Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

[Bugeyed Earl]

No, if it had a tolerance rating, it's unreadable. This motor starts and runs beautifully, I just mention the spec in case someone needs it in the future.

 

[bmwrd0]

I love those grinders. I would trade my pre-war Craftsman for one in a heartbeat!

Very nice find.

 

[drivesitfar]

BE: nice find and sad that it's lived it's life outside, but equally amazing how well it was built that it is still running.

loving that stand almost as much as the Stanley which have always been one of my favorites.

ALL: speaking of favorites I found a Pre block Craftsman grinder sitting on this very stout stand. i'll post pics of the grinder later cause I forgot to grab a few before I moved it, but here's the stand it was on. the prior owner drilled and tapped and he used these long bolts to put the Craftsman on very nicely and from the front I was wondering how it was mounted.

anybody know what might have been on this stand before the grinder was put there?

 

[torqueman2002]

... anybody know what might have been on this stand before the grinder was put there?

Drives - I think it's a Baldor.

It looks a lot like one I have.

 

[macgee]

Drives - I think it's a Baldor.

It looks a lot like one I have.

Drives: Yes it's a Baldor. You did well.

$45 for a Baldor pedestal is an amazing price. I given up locally for finding a used one and only today was I looking for new generic cheap ones; it was depressing.

Generally prices are very low for tooling in my neck of the woods compared to a lot of places but not for Baldor pedestals; they alone command big bucks. I would be all over that one.

 

[454ragtop]

Found another hand grinder Sun., seems to be in real nice shape. These things keep finding me......

 

[torqueman2002]

Found another hand grinder Sun., seems to be in real nice shape. These things keep finding me......

Rag,

That grinder is so cool!

For all the grinders I have, you'd think I'd have at least one hand grinder. I'd sure be happy with one like yours.

Well done!

 

[drivesitfar]

DOC: thanks and even though i paid quite a bit more than the $45 your ad mentioned (I would have bought that one too cause I love these old cast iron stands) i'm happy.

Mac: yep anything Baldor is spendy up here too. thanks for verifying and maybe i'll put my buffer on this stand and put the pre block on my military cabinet that will be my working grinder station.

454: do you actually use those or just have it on a shelf? I do like that old style of tools.

ALL: i'm not sure what this is missing cause it looks like a piece of cast broke off before it became mine, but turning the handle really makes the grinding stone spin hard.

 

[454ragtop]

Drives, no I don't actually use them, some wood workers really like them though. I wouldn't have bought this one if it wasn't in such nice shape, most of the original paint, and the complete tool rest, which is often missing.

 

[Outlawmws]

Found another hand grinder Sun., seems to be in real nice shape. These things keep finding me......

I think mine breed in the dark

do you actually use those or just have it on a shelf? I do like that old style of tools.

Yes I have one as a travel grinder. Camping trips and such.

We used to use one on my buddy's grandmother's garage semi often, before we later got power tools, but the only power in her garage was one light controlled from inside the house...

 

[NJ Marty]

Here is a great old grinder I picked up years ago. Its so well built and runs very good.

 

[drivesitfar]

Marty: that is one cool looking grinder. how did you manage to get that ridge on the right stone? also do you keep the self oilers full? love the badge too and can't say i've ever heard of that company.

nice find!!

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Wow, that's probably the oldest electric grinder in this thread, very interesting! What is the little device mounted on top of the motor?

Edit -- now that I see the cable going in, maybe that's a switch?

 

[macgee]

Marty,

That’s an awesome grinder and thanks for sharing!





`

 

[Outlawmws]

Marty I agree; VERY cool find! 110V, the Caution tag, ("Hammer to tighten the nuts? ) and the Patent statement:

Motor made by owners of Patent Dec. 26 1893

 

[wrenchguy]

DOC:
ALL: i'm not sure what this is missing cause it looks like a piece of cast broke off before it became mine, but turning the handle really makes the grinding stone spin hard.

