I had a thread yesterday in the wrong forum above, so today I did buy the Delta DP 220 Drill Press, it is a 1954 model (I guess from the serial # 54-xxxx) the light switch was broken and the power switch also is broken, do you think I can find exact replacements? if I restore completely, is there an original color scheme?
Vintage Delta Drill Press
- Thread starter dw1
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jakemac
Well-known member
Can't help with the power switch, maybe you can find a used one on ebay. 
The light switch should be easy to fake. You can gently take the case apart, buy new guts with the same ratings at the hardware store. Then put the new guts into the old housing. If you're careful, you should be able to remove the thumb key (it's brittle bakelite, or similar material) from the old guts and screw it onto the new guts to keep the "original" look. There should be a cardboard liner around the guts. Sometimes the liner on the new guts won't let you put them in an older case, so you may need to re-use the old cardboard liner.
(experience from re-building old floor lamps)
The light switch should be easy to fake. You can gently take the case apart, buy new guts with the same ratings at the hardware store. Then put the new guts into the old housing. If you're careful, you should be able to remove the thumb key (it's brittle bakelite, or similar material) from the old guts and screw it onto the new guts to keep the "original" look. There should be a cardboard liner around the guts. Sometimes the liner on the new guts won't let you put them in an older case, so you may need to re-use the old cardboard liner.
(experience from re-building old floor lamps)
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Nice drill press.
I have the exact same one. My serial number starts with "40", so I assume mine is a little older.
Here's what the power switch looks like on mine, in case that's helpful.
Oddly, mine does not have a separate switch for the lamp. The lamp is on all the time when the press is plugged in, so I think that may not be the original setup.
Like yours, mine does not have the slow speed option, which would be a 3rd set of pulleys that mounts at the top of the main column. Keep an eye out for one of those, makes that press much more usable for metal work. Actually, keep your eyes out for 2