Show us your arbor press!

[Razorhunter]

morsetaper,
You should go on and graduate to a #4 or #5/5s or even a #9 or 14 double column Greenerd and never look back.

 

[morsetaper2]

morsetaper,
You should go on and graduate to a #4 or #5/5s or even a #9 or 14 double column Greenerd and never look back.

I think a #4 would fit my needs for the rest of my life!

 

[Razorhunter]

Naahh its just 7 tons. Even in my humble shop it left me needing more plenty of times!

 

[bubinga]

That 3 is nice, well They Both are.
I think I have the same one, The 3 that is.
I'll Have to Go Look.
Is on a Nice stand The PO made.

 

[Kent_B]

here's mine Greenerd No.3. Could use a paint job and a new daisy wheel.

 

[Maui]

Here's some photos of my Greenerd No. 3 armatur press. I've never seen another one like this with the big ship's wheel in person. And when I do stumble across photos of them online, a few of the handles are usually broken off. This one is in great working condition. And it is a heavy one!

Maui

 

[kwhunter]

Here's some photos of my Greenerd No. 3 armatur press. I've never seen another one like this with the big ship's wheel in person. And when I do stumble across photos of them online, a few of the handles are usually broken off. This one is in great working condition. And it is a heavy one!

Maui

Looks like a specialized press, with that round table. Armaturen in a foreign language means industrial valves, I wonder whether there is any connection?!

 

[morsetaper2]

Here's some photos of my Greenerd No. 3 armatur press. I've never seen another one like this with the big ship's wheel in person....

Maui

The first press in this thread (post #1) is also a #3 armature press, but w/ a lever.
Assume you saw that.

I have a #30 armature press (3-ton). Its just a taller version of yours, with the base having a wide opening in front, rather than a closed circle like yours. It's throat will fit an object up to an 18" height.

 

[Maui]

Yes, I did see that in the first post. That one is also a Greenerd.

I'm guessing mine was built primarily for pressing the armatures out of electrical motors. That would explain the word "ARMATUR" in the casting and the round opening in the base. But these machines are very versatile, and can be used for a variety of other useful operations.

 

[morsetaper2]

I'm guessing mine was built primarily for pressing the armatures out of electrical motors. That would explain the word "ARMATUR" in the casting and the round opening in the base. But these machines are very versatile, and can be used for a variety of other useful operations.

I have an old 1942 Greenerd catalog. And it states that their armature presses were intended for "Electrical Repairmen". The catalog picture shows the word "ARMATURE" w/ the E, on the casting.

 

[ATC]

Disclaimer: The shop you see is not mine. These are pics from the ad, but I brought this Famco 3-1/2R home today. 320 pounds of iron and 5-tons of goodness.

Even though it is freshly painted, I want to strip it all down and paint it a metallic blue or green like you see on a lot of old iron. I think it's missing a few pieces, and I have some questions on other features (never owned/used one of these before).

So if anyone has a Famco 3 1/2 R ....Please post some pics or specs on yours!

 

[jrobb316]

I picked up a Famco 3R a few months back with original stand. 4 ton, nice press. I figure if I need more I'll switch to my 20 ton hydraulic press. Didn't come with the pilot wheel And I love the ship wheels. Couldn't find any of those but I did find this old cast shut off wheel. Bored the center out with a hole saw and then TIG welded a 1.25 ID drill bushing to the wheel. Works perfect and looks pretty good. Will paint it all someday. Ram is removed in the pics for cleaning, it is complete.

 

[isb cornbinder]

The brand is MANLEY. I like it and use it with a cable crimper and for pressing bushings and bearings.

 

[MayerMR]

The brand is MANLEY. I like it and use it with a cable crimper and for pressing bushings and bearings.

Never seen another like it before. Love the looks!

 

[454ragtop]

The brand is MANLEY. I like it and use it with a cable crimper and for pressing bushings and bearings.

That one was typically mounted on one of the side rails of a Manley hyd. press, used to use one like that when I worked at an automotive machine shop.

 

[davethorik]

Just got this today, 3 ton Dake no. 1-1/2 with ratchet handle and homemade stand. In great mechanical shape. I need to get better pics.

It has an Atlas Press Co. tag riveted to it, but has DAKE cast in. Did Atlas make these for Dake, then Dake bought them out?

 

[ndnchf]

Just got this today, 3 ton Dake no. 1-1/2 with ratchet handle and homemade stand. In great mechanical shape. I need to get better pics.

