Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

[Rick B.]

That may be doable, thanks

 

[Momodem]

MODEM: thanks for the youtube video and is that you? also how many posts do you need to post more pics cause I'd be happy to loan you a few? make a post or two on one of my threads if you have time. I love the old school shop and the grinder that you give a little touch and it's off to the races.

is that a rhubarb plant out the window cause OMG if it is i'm thinking it should be in Jurassic Park exhibit cause it's huge.

welcome to GJ!!

Thanks Drivesitfar, I am up and running now with posts thanks. The plant is a "Gunnera" and it is taking over the garden.

I`ve posted some stuff on the "More vintage tools" thread.

Momodem

 

[JZiggy]

I got a nifty Craftsman King-Seeley arbor that I want to turn into a belt-driven grinder or wire wheel. The original 6202-5/8 bearings were very dry so I got a pair of Koyo replacements and went to town. Turned out nice!

 

[bagged89s10]

picked up this 3/4HP craftsman block on this stand.

Can anyone tell me what this stand is from? Maybe baldor? Any info is helpful.

 

[lis2323]

Bagged I’m pretty certain it’s a Baldor. Looks the same as mine.

The grey one on the far right in pic.

 

[bagged89s10]

Bagged I’m pretty certain it’s a Baldor. Looks the same as mine.

The grey one on the far right in pic.

I found out it’s a rockwell stand. the grinders say motor by baldor.

 

[PeterPeter]

Walker-Turner GR50. This is the early 30’s version. Later, in the 40’s, changed to the heavier, GR50E:

The GR50E mainly changed end bells, ditching the square ports, , making the castings beefier, and adding a cast iron bracket to hold the eye guards.

Peter

 

[drivesitfar]

Peter: that WT is PURDY. how does it run?

 

[pelletman]

Anyone have any idea who made these? My dad thinks they were a shop project at WPI - Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

 

[pelletman]

My Craftsman grinder, I have the plastic? water trough

 

[lafester]

Nice! Are the lamp sockets still there?
Water trough is (unbelievably) plastic.
I have a cast aluminum one I like better.

 

[Outlawmws]

My Craftsman grinder, I have the plastic? water trough

Pman, those quench trays were usually aluminum?

 

[wrenchguy]

My Craftsman grinder, I have the plastic? water trough

Lets see it, wondering if has the thicker boss that fits into rectangle hole. Maybe a later direct replacement ?????

 

[tym]

Pman, those quench trays were usually aluminum?

I think for that style grinder they were plastic.

 

[wrenchguy]

I think for that style grinder they were plastic.

"Pre pre block" known for metal quench tray.
I brought up plastic above cause years ago i seen a pre, pre with a plastic tray. At that time "collectible" didn't dawn on me and didn't pay much attention to the tray.

 

[torqueman2002]

I think for that style grinder they were plastic.

I have that style 1/3 HP Craftsman grinder, model 115.7397.

It has a red plastic quench tray.

The grinder is very heavy!

 

[lafester]

yeah it is hard to believe they used plastic for the trays. My aluminum tray was cast using the plastic one for a mold.

 

[pelletman]

Nice! Are the lamp sockets still there?
Water trough is (unbelievably) plastic.
I have a cast aluminum one I like better.

I haven't looked for the lamp sockets! I'd probably like AL better too

 

[pelletman]

I have that style 1/3 HP Craftsman grinder, model 115.7397.

It has a red plastic quench tray.

The grinder is very heavy!

The one that goes with it is red plastic

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

That belt/disc is a hoss...
(post 2005)

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[David Jackson]

Bought new in 1971 or 1972 I think. If it is vintage, then so am I.

 

[lafester]

Bought new in 1971 or 1972 I think. If it is vintage, then so am I.

Just curious why you picked this model over some of the other options like Baldor or Dayton? Did you have to order it?

I finally found a complete one last week. These are pretty hard to find!

 

[David Jackson]

Boy lafester, you are asking an old man to remember setting up a motorcycle shop in 1971! As I recall, the guy who was more or less the chief mechanic for me at the time (Jack Albee) really liked Sears products. He was a very talented man, did wonderful work, built a great welding table I still have, but unfortunately I don't remember exactly our discussions about the grinder. He may have simply felt it was the best that could be had, within some budget limitations of course.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

All, I know there is a whole thread dedicated to the Craftsman blocks.. really didnt appreciate them until this last discussion here on the 3/4 horse. Are they all that hp??

Pelletman, on that unique one, I saw some cast iron parts in a little used storage area above the foundry in the School of Technology (now College of Technology) at Indiana State U when I was there, only the guard and maybe the main shaft bearing housing, but that makes me think its very possibly an "advanced" shop project...

