Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

[nine4gmc]

Awesome find Tman!!

 

[jakemac]

Tourque - Better find another place to keep it, the Blocks in your shop may gang up and give it a beatdown.

 

[nine4gmc]

Tourque - Better find another place to keep it, the Blocks in your shop may gang up and give it a beatdown.

It would take a gang of them, Delta can hold it's own against a few blocks...

 

[torqueman2002]

Better than double duty! Suspect it's just a marketing slogan.
Jim

Might ask the Delta experts over at OWWM, they'd know if anyone would.
I did find a November 1935 add from Popular Mechanics that states: "A Complete Line of NEW GRINDERS" "Not just another line of grinders --- but revolutionary new grinders of the world! Belt-driven, motor-driven, and pedestal models --- they all embody Delta's high standards of design and construction."
I made an entry into the sister site (VintageMachinery) in their photo index and machine registry. I'll search their site for posts on the origin of Triple-Duty, but I also suspect it is for marketing.

I found a thread about the Triple-Duty. There's a lot of conjecture, no real-proof, but the over-all opnion is it is marketing derived. http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=98838&p=675580&hilit=Delta+Triple+grinder#p675580

Probably a claim it can handle three shifts...

Last summer while searching CL around midnight I missed one exactly like yours for $75. I was the second email. First one purchased it with probably two other vintage machines in a storage facility.

Later in years Delta dropped the Triple Duty marketing ploy but identical grinder. Not sure who makes the lighted eye shields, Delta or Stanley, however are yours with the louvers on either aide of the glass? My 12“ US Electrical Tool Co grinder came with a set. Very nice eyeshields if that what's on yours. Looks like them from your photo.
Yes they are the vented style. I am !

I "see" said the blind man to the deaf man as he picked up his hammer and saw.

Nice Delta Torqueman!
Thanks! Now, even more reason to turn loose some CM Blocks.

I found a serial number document that puts this guy's DOB during WWII, 1943.

It is surprising this tag/label survived. It is made from hard cardboard.

 

[454ragtop]

I have a 17" drill press with the card board tag from during the war, thought it was pretty cool. Think anyone will be talking about tools from the big box stores 70+ years from now?

 

[McBrownie]

I have a 17" drill press with the card board tag from during the war, thought it was pretty cool. Think anyone will be talking about tools from the big box stores 70+ years from now?

Yes, but the tools will be 140 years old by then.

Here is what we used to call a "stoner conversation" in high school. What are the odds that someone will have your tools in 70 years and will find your write-ups in the GJ archives? And, they haven't even been born yet!

 

[Outlawmws]

Actually the 17" DP will be 140, the BB store tools will be recycled!

 

[torqueman2002]

Didn't you just buy a Triple Duty ( a newer version) just a few weeks ago??

Max - I don't know how I missed your post. You are right, of course. It's a green Delta, I think though it's newer (?) than this guy because it doesn't actually say Triple-Duty. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4581491&postcount=668

And I thought only Mrs. Torqueman was keeping count; or, are you her mole?!!

 

[exmaxima1]

It's a green Delta, I think though it's newer (?) than this guy because it doesn't actually say Triple-Duty.

I noticed that too, but I believe they are all still considered part of the same "Triple Duty" family (like CM Blocks).

Is your older model a 7-inch as well? The guards look smaller than on the newer Rockwell/Delta

 

[aztecypher]

Howdy ya'll. I must say because of this thread I have purchased my first old bench grinder. (The wife didn't seem to upset.) I'm sure it's old but I'm not sure if it's vintage. I was hoping someone could share their knowledge concerning this grinder.

It's a Snap-On Blue Point 1/4 HP grinder. From what I've been able to find online Wissota used to manufacture grinders for Snap-On. So that being said, would I be able to pick up replacement parts from them? I'm not sure what all is missing from the grinder but I do know the cord is not original (hacked on from something else), it's currently painted white but underneath that is red and underneath that is a steel grey which appears to be the original color.

I'd like to restore it provided I can find parts for it. Any suggestions on how to remove the old paint off the number plate without distroying the original color? Thanks for any and all input.

 

[Outlawmws]

Welcome to GJ!

your best bet for that over-spray is Simple Green.. soak some Paper towel, lay it over the paint and for that light if paint I'f see where you are in about 10-15 min. if it is stil stubborn, increment it in 10-15 min increments. You can cover the paper town with saran wrap so it doesn't dry out.

Don't use anything more abrasive than the paper towel or an old toothbrush, or for stubborn points, pick at them with a tooth pick.