It has an Atlas Press Co. tag riveted to it, but has DAKE cast in. Did Atlas make these for Dake, then Dake bought them out?

Nice! I have the same one and love it!

 

[oldgoaly]

I've had a couple of arbor presses over the years, bought this Springville hydraulic in non working condition. "Hiball" worked his magic on it. You get really good feedback that you just don't get with a jack type H-press.

They were still being made by Devin mfg.







The gauge show the pressure, but the handle gives good feedback, important if you don't want to break a expensive tool like a broach.



Broaching bead roller dies

 

[matt_i]

It has an Atlas Press Co. tag riveted to it, but has DAKE cast in. Did Atlas make these for Dake, then Dake bought them out?

I can't tell you the whole story because I don't know, but Gardner T. Eames developed the basic design of the presses. Atlas acquired the design from Eames and eventually Dake got the design from Atlas.





The bolts in the arm you ask? A project from my youth, I got the press with the lever arm cracked in half thru the hole for the pinion. And the mating part missing. The finish looks really rough but its just the way oil and grease are marking the finish...

 

[davethorik]

Interesting, good to know. These are stout little presses.

 

[Alamedasam]

Hey, I got the twin to yours, but mine is red!

 

[davethorik]

I can't tell you the whole story because I don't know,

Here are some better pics of my press.
Edit: Hood is written on it in paint. Someone's name? Not the guy I bought it from. Otherwise that side blank.

The Atlas Press Co. tag gives a model as 1-1/2 and serial number 056666

 

[davethorik]

After some more reading, it looks like mine was probably made 1945-1955, probably earlier rather than later. There is a 1945 Dake Atlas catalog I found in a search.

 

[trijeff]

So my Dake 1 1/2 ratchet came with an additional rivet tag that also references Delta, though I had always assumed it was named based on the location of the company. Oakland CA is in/near what is called the delta in the Sacramento to Sam Francisco area. There is a lot of companies that have Delta in the name that have nothing to do with tools or machinery. So I always thought it was a name based on the geographic location, but now it seems that maybe that's not the case and just coincidence?



Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[matt_i]

So my Dake 1 1/2 ratchet came with an additional rivet tag that also references Delta, though I had always assumed it was named based on the location of the company. Oakland CA is in/near what is called the delta in the Sacramento to Sam Francisco area. There is a lot of companies that have Delta in the name that have nothing to do with tools or machinery. So I always thought it was a name based on the geographic location, but now it seems that maybe that's not the case and just coincidence?

New machine tools and accessories used to be sold thru a "distributor network" and I believe that tag was associated with one of them.

Analogy would be a vehicle manufactured by GM but sold thru and getting a Carl Black GMC or Tom Jumper Chevrolet decal or license plate frame.

 

[Turbo442]

 

[454ragtop]

Picked up this Greenerd #4 arbor press, 7 ton, today. Have a 3-3/4 shown earlier https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2804829#post2804829 in this thread. The 3-3/4 is a 5 ton. Always wanted one of these with the adjustable table, why I don't know.
Will end up parting with one of them, have to play with them both to decide.

 

[Razorhunter]

454 you know what to do. Don't even think about letting that #4 go. The adjustable table is almost necessity. The only reason I'd part with that #4 is if I came across a Greenerd 5 orr 5s press, or the big giant #7, or a double post #9 or #14. I've owned a #5s geared head unit that I still regret selling to this day. Fortunately I recently scored a $500 Dake #4 seen up above. Its 12ton and still leaves me needing tonnage upon rare occasions.

 

[h018871]

Just found this thread looking for info on my arbor press.
Got it years ago out of a scrap pile. Disassembled, cleaned and greased it up. Not pretty but works well. Teeth on the ram and spindle are in great shape. Looks like someone in the past used a hammer on the ram top and mushroomed it out slightly.
Got it out today to press on a bearing for my miter saw armature. It's nice having the correct tool for the job!

I'm a bit shamed by how nice all of y'alls look. I now have another project, great....

 

[DaveT]

Today I had a really good Facebook Marketplace find. Here we have a Famco 3 1/2C Compound Ratchet 8 Ton Arbor Press with the optional captain’s ship wheel on a factory stand.
I’m not real sure there is a way to get an accurate date but there is number on the wheel that ends in 38 which could indicate 1938. If anyone has any info on dating these Famco Presses please feel free to share. I did find this exact model listed in a 1941 catalog selling for $88 dollars.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Awesome ships wheel. Seems like that would get most of the use rather than the ratchet.

