Not sure if you saw my rebuild but yours looks really similar to it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86485

 

[Arachnotron]

Just curious....do bench tops from this era usually have tables or just the base?

From what i've seen these do.

On a similar 103.23131, the pole length is 33" (total length, removed from the base)

Thanks. That is helpful.

Not sure if you saw my rebuild but yours looks really similar to it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86485

I did. It looks very nice. Can you measure the height of the columns on your two?

 

[84scrambler]

I took a few measurements of both my drill presses. The bigger drill is right around 33.75" tall and has a diameter of 2.75". The smaller drill is right around 28.75" and has a diameter of 2.25".

 

[oilfield trash]

I have the same model (103.23100). It was my grandfather's, and I am having a Heck of a time with the spindle pulley assembly. If you or anyone else could post a few pics of said assembly + parts, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Different year catalogs give different overall heights for the bench top models. I've seen a range from 31-3/8 to 36-5/8.

So unless you absolutely know what year it was, pick a size...

On the Table Question from someone else, Yes the all came with tables. they would be more Likely to sell them without a base, and during the war esp, they made multi drill bases that could hold from 2-4 and possibly 6 DP's (IIR).

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice little DP. You are correct in that the column is a non-standard height. Probably, the column is a cut-down from a floor model. My guess is someone wanted to mount it on a bench in a basement with a low ceiling. They cut it down to fit where it had to go.

jack vines

Another guess is that they had it on a 1/2 height base, (Possibly the base for another tool) wanted it higher as a "Semi Floor mount"

Taller is better, I'd leave the post tall myself...

 

[Outlawmws]

I took a few measurements of both my drill presses. The bigger drill is right around 33.75" tall and has a diameter of 2.75". The smaller drill is right around 28.75" and has a diameter of 2.25".

There is a way to partly date them then: My 1950 catalog says 2.25 col dia, and the earlier 48 catalog says 2.75...

 

[ProGun3400]

Hopefully this will help. I just stumbled across a gem 103.23131 on my local Craigslsit for $65 Man is it clean. It came with the original chuck key, belt, motor mount wrench, manual & brochure. Below is a few pages I scanned from the manual that shows the breakdown & parts list for the pulley & quill set-up. I followed a few of fellow GJ members links & found the manual link below also.





http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/1519.pdf

I have the same model (103.23100). It was my grandfather's, and I am having a Heck of a time with the spindle pulley assembly. If you or anyone else could post a few pics of said assembly + parts, I would really appreciate it.

 

[nine4gmc]

Reviving the dead here but I just got a Craftsman 103.23131 and will be renewing it soon. Does anyone have spare parts for one of these?

 

[swoop_g]

I am in need of some parts for a similar craftsman drill press. Mine was my grandfathers and I believe he bought it new. It was passed on to my dad and he used it for many years until he died and it was passed down to me. It still functions correctly but the spindle and quill are worn pretty bad and there is quite a bit of slack/slop at the chuck. It is in the quill and in the spindle so I am hoping to find both in good shape. If anyone knows where to find them for the Craftsman 103.23100 I would greatly appreciate it, thanks!

 

[nine4gmc]

Check the bearings, this model has two in the spindle and two in the pulley shaft.

 

[Outlawmws]

Check the bearings, this model has two in the spindle and two in the pulley shaft.

This. ^^^ if ball bearings, its unlikely the spindle itself is worn, although it could be bent if abused.

 

[swoop_g]

I took the spindle and quill off and most of the slop is right there. Inside the quill there appears to be one big urethane bushing the entire length of the quill. I can see the gap it creates with the assembly in my hands. I was trying to change the bearings but I don't see any to change. I'll take pics later, and thanks for the advice!

 

[swoop_g]

Ok I just found out my dad might have taken the quill/spindle bearings out and replaced them with the urethane bushings about 20 years ago. Likely just a quick fix to get through a particular project but he never went back and put the bearings back in. I don't have time to figure this out right now so I bought a cheapie(kinda) Ryobi drill press so I can build this pantorouter machine I am working on right now. I will restore this old drill press in the future but for now, its getting put aside.

 

[nine4gmc]

The quill bearings are part number #18211 from sears parts direct but they are priced at $57.99 each. My bearings were marked SKF 170987 which is also a standard 6303 automotive bearing.

 

[zkling]

If you need bearings for any old power tool. Give Lynn over at Accurate Bearing a call first. Especially if you have a bunch to order. Yes I am a OWWM member.

 

[BillAnderson]

Thanks

with the pdf I was able to find out why the quill dropped out of my old drill press.
is a craftsman but had no model number , but was able to repair it and now works again.

thanks all.