show me your vintage camelback drill press

[metalmagpie]

I'm currently infatuated with these early-1900s cast iron beasties. Whether made by Royersford Excelsior, Canedy Otto, Champion Blower & Forge or WSJ Barnes or any of the many others, they were all very cool and amazing.

Here's the one I just restored:



I have taken an incomplete and broken machine and turned it back into a high quality machine capable of drilling 1-1/8" holes through thick steel plate. It has power downfeed or manual.

If you have one of these old guys, I'd love to see it!

Resto blog here: http://nwnative.us/Grant/shop articles/camelback

metalmagpie

 

[MushCreek]

I love those, too, but prices are rather steep around here. There was a 10 foot tall monster that went cheap at an auction, but I passed on that beast. If I ever catch a deal on one, it would be fun to restore. You did a great job on yours!

 

[larry_g]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5185

The above album is some pictures of my Buffalo.

View media item 62438
It works ok but could use a bit of love and a new belt on the quill drive.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Boilerhouse]

Nice restoration and great methods repairing or re-fabricating those parts that needed more than cosmetic attention.

 

[metalmagpie]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5185

The above album is some pictures of my Buffalo.

View media item 62438
It works ok but could use a bit of love and a new belt on the quill drive.

lg
no neat sig line

Surely that's a Champion not a Buffalo?

It looks like your machine came with a belt for the power downfeed. If you cut that off you could lace it back together. See instructions in the book "How To Run A Lathe" by South Bend. Or, dig out your 100' tape (very flexible) and wrap it around the pulleys and measure it carefully and then call Al Bino and order a belt.

Great machine!

metalmagpie

 

[DeeKay]

Very cool! I've always wanted a camelback. A fairly cheap one popped up on craigslist a couple months back but my Girlfriend said no, not until I have a bigger garage.

 

[John in OH]

I picked up this 20" Champion about a decade ago at a machine shop clearance. Took about 6 months to refurbish, but it's a lot of fun to use!!

Grandma slow spindle speed, but it's a real beast!!

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

What great looking machinery, love the pulleys, gearing, belts and the castings. I think they were better at casting iron than they are now. You got me wanting one. I seen one at an auction a couple of yrs ago, should have bought it, I think for 50$ I could of had it. BCD

 

[Spareparts]

I have a Champion 20" that I got out of a Machine Shop closure about 10 yrs. I have used the **** out of it, it has the jack shaft like Johns does and if I put to much pressure on it the belt will start walking off the pulleys, I could shim the shaft up but that is my safety, time to let up on it. Thinking about selling it, just don't use it much, needs a good cleanup. I could use the extra room in my small shop and don't want to take on any job's that needs a press that big, don't have a clue what it is worth.

 

[don long]

I have found 3 of them that I am storing until I find time to restore them

IMG_4131 by don long, on Flickr

 

[larry_g]

Surely that's a Champion not a Buffalo?

It looks like your machine came with a belt for the power downfeed. If you cut that off you could lace it back together. See instructions in the book "How To Run A Lathe" by South Bend. Or, dig out your 100' tape (very flexible) and wrap it around the pulleys and measure it carefully and then call Al Bino and order a belt.

Great machine!

metalmagpie

View media item 62444

Perty sure it is a Buffalo; Have a look through the picture album I linked to.

On edit, I did a bit of a writeup in my build thread, https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76641&page=4

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Machinitect]

I had a terrific day today on a sunny road trip to pick up a 20” Champion Blower & Forge 20” that has been stored inside. It is in running condition and the moving parts are not frozen. It has a few cracks that will need brazed and some missing handles that will need to be fabricated.

I’m going to put a larger motor on it and run it a while before taking it apart for cleaning and paint. The babbit seems OK, but if not I have some babbit left over from a power hammer project years ago.

Noah, thank you for your advice on what to look for! That first offer didn’t work out, but there are several for sale within a few hours of my farm and this one is going to work out great.

Here’s a few photos.

 

[mikeinri]

Not mine, and I don't have room or time for it, but here's one available on FBMP.


Can't find much online discussion about anyone owning one, so not sure if it's rare.

According to an image from a patent and a copy of an ad on Vintage Machinery, it appears to date to the late 1800s.

Built by SW Putnam & Sons, in Fitchburg, MA. Looks pretty fun.

Mike