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Two New to Me Craftsman Drill Presses

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s2kattracks

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So, I found these on craigslist(im sure others saw them as well), and my brother in laws Parents lived like 40 minutes away. Brother in laws dad looked at the ad, called the guy and agreed to go check them out for me as the guy had some other tools he had interest in. I really just wanted to the one with motor, but he ended up getting me both for a decent deal. Not the best deal by any means, but I will be happy with it and I have been searching for one locally without luck to get a little closer to finishing the "set". I have a model 103 Jointer and Table Saw already, and I think the blue/gray DP is a 103 Model as well.

I have not done a ton of research(starting now), but I saw a post this morning that mentioned color as being apart of certain years. Not sure how true this is, but while I am waiting for my BIL's dad to send me pics of model numbers, I figured I would ask.

One is the gray/blue and the other(without motor) is the goldish one.

Will be a slow slow restore project(I probably wont actually get them for a few weeks to a month or so). They live 4 hours away and they are not sure when they are coming this way to visit next. SO, I may end up making a day trip out there if its not going to be real soon :D

Till I get more pictures, this will be the last update lol
 

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nine4gmc

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They both have heritage logos so they are close but I can't see the table on the gray one so idk how close. The motor looks incorrect, I think I see an oiler on the bearing, meaning it should be mounted horizontally, the pulley is upside down as well. Either that gold one is an early 150 model, or someone put a 150 model table on it, the older model 100's had a tilting table.

FrankLee will probably know exactly what you have by the pics posted. :beer:
 
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454ragtop

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As Nine mentioned, the motor pulley is upside down, but it is also the wrong one, should be a 4 step. Looks like you will need to find a motor pulley and a quill handle at a minimum.
Jim
 
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softailgarage

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It's tough to say when the gold paint started, I too thought it started with the 150's, however, the 150's did not appear in the Craftsman (Sears) catalog until 1958. The 150 models also had "150" in red on the headband. Looking at the Sears catalogs is hard due to the black & white (or brown & white) illustrations, but I would guess Sears came out with gold painted "100" models around '56 like the ad shows. Notice the models in that '56 ad do not show the "150" on the headband. I think what the OP has is a late model "100".
 
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s2kattracks

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Thanks for the replies! I have lots to dig into! My BIL's dad thinks the motor on the gray unit is from the gold unit maybe. He has looked them over fairly well and said that the gold unit does not have any parts that could be used on the gray unit(as the gray unit already has said parts etc). So, we will see. I think he may keep the gold one if thats the case and I will build the gray on up :)

He is going to call the seller back up and see if the mounting bracket for the motor is sitting around(Im guessing the original from the gray unit). And to see if there are any other random parts sitting around.
 
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s2kattracks

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FrankLee said:
Hmmm... I dunno exactly. The gray 100 makes sense to me, but I'm still not clear on what year the gold paint started. I thought it was with the 150s. I'm curious to know if that was repainted.

The gray one has a tilt table (pic 4). The tilt table was dropped as a standard feature in 1956. It was still available as an option for $18.95.

Column height can also be used to date these. 67" through 1955, 62" started in 1956.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/2122.pdf#page=31


I've seen documentation somewhere that some oiler-port motors are horizontal mount only and some that can be mounted either vertical or horizontal. I'm not convinced that the motor is Craftsman, although it looks repainted. In my experience, that style is black or very dark gray.

The lock handles on the gold one confuse me too. I thought the tapered handles were a 150 feature only. This may be verified by studying a few catalogs.

My impression is that the gold one is a 100/150/custom hybrid. The feed handle/hub is not original. The feed stop bracket also looks home-made.

Regardless, both are in rough shape and you will be able to combine the two into one nice machine. Or get some parts and make two.

Eagerly waiting for more pictures.
Click to expand...

The gray unit(100 if thats correct) has the taller of the two posts, confirmed by BIL's Dad.

The gold unit seems to have a "custom" welded on handle lol.

I am hoping to get pictures of model numbers soon. He was going to try and get them today, but he said it may be tomorrow.
 
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yaidunno

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That picture is simply wonderful! So many fantastic tools.

OP, nice drill presses. I'm sure they will serve you well!
 
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jakemac

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If you come up short on a motor mount, search ebay for "Craftsman Motor Mount" and you'll see plenty. Most are from table saws, but who knows, if you're patient you may get lucky.
 