It's whats left of a sickle grinder. It has the wrong stone on it, modified for general grinding. When you crank it the stone spins and it should raise and lower. I think its a Plano or Champion, 1900's stuff. There were many manufacturers of them.

 

[wrenchguy]

Here is a great old grinder I picked up years ago. Its so well built and runs very good.

If they're still in business give em a call with s/n, they'll get back to u with a date. Took 2months for my 11000lb snagging grinder but dated it to 1949. A big time premiere company back in the day.

 

[macgee]

Marty & wrenchguy,

The US Electrical Tool Co. was absorbed by Emerson.

They still offered these grinders in the 1930's.

Thanks to the International Tool Catalog Library, you can view a one page flyer of their tools and grinder:

https://archive.org/details/UnitedStatesElectricalToolCo1930

PS> Note the weight of the 1/2 HP! They don't make them like they use to.

 

[NJ Marty]

Wow, that's probably the oldest electric grinder in this thread, very interesting! What is the little device mounted on top of the motor?

Edit -- now that I see the cable going in, maybe that's a switch?

Yes its a plunge switch.

 

[NJ Marty]

Marty & wrenchguy,

The US Electrical Tool Co. was absorbed by Emerson.

They still offered these grinders in the 1930's.

Thanks to the International Tool Catalog Library, you can view a one page flyer of their tools and grinder:

https://archive.org/details/UnitedStatesElectricalToolCo1930

PS> Note the weight of the 1/2 HP! They don't make them like they use to.

Pretty cool. I have been on that site a thousand times and never thought to look up this grinder. Thanks

 

[NJ Marty]

Marty: that is one cool looking grinder. how did you manage to get that ridge on the right stone? also do you keep the self oilers full? love the badge too and can't say i've ever heard of that company.

nice find!!

Drives, I don't have it set up for use yet. I will have it set up someday, its not going anywhere.

 

[wrenchguy]

Marty & wrenchguy,

The US Electrical Tool Co. was absorbed by Emerson.

Thanks, i see they went out in 17. They dated the big snagger for me 5-14.

 

[royudc]

Marty,

That’s an awesome grinder and thanks for sharing!

^^ What he said!

Here's one I picked up a few years ago, there's a couple mentions of Hoover Grinders here on GJ but no real concrete history.
Anyway, it's a great low speed grinder, you'll notice the 3M radial brush that Macgee made me purchase by raving about them in the rust removal thread.


Ron

 

[macgee]

Marty,

That’s an awesome grinder and thanks for sharing!

^^ What he said!


Anyway, it's a great low speed grinder, you'll notice the 3M radial brush that Macgee made me purchase by raving about them in the rust removal thread.


Ron

Nice Ron,

Great to see a slo speed wheeler being used.

I hope the radial wheel is to your liking?

Also, very nice pedestal! I'm jealous

 

[lafester]

Looks like walker turner to me. Very nice! I've been wanting one of those for awhile.

Marty,

That’s an awesome grinder and thanks for sharing!

^^ What he said!

Here's one I picked up a few years ago, there's a couple mentions of Hoover Grinders here on GJ but no real concrete history.
Anyway, it's a great low speed grinder, you'll notice the 3M radial brush that Macgee made me purchase by raving about them in the rust removal thread.


Ron

 

[royudc]

Thanks guys.
I haven't had a chance to test the 3M brush, I literally installed it yesterday.
I wonder what that pedestal was used for at the shoe factory, any thoughts?

 

[Outlawmws]

Was the grinder on it when you bought it? If so, that's probably the answer.

If not, Probably polishing wheels - again slow speed compared to industrial polishers...

 

[royudc]

It was outlaw but it wasn't mounted what I would consider proper.
There was a piece of 1/2" ply bolted to the pedestal and the grinder was loosely attached to the ply.
I just got around to cutting a piece of 3/16" plate for it a few months ago.

