"Pre-Block" Grinders--Where's the Love?

[ching0n]

heads up to anyone in TN:

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www.garagejournal.com

 

[Nicodimas]

Did a restore of a preblock. Before and after. Letting it dry in Arizona sun.

Left the middle a little rusty. However much much better looking

 

[Nicodimas]

Some better pics

 

[Nicodimas]

Found a 1/3 HP pre block 115

nm figured it out!

 

[Nicodimas]

Great shape too

 

[DDOPWD23]

1956, yes it is in great shape. Best all around bench grinder of the three hp offered.

 

[Nicodimas]

Random is there a way to take these old grinders and give them Variable speed function ? Or not really.

 

[DDOPWD23]

A question for all of you. I have a 1956 1/2 HP grinder. It’s missing a few pieces as you can see but in a bit of rough shape. Could you mount a 1/3 HP grinder on the base? I know the 1/3 is not as wide as the 1/2. I was just wondering if anyone attempted.

 

[DDOPWD23]

Installed some NSK bearings, big improvement over the Timken bearings.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

Picked this up recently, it is filthy but is smooth running. Missing part of a tool rest. 8" wheels.

 

[DDOPWD23]

I bought this 6 or 7 months ago at an estate sale. I had a friend pick it up for me since I would have never made it out there in time. It is a 1958 and as you can tell was used very little. That badge is mint! I just cleaned it up and put new bearings in it. The originals were screaming. I just have to dress the wheels and then I will drop it off to its new owner. I purchased this as a gift for someone else.

 

[exmaxima1]

Picked this up recently, it is filthy but is smooth running. Missing part of a tool rest. 8" wheels.

That's not a Pre-Block, but a good grinder nonetheless.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

That's not a Pre-Block, but a good grinder nonetheless.

sorry. what defines a "pre-block" if you don't mind the question?

a long time customer dropped off 3 bench grinders yesterday and what looks like the first 6" jointer for home use along with too much else to go through this weekend because they know I like old tools.......

 

[Tom Graham]

sorry. what defines a "pre-block" if you don't mind the question?

As is being used in this thread, primarily “heft” (as in approximately 66 lbs of cast iron.) Refer to more specifics in the very first post in this thread and see the summary in this post by the OP.

 

[William Payne]

I would happily have an old school vintage bench grinder. The issue where I am from is finding one.

 

[exmaxima1]

sorry. what defines a "pre-block" if you don't mind the question?

I think it would be easiest to read the first few posts from this thread, as they describe the key differences between the original (Pre-Block) cast iron grinders and the later all-alloy Block Grinders. There are notions to redefine the Pre-Blocks as "Iron Blocks", and I agree, so in this case your grinder is not IRON and therefore not a Pre-Block.

 

[Old Radar]

It is a 1958 and as you can tell was used very little.

Very nice looking grinder for its age! A word of caution--given its age and how little it appears to have been used, those grinding wheels may very well be original. At the very least, before you give it to someone else, I would suggest ring-testing each wheel--there's no way of knowing how bumps, knocks or simply passage of time have affected 67 year old wheels. If you need instructions on performing a ring test, simply do a quick search on youtube.

 

[DDOPWD23]

Very nice looking grinder for its age! A word of caution--given its age and how little it appears to have been used, those grinding wheels may very well be original. At the very least, before you give it to someone else, I would suggest ring-testing each wheel--there's no way of knowing how bumps, knocks or simply passage of time have affected 67 year old wheels. If you need instructions on performing a ring test, simply do a quick search on youtube.

Yes, you are correct and I did do one when I had the wheels off to change out the bearings. I remember watching the YouTube shop teacher Mr. Pete show you how to do the test and they rang for sure. I also dressed them up and I am ready to get it out of my shop. Thanks for the reminder and letting others who read this page know to check as well.

 

[DDOPWD23]

Well I used grandpas bench grinder a lot today. Had to do a lot of cleaning of parts. I had a 6x1 wire wheel on there for years and decided to try out a 7x1 wheel. The old 1/3 HP did not like it. You would never know unless you touched the stator band and the two cast pieces that hold the stator and rotor. They were pretty hot to the touch. It was about two hours of running non stop. With the 6x1 I wheel I would do the same but it would only be warm to the touch. I guess with that extra added weight to spin around it was working a bit hard. I will switch it back to the 6x1 wheel. Maybe the 1/2 HP will be up to the task.

 

[DDOPWD23]

I happened to come across this bench grinder for $25. The owner said it would not spin up to speed and would just hum. Naturally I thought a bad capacitor, after the installation of a new one that was not the case. I completely disassembled it and inspected the wires and the start windings. Satisfied that everything checked out ok I cleaned the contact on the centrifugal switch. I put it back together and that did the trick.

Now that I knew it ran well I had to address the fact that it was missing a few items. It also had fallen over in its previous life. The left wheel cover was broken and braised back together. There was a large dent on top of the stator panel as well. Missing was the eye shields, wheel end covers and one of the spark arrestors.

I acquired the parts I needed and once again stripped it down for cleaning and repainting. This 1956 was power bronze from the factory but I had another 1956 that was battleship grey from the factory. I wanted them to match so I painted it battleship grey.

I stalled new bearings and wheels on it and then it was time to tackle the stator panel. My first attempt at cleaning it resulted in taking the chrome off so I had to bring the metal to a mirror finish. After a lot of trial and error I managed to do it and applied the stripes.

Once fully assembled I noticed the machine would vibrate across the floor. The wheels were new and I was going to dress them but not when it was walking across the floor. I narrowed it down to the left side of the wheel. The side that fell to the floor. That’s when I discovered the shaft was bent as well. .019 was what I measured. I tried my best to straighten it and .006 was the best I could do. While not perfect it runs a lot better. I dressed the wheels and it runs well.

This will eventually be for my son if he chooses to show interest when he becomes of age. For now it will see very limited use as I have one of these for myself. I plan to give him copies of some of the vintage machines that I have. I am slowly getting there.

I’d like to thank members for helping me with the process along the way as well.

 

[Michaelthomasj]

I am In Love with this "pre" block! (copied from my other post in the block thread)
On with the eye candy; when I spotted this in this condition I knew I had to have it, all original, used maybe 2-3 times in its entire existence??? Many pics ahead!!
























So am I to assume this was made in 11/1956?!?!?!?!?!?

This thing is a beast weighing in over 65lbs! This may be my new holy grail grinder!!!

I know this is an old post, but that is absolutely beautiful. Do you still have this?