 

[aztecypher]

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even think about using Simple Green.

 

[clippedwings]

Here is a Millers Falls 1/3 hp that I got from an auction last summer for $57. Very smooth running.

 

[bluebolt]

Here is a Millers Falls 1/3 hp that I got from an auction last summer for $57. Very smooth running.

My what big eye shields you have!

 

[Outlawmws]

The CL gods smiled today:

Got this 1/3 HP 6" 3450 RPM Wissota today. It came with a Chicom Stand (with a cooling trough) and when I went to pick it up, another guy was picking up some wood working tools as well (the seller was in the midst of a /garage sale), and commented "That's a nice stand!" I asked if he wanted to buy it, since all I really wanted was the grinder, and he asked how much and I said $20, and he said deal! So I'm into the Wissota for only $30!

It needs the obligatory power cord replacement, and I need to fix/replace one eye shield mounting bar, and the safety glass (Is Tap Plastics open on Sunday? ), and some general cleanup (like de-rusting that cooling tray... Need to come up with a non rusting cooling medium.), but other than that, its good to go!

I'l mount it on a plate, and do the Workmate thing as usual.

 

[Stan Carpenter]

Recently refurbished an old Bardco bench grinder, could be pre-WWII vintage. Motor housing is aluminum, that look so good once I got several layers of paint off, I decided to only repaint the cast iron guards. Has an 8 amp motor that is working great after I replaced the power cord and cleaned a set of points. Was unable to find any any information on the web about Bardco Grinders. The serial number is 055.

 

[Stan Carpenter]

More pictures of Bardco grinder

 

[McBrownie]

, and some general cleanup (like de-rusting that cooling tray... Need to come up with a non rusting cooling medium.), but other

Outlaw,

I used Jasco metal prep from one of the big-box stores. Filled the tray, let it sit for a couple of hours, and rinsed it off. Way easier than trying to wire brush it clean.

http://www.jasco-help.com/product/prep-primer

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks for the reminder/tip McB, That's a good plan. I tend to forget about Jasco/Phosphoric acid at times... (BTW Jasco Metal Etch is probably the same stuff, only more concentrated...)

 

[Outlawmws]

Well I checked the MSDS for both; Apparently Jasco has replaced metal etch with Metal Prep, and simply dropped the percentage from 39 to 37-1/2% Phosphoric acid...

 

[torqueman2002]

Posted 11 hours ago in the Metro Detroit CL.

10" Lima on art deco style stand.

I like the looks, but I don't know anything about the Lima.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/hvo/4979961080.html

 

[Strouty]

I picked this up at an auction a couple of days ago. Not really sure I want to use it, but I guess it could be a nice setup with a variable speed motor.

 

[nickelTwin]

I got this Baldor grinder yesterday. I don't know if it qualifies as vintage. I think it's older. Runs really nice.

 

[BJ42LX]

I got this Baldor grinder yesterday. I don't know if it qualifies as vintage. I think it's older. Runs really nice.

It's got the older script Baldor name plate, so...

You got lucky with the tool rests, too. So often someone removes them and they are gone forever.

Nice grinder.

 

[ChargerRT]

Hey guys new to the board but just picked this old guy up with the stand (heavy and on wheels) for $50... The manufacture tag is missing but the guard has Delta in the casting.

It's missing the tool rests and the original wheel covers but everything else looks pretty good. Any idea on where I can locate these?
Any info on the grinder is much appreciated!

Thanks

 

[exmaxima1]

Hey guys new to the board but just picked this old guy up with the stand (heavy and on wheels) for $50... The manufacture tag is missing but the guard has Delta in the casting.

It's missing the tool rests and the original wheel covers but everything else looks pretty good. Any idea on where I can locate these?
Any info on the grinder is much appreciated!

Thanks

That's a Delta Triple Duty, 7-inch, 1/2 hp. Very good grinder.

Torqueman already owns 2 of them, and has a way with finding more. He may be able to help you with parts.

 

[Jawn]

Recently got hold of this Diehl / Singer... kind of want to clean it up and repaint it. Obviously missing the rests, but probably could use a new power cord too. Runs great though, nice and quiet.

I'll probably build some new rests with an angle guide for grinding lathe bits and pick up a couple appropriate new wheels.

 

[exmaxima1]

Picked up a Rockwell-branded Baldor 6-inch grinder at a garage sale over the weekend. Just missing an eyeshield, and runs perfect. Guessing early 70's (?). Weighs nearly 50 lbs!