Dad Picked up a Dake 5 ton recently that someone had cut the front end off of, I had to do a lot of work to get it back going.

I put together a small video explaining and some of the machine work as well.

 

[DaveT]

Awesome ships wheel. Seems like that would get most of the use rather than the ratchet.

Clap: I am a newbie here and this is my first Arbor Press. I found an operators manual online and it looks like the ships wheel is not designed to be used to press the ram. It’s like a fast speed ram mode to bring the ram to the desired position and then the handle is pulled engaging the ratchet gear and applying pressure to the ram.

You gots wonder why someone would cut the front end off of an arbor press right!! Looks like you have some good fabrication skills to repair that. Nice job.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Clap: I am a newbie here and this is my first Arbor Press. I found an operators manual online and it looks like the ships wheel is not designed to be used to press the ram. It’s like a fast speed ram mode to bring the ram to the desired position and then the handle is pulled engaging the ratchet gear and applying pressure to the ram.

You gots wonder why someone would cut the front end off of an arbor press right!! Looks like you have some good fabrication skills to repair that. Nice job.

I think for me that distinction would be based off how it is keyed to the shaft. IMO, if it's just for reposition to ram, it should be a small wheel and not a ships style wheel. The fact that they sold them with two different sizes definitely makes me think it's for low force pressing. If its only held on with a grub screw, then maybe no.

Whoever did the modifications in the first place did a hell of a good job. They clearly knew what they were doing and needed it for some custom application. Can't fault them for that. Tools are just that, and I'm sure it served them well for whatever they needed it for. And thanks.

 

[ez-duzit]

DT--great find.

 

[matt_i]

I found a picture of Big Blue. Which is around 1200 lbs of Dake #4. Came out of a Case-IH tractor assembly plant in East Moline, IL. I went to the plant and used a come-along to rig & lay it on its spine for transport inside a Uhaul enclosed trailer on a special pallet. Then I went to somewhere else nearby and picked up an electric chain hoist (its sitting on the shelf behind). When I opened the trailer door, the guy with hoist says "what the heck do you do with that??" Without missing a beat, my Dad deadpans "Horology"...which means "Watchmaking" as a joke. But the guy heard "*****-ology" in his brain and his eyes got really big as he was thinking about those nouns. It was a funny moment.

Its hiding out right now waiting for the final shop arrangement.

 

[DaveT]

Clap: I agree with the “how it’s keyed” I haven’t tore it apart yet to confirm but the best I can see is that there is no keyway or pin going through the handle. Just a setscrew in handle which should recess into a small divot in the shaft. Which would indicate it is not intended to put pressure on. The handle is pretty much stuck on the shaft right now, so it’s going to take a little effort to get it off.

ez: Thanks I was happy to find it.

Matt: That’s a funny story. I get it so far 4 or 5 people have asked what is that since I picked up my Arbor Press on Saturday! That Dake looks like a beast.

 

[Jim C.]

I’ve been looking for a good USA made arbor press for several years now. I finally found one today, a Famco #2, and the price was right......FREE!!! The new year is off to a pretty good start.

Jim C.

 

[DaveT]

That’s an unbeatable price! Congrats

 

[Jim C.]

That’s an unbeatable price! Congrats

Thanks Dave. I got it cleaned up and it seems to be in good working order.

Jim C.

 

[LonestarLando]

Recent CL acquisition of a Dake 1 1/2 Ratcheting Arbor Press for fair market value. Was surprised that a Dake showed up after searches near me were coming up empty for a while. The guy I got this from said he bought it new in the '70s and only used it to install grommets in asbestos fire blankets. I didn't think much of it until I got it home. Looking at it further I realized the press plate had a counter-bore in one of the slots and the ram had a hole drilled in it with a grub screw. I couldn't find any evidence that Dakes ever came this way?

I got curious and found what a grommet install kit looks like. After seeing the kit it made sense. I assume he modified it to make the grommet install easier. Probably a good idea if you're doing hundreds a day.
The counterbore on the plate holds the grommet base and the hole in the ram holds the press tool. I'm going to buy one off amazon just to try it out.

Kind of cool that it has this option. It's nice that if I just want to go back to the original setup, I can turn the ram around and get a new press plate if I wanted to. Now, I just gotta rinse off all the asbestos....