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s2kattracks

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s2kattracks

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Got a new handle in. Now I (will) have 3 on the DP, still dont have it. Its sitting nicely 3 hours away lol
 

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NJ Marty

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s2kattracks said:
:bowdown::drool:

Thats one amazing picture!
Click to expand...
Damn, just looked at that picture for 10 min. Center right, alien head planer and $115 for the most expensive drill press, that's $988 in todays money. OHHHH and the hammers on the back wall. When will time travel be possible?:lol:
 
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nine4gmc

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Marty, unfortunately, when time travel does become possible, we will only be able to go back to the moment it became possible. Unless it was invented before that picture was taken, we are SOL...:lol:

That's one reason it's so important that you, I and the others preserve them while we can. ;)
 
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ndnchf

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I have 3 non-craftsman vintage drill presses that I use and enjoy. For years I shunned these rather odd looking craftsmans. But lately I've had a change of heart, their style and quality has grown on me. So I'm now scanning CL and other sources for a nice benchtop model. I'm watching this thread to learn more about them and drool. I seem to recall reading somewhere that the 100s have plane bearings while the 150s have ball bearings, is that correct?
 
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s2kattracks

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Just found another 100 model locally, that seems to be in great shape. Going to pickup tomorrow....

Seller sold it from under me.....grrrr
 
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montechris

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Don't mean to Hijack your thread but looks like you got the experts attention.

I picked up a model 100 (i think) at an estate sell last week. I've done some research but can't find any way to link this to a specific year, from what I've read its late forties to late fifties. Other than the motor was replaced, this thing is really clean, the knobs and chrome that would normally wear is in great condition. Pics are not great and i still need to clean it up but here they are.
 

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Model A Fan

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montechris said:
Any thoughts on the press i posted above?
Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong, but it has a tilt table, therefore pre 1956? I have a 1951 catalog at home that I will check and see if I can narrow down some more details in the morning. What does the ID tag show on it? Look at the base right in front of the pole.
 
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Red Leader

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Nice drill presses! As indicated by the Craftsman hardware tool shop picture from 1956, Power Bronze was at least that old, which that would be the earliest confirmed sighting, but doesn't mean that it wasn't earlier either.

Both those are Craftsman 100 presses, as indicated by the engine-turned trim band. This model last appeared in the 1957 catalog and was replaced in the 1959 catalog by the 150 press, which got a name change and a new trim band. Still made by King-Seeley. To the best of my knowledge, there was no 1958 catalog (if you have one, I want it!) so between 1957 and 1959 is when the 150 replaced the 100. I don't know if it was gradual or sudden. Also, one has to realize that while the catalogs are the standard by which we view the chronological history, things may have been very different on the ground, where older '100' style presses may have been in the clearance section in 1959 or 1960 but still sold as new. Or maybe the 150 presses showed up on the showroom floors in 1957 in preparation for their appearance in the catalog, much like car models. In the mid-1960s the casting patterns were turned over to Emerson (113) and they resumed production of this press, but omitted the coil return spring and cap.

Regarding the motors, it is hard to tell what's what. Because these presses came with and without motors, an off-brand motor may very well be original to the brand new press as the first owner may have purchased the press without a motor and added his own new or used non-Craftsman motor. Also, tilting tables are not a reliable gauge for dating as they were sold as an accessory after the presses were offered with standard, non-tilting tables. I've not heard of the post length so that may be an indicator. Then again, we never truly know the history...someone could have broke something and replaced it with a part from a newer or older press, thereby convoluting the whole thing.

Unless there is a specific date on the tool or a record of first purchase, all we have to go on is best guess. Because we know that Power Bronze showed up in the latter half of the 1950s and this press was replaced (at least in the catalogs) by the 150 in 1959, a date range of 1956-1958 is the most plausible. I really do appreciate Power Bronze due to the very reason that it can be very valuable in dating tools or at least narrowing the date range.

In any case, you've got some keepers there. They are fantastic presses. I'm still waiting for mine to show up, complete with production table, belt guard, and Atlas table raising attachment:D Let me know if you've seen mine around anywhere, mmkay?;)
 
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Red Leader

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montechris said:
Don't mean to Hijack your thread but looks like you got the experts attention.

I picked up a model 100 (i think) at an estate sell last week. I've done some research but can't find any way to link this to a specific year, from what I've read its late forties to late fifties. Other than the motor was replaced, this thing is really clean, the knobs and chrome that would normally wear is in great condition. Pics are not great and i still need to clean it up but here they are.
Click to expand...

Shoot, that is such a nice table you have on yours!
 
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