Peter^2, that Walker Turner is cool .. We had a WT drill press and table saw in my Jr High shop, hadn't really thought much about them, but knew they did a lot with school shops.. sort of like South Bend. Thanks for sharing..

 

[lafester]

Boy lafester, you are asking an old man to remember setting up a motorcycle shop in 1971! As I recall, the guy who was more or less the chief mechanic for me at the time (Jack Albee) really liked Sears products. He was a very talented man, did wonderful work, built a great welding table I still have, but unfortunately I don't remember exactly our discussions about the grinder. He may have simply felt it was the best that could be had, within some budget limitations of course.

Thanks! It's not often we get an original purchaser in here to pick their brain.
Looking back at the prices these were not cheap, but maybe the others were even more expensive.

 

[lafester]

All, I know there is a whole thread dedicated to the Craftsman blocks.. really didnt appreciate them until this last discussion here on the 3/4 horse. Are they all that hp??

Comparing my 3/4 Craftsman to my 3/4 Baldor and it really is no contest.
But, that is mostly due to being all cast iron and over built.
Looking at raw power output they probably are pretty close.

Now when you look at the cast iron "pre" block grinders the difference is much narrower... 1/2 hp to 1/2 hp in this case.

 

[torqueman2002]

... Craftsman blocks .... Are they all that hp??

For myself, I find it less expensive to buy a Craftsman Block style grinder and refresh it with bearings, stones, and where needed power switch, cord. Maybe a lick of paint.

Less expensive, that is, than buying an equivalent new Dayton or Baldor.

"... the classic Craftsman bench grinders that were manufactured for Sears by Paramount/Allegretti & Co. from the early 1960's to early 1980's. Affectionately known as "Block Motor" grinders because of their unique shape, these power tools have developed a large following among shop enthusiasts because of their legendary reliability, accuracy, and power.

The "Block Motor" grinder can be readily identified by the Sears manufacturer prefix of 397 or 257 (as in 397.XXXXX); which is stamped on the front label. Popular models include 1/4-HP, 1/3-HP, 1/2-HP, 3/4-HP, and 1-HP Industrial units."

"People always want to know what makes these things {CM Block grinders} so special; here's the reason. Look at those field windings. That is some VERY thick copper wire. When compared to a modern Chinese winding, these look GIGANTIC. The imports use very thin field wire. This is what makes these "block motors" so darn powerful and long lasting."

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249539

 

[David Jackson]

Well I am pleased as punch to hear such great stuff about the grinder I have. My plan was to simply sell it as I am moving a long way away, from CA to OK if I can get my house sold, and now I am thinking maybe I should keep it. I don't use it very much any more but still ... I have an old JET drill press from that same era; that's a bit of a challenge to move though.
DJ

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Good stuff re block grinders.. thanks for helping me see.. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled at estate sales around me...

 

[torqueman2002]

Good stuff re block grinders.. thanks for helping me see.. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled at estate sales around me...

Around these parts, they tend to pop up on CL in the spring.

 

[pelletman]

Here is the water tank for the big Craftsman grinder I posted earlier, and yes bulb sockets are there

 

[lafester]

Nice! I need to find a spot for mine one of these days, but grinder space is pretty full at the moment. Maybe I can start a rotation...

 

[Spider1953]

Am I late to the party??
I just picked this 1/4 horse up today and I need some info. Beside what on Her badge, do y’all know anything else?? Year of manufacture??
And I need to make a tool rest because I can’t seem to find one anywhere in the world. I might not even need another one. I was planning on grinding on 1 side and polishing on the other. Is that ok to do?? This is my 1st bench grinder so help me out. Thanx Fellas. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.
My good ol Drill Press is still working like a charm. Thanx again for helping me with that.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

In the car port at the bottom of the garden .... to save me a walk back to the shed

 

[Outlawmws]

Spider, based on the "F2 51" I'd guess 1951.

Polishing is fine, but with only 1/4 HP it going to be light polishing. Both polishing and wire wheeling seem to eat more power than grinding.

 

[Spider1953]

Ok cool. 1951 Is perfect For my Shop

 

[Outlawmws]

In any case, Dunlap was over as a Sears brand between 1960 and 64

 

[Spider1953]

Oh damn. 1960-64 is to new for the Shop.
I’m actually looking for a 1930’s BG. I guess I’ll keep look’n.
Thanx outlawmws

 

[Outlawmws]

That would be the latest even if I'm wrong on the date code. Dunlap started as a brand for Sears in 1941.

 

[Spider1953]

Oh man..... ok, I have to ask my neighbor if I can have Her back then.