 

[Rick M]

I don't have any vintage electrics so I hope you guys don't mind a few hand crankers. This is a Goodell Pratt 485, the 'baby' of the GP grinders weighing in at 11 lbs. With a 22:1 ratio, a leisurely 1 crank per second would spin the grinding wheel at over 1300 RPM. 79 cranks per minute would exceed 1725 RPM. It sounds like an electric grinder when it spins. Unfortunately it was missing the original tool rest. This is the beefiest and fastest hand crank grinder I own.

Video of GP

 

[Rick M]

Prairie Tool Grinder model 85. This is a quality grinder, not as fast as the GP but smooth as silk. 15:1 gear ratio = 900 RPM at one crank per second. Again, unfortunately missing the tool rest. Has an odd 7/16 arbor size.

Before/after

Quick vid

 

[Rick M]

Hope these multiple posts are cool. Just a few generics I've owned.

Green one was actually a decent grinder. I bought, cleaned, and sold it within a few weeks.

Red one is something of a turd. It's one of the "Dec 29, 1925" grinders. If you see one of those, don't buy it. I mean, they work fine, but the ratio is very small and they just feel cheap. This was basically a freebie thrown in with the GP grinder.

 

[Jawn]

BAM!

Cleaned up a bit, a crappy paint job, new switch (original's bakelite housing crumbled when I took it out), power cord, and one new wheel. Still need to build rests and try to balance the wheels better.

 

[MixManSC]

My first grinder post.... I've had a couple of older cheapo 6" ones for years. On one the shaft literally has a full quarter inch left to right play in it. I really need to tear it open and put some fiber washers or something in it. Aside from those this is my pickup today - my first bigass grinder. Slow one though and most will not like it since its 3 phase but I have 3 phase (600 amp!) service here at my shop so I'm good to go with 3 phase stuff and running it as intended. My wife does not weigh enough to pull down the main disconnect switch. Its old and massive with 3 gigantic 600 amp fuses inside.

Anyways its an early 80's Wissota made Rockwell (Delta) 1.5HP 10" (3/4" arbor) ped with a nice pair of Baldor lighted guards wired in just as the dual bulb original ones would have been. Almost like someone knew what they were doing when they added them to it. Both of the machines tool rests are there as are the wheel covers, spark guards, and it even has dust collector pipe adapters on the wheel housings. Runs smooth as silk and zero play in the motor side to side or laterally. When you start it up though you know it and it seemed like it was near instantly up to speed and took what seemed like 2 minutes to coast back down. One thing I have to figure out though is how to re-wire it for 230v. The place that had it was running it on 460v (got to see it run there) but the motor is rated for both on the tag. Its also a slow runner at 1725 rpm but with 10" wheels the actual wheel speed at the edge of the wheels is probably close to what my little 6" bench grinders are. I could be way wrong on that though, I'd have to sit and think real had for a bit to wrap my head around that. I know with that much more power than I'm used to I doubt I will be stalling it.

Anyways ended up getting it for $225... its been poorly repainted at some point so eventually I'll probably repaint it again but I doubt I'll put too much effort into it since the resale market for 3 phase stuff is very weak. You can also see an industrial workbench I also picked up in the second shot.

 

[McBrownie]

My first grinder post....
Anyways ended up getting it for $225... its been poorly repainted at some point so eventually I'll probably repaint it again but I doubt I'll put too much effort into it since the resale market for 3 phase stuff is very weak. You can also see an industrial workbench I also picked up in the second shot.

Holy Smokes! That grinder with that stand for $225? Nice job!

 

[nine4gmc]

Holy Smokes! That grinder with that stand for $225? Nice job!

This^!!

 

[MixManSC]

Wow, great score. Be warned though, having 3 phase at your shop is incredibly dangerous. You can snag massive industrial machines for almost nothing, there is no limit to what you can drag home.

I have a great excuse for my wife..... I need more 3 phase stuff so I can balance out our loads.

The place was an old millwork. The 600A main fuse disconnect drops down into a enclosed raceway which splits out to five 20 space breaker panels, plus a 100a and and a 60a disconnect. Half of the panels and all are empty right not but I've been slowly adding things. It was an intimidating mess when we first got the property and it took me a good half a week to straighten things out and make it safe to get the electric turned on. In the main shop there are also about a dozen conduits in the concrete floor that come up in various places and all go to the raceway below the breaker panels. Sadly they pulled all the wire of of them when they went bankrupt. Not too tough to get new wire into one though, already have done it on one when I put in an air compressor. Just hooked my shop vac to the conduit in the slab and sucked a long string through from the other end, then used that to pull the wire through.