GJ should start a new TV series: CSI: Machinery Edition



Ron

 

[macgee]

Ron,

If I could make a suggestion? To get the most performance out of that 3M radial wheel, I suggest removing the tool rest and wheel guard. It's really easy to do and safe to use without them especially on a slo grinder; you'll then have way more room to work on the item your trying to wheel. Keeping the wheel as far outboard as possible (while being safe) is also really good to do. I recently posted a similar one on the rust removal thread.

The wheel on the left is a very different matter, those twisted wire wheels are evil little beasts and can bite you hard when not being careful. I'm not sure if I've donated more blood to mosquitoes or to twisted wire wheels. I no longer use them, if I was welding more, then maybe. You might like experimenting with a straight thin (.008"~) wire wheel instead? Much less blood involved but some unscheduled acupuncture could occur but it's all slo.

This slo wheeler is not really worthy of posting in this thread as it's not really a grinder but just in case you missed seeing it in the other thread:

 

[drivesitfar]

Roy: also if you didn't notice MAC'S grinder arbors have extensions on each of them to give him even more room and it probably also helps keep **** out of the motor. Mac is right about wire wheels flicking off wires at high speed and i think i've even taken pics of some of the wires stuck in my arms and legs with blood so how about taking off both guards and getting extensions and putting on a 220 radial brush on one side and a 400 on the other like Mac did?

nice looking stand by the way!!

i'm all for having a TV show that tells us the history and thinking behind some of the tool modifications we find.

 

[royudc]

Drives and macgee, those are great suggestions and advice.
I agree about the wire wheels but didn't know about all the options.
When I had my repair shop, (in the 80s and 90s) we only used knotted wire wheels because they always lasted longer than the single strand ones. There was never a need for any fine work.
We only know what we know right?
That's what I like about GJ, guys are always passing on their experiences.
My wallet however, it doesn't like you guys too much
You gotta remember I'm in Canada and everything is priced in Canadian pesos, not real dollars like in the US. That 3M wheel was 75 cdn pesos plus tax, so the next one is a month or two down the road.

Part of my "master plan" which varies from day to day is to have 2 (maybe 3) grinder/polisher/buffers in the shop.
I was gonna save this for a rebuild post but I picked up this grinder, that thanks to this forum I couldn't resist.
I believe it's a Delta Triple Duty, maybe 1940s?
It looks like hell but runs great. The left eye guard is broken, I'm looking for some advice on how to fix it. Can it be welded or brazed?
The ratings plate is gone, the serial number plate still had masking tape on it from the crappy yellow paint job but is pretty much unreadable.
It does have a plate on the base saying WM. Pattison Supply Co. Cleveland.
I couldn't find much about Pattison with a quick google search.
Does anyone know anything about them?

I also have my eye on a vintage two speed that's set up for polishing, it's in an auction I'm following, so stay tuned

Ron

 

[macgee]

Ron,

Well you sure are putting those loonies to good use. Yes, that does appear to be a Delta Triple Duty grinder; they're awesome, well played and glad to see you score that one.

Looks like a perfect candidate for a new paint job. I believe the lamp shield frame is zinc casted and not cast iron but I'll have to look again on mine. Would have to see what's going on underneath all the tape and that repair bandaid to know what it may need. You might want to contact Mattblast to make you some new labels. Link: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/member.php?u=161088

 

[lafester]

They are awesome, even when yellow. I sold my 3/4 baldor to make room for mine and I am not regretting it.... although I do miss having it as both are great machines.

I think I would replace that eye shield, they seem to pop up fairly often.

 

[royudc]

Thanks macgee let me know what you think. I am NOT a metal guy, I can (or could) braze and steel weld (we used to use old wire clothes hangers for rod, did anyone else do that?) and I have a MIG that I am terrible with.
I am going to be asking lots of questions once I get started on it.

And thanks for the tip for Mattblast, is he the guy on ebay with all the replacement Triple Duty parts? When I saw all the listings on ebay I was hoping that he was a GJ member.