 

[dogzbody1]

Hi all

Just joining the journal and this forum, great stuff! You all inspired me to collect a Milwaukee 3/4 hp *" grinder today (5015) for restoration. Its complete apart from the eye shields which I hope to source as a generic part somewhere.
Is there any agreement on the proper red for Milwaukee tools?
Also any advise on a decent pedestal? Funny thing about this grinder - there doesn't seem to be a way to bolt it to anything, perhaps this is a true bench (top) grinder?
Thanks for the advise
Steve

 

[MixManSC]

I always do this to myself..... so here I am using the shop vac to **** a wad of cotton on the end of a pull string through a conduit in the floor of the shop so I can pull some wires to hook up my new grinder. Well whicle I have the back of it open and looking at the mess of wires I noticed that its been repainted a couple of times over. The current battleship dark grey was okay but had a lot of dings exposing the prior and horrifying baby blue paint job it once had. I noticed that both layers of paint seemed to flake and chip off rather easily so there I was for the next couple of days stripping all the old layers of paint off and repainting the entire thing. Could have left well enough alone but no.....

Anyways I moved on to overhauling the electrical which included re-wiring it for 230V operation instead of 460V. In the pedestal column there are several components that require some attention when doing this. First of all if changing the wiring for the 9 lead motor separating some pairs and making some new connections. Second there are two transformers in there. One is on the hot side of the incoming power to provide 120v control circuit power. The other is on the switched side and provides 120v for the eye guard lights. Both need bridge jumpers changed around to set them to 230v input instead of 460v. With all that done and all the other electrical in there (the magnetic starter and the thermal overload and other connections like to the start/stop switch) gone over I decided a couple of mods were in order.

For one I disliked the ginormous external power cutoff so that was detached. I will use the breaker in the electrical service panel. Another is they had the lights hard wired into the base using a typical conduit wire clamp. This means if you want to remove the guard for anything it cannot be detached and is just going to hand there from its wire. So I had a couple of surplus military 3 pin panel mount connectors laying around so I set to drilling into the upper part of the post on each side and added connectors so the lights can be easily disconnected of desired. Next - I wanted to be able to turn the lights on and off at will instead of them just being on if the grinder is on so I drilled the motor base and added a typical basic toggle switch to manually control the lights.

Next I figured since the power here is 4 wire high leg delta 3 phase I may as well go ahead and pull 4 wires in the conduit. If you are not familiar with this type of 3 phase power it has 3 high voltage wires plus a neutral, any one to another of the high voltage wires gives 240v, two of them to neutral or ground each gives 120v, and the wild leg to ground or neutral gives 208v. Pulled 4 10ga wires through even though the grinder really only needs 3 wires since this model just uses straight 3 phase without a neutral or ground. Hence the reason for two transformers in the post.... I could just bypass though now since I now have a neutral wire in there and a ground too since the conduit is a ground but I left them as they were for now. What I did do though is add a low profile box to one side of the post and used the neutral and ground to add a handy 120v GFCI plug outlet to the side of the post. I also added a 20a push button breaker down low in the other side of the post inline with the 120v power to the outlet for extra safety. I put this on a 20a breaker in the main panel and I figure with the GFCI plus an inline breaker specifically for the plug outlet I'm good enough.

Anyways - so far thats all for it. I have not re-mounted the Baldor lighted eye guards yet. I'm debating on that - I actually want to find a set of the correct Twin-Lite guards for it instead. I've sent Wissota an email just to see if they might have a lead on a set for me. If anyone here has a pair I'd trade you for a pair of Baldor ones... My next small mod is I want to add a pilot light to indicate when the thing is running. This grinder is near dead silent which is awesome but for sake of safety I want to have some visual indicator as well when it is running. I have literally timed its coast down with two 10" wheels mounted at just under 3 and half minutes!! I'd also love to find a couple of the original and correct accessories for it like a motor base with the integrated water pot or the guard mounted water pots, tool sharpening attachment, and maybe one day the correct dust vac.

Anyways here is an updated photo of it.... I'll update again eventually with some more.

 

[exmaxima1]

The new paint looks great! Ive never owned a Wissota, but I will certainly keep my eyes open for one. Great job!

 

[Hounddog]

My first bench grinder was a purchase made out of necessity...a modern, cheap, underpowered Delta. I've recently been hoping to add a heavy weight vintage one to the shop...maybe one that could use a light restoration. I found it today on CL!!

Skipped out of work at noon to pick it up. $35 for this 1947 Delta Triple Duty, 7-inch, 1/2 hp ...a few issues, broken glass, bad switch, but it purrs.....very nice