Lafester, I'm looking on ebay but the shipping is more than the part, that drives me nuts but I'm gonna keep looking.

Ron

 

[drivesitfar]

Roy: that a great old Made in USA grinder AND that prior owner went to a lot of work to do a repair without welding it. does it work ok as is? obviously the yellow paint might have to go, but maybe that awful looking fix might work and look better with the yellow gone.

nice find!!

 

[macgee]

Thanks macgee let me know what you think.
I am going to be asking lots of questions once I get started on it.

And thanks for the tip for Mattblast, is he the guy on ebay with all the replacement Triple Duty parts?
Ron

Ron,

Matt only reproduces vintage labels for other members, unfortunately he does not make metal plate labels, those Triple Duty plates are quite (crazy) expensive to have one made for you in the original way (especially in Loonies). You could have Matt make you the appropriate decal inexpensively, have it mailed to you that you mount onto aluminum shaped plate in the same shape and then either use screws or drive screws to mount it to you freshly repainted grinder. They look good and a good alternative.

The ebay seller who specializes in reproducing old Delta parts is a good seller and very useful. I have purchased from him. His Triple Duty name plates he's selling are reasonably priced and so is the on/off switch for it. He maybe the right one to go with getting one. Although some of his prices are pretty crazy like what he's asking just for sheet metal side plates ($100+/pair)

In regards to eye shields, a lot will depend what wheels you're going to mount on it? You may not need the eyeshield if you're using that side for wheeling (not stone); having light is supper nice to have while using but those are huge and can get in the way of seeing what you're trying to wheel. If you're using stones, then that's another matter.

Those lamps in the eye shields take this bulbs "BA15D" Double Bayonet bulbs. You can get new ones online fairly cheap that are LED at 4500 Kelvin(color temp), 5 Watt. They'll be more much reliable, brighter and stay cool, not heating your hands up when using the grinder like the old incandescent ones do (they get really hot).

Now that you have two really nice grinders (maybe more), you now have options which wheels to use on which machine, but a lot depends on what you mostly do in your shop and what you want to do?
Now a days I rarely ever use a stone wheel, for that duty I now use my belt & disc's grinder machines with nice tool rests and jigs that have gladly taken over that duty. In knife making the majority of them have also made the change as well. All depends what you want to do with them and in the shop?

 

[neofalcon]

Here is my Craftsman 1964 bench grinder my Dad left me when he passed away.
Still runs smoothly and quietly.

 

[royudc]

neofalcon, that's a beauty! Looks like it's well looked after.

mac, I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to be doing exactly. I'm still trying to get my shop to the point where I can concentrate on a few projects and see where that leads me.
I enjoy old machinery, almost everything in my shop is old, including me
Like most guys on GJ I enjoy working with my hands, be it cars, wood, machines or anything else. Six months from now I may have a better answer but then again maybe not.

Thanks for the tip on the bulbs, I'll look into getting a set, makes good sense to me. I remember getting constantly burned by those old trouble lights I used to use. My trouble light now has an led bulb in it.
I'll be asking your advice on setting these up once I get everything together but in my mind I see the delta with 2 different stones, say medium and fine, the hoover with two radial brushes like on your Craftsman (nice stand on that one by the way) and the two speed with a wire wheel and a buffing wheel maybe?
Does that sound somewhat logical?

Ron

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Marty,

That’s an awesome grinder and thanks for sharing!

^^ What he said!

Here's one I picked up a few years ago, there's a couple mentions of Hoover Grinders here on GJ but no real concrete history.
Anyway, it's a great low speed grinder, you'll notice the 3M radial brush that Macgee made me purchase by raving about them in the rust removal thread.


Ron

Bata used to make a great cycling shoes called Bikers back in the 70's & 80's, the stand (and grinder) are cool finds!

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Spotted this old belt-drive grinder at a flea market this morning. The I.D. plate on the motor said it was a General Electric, looked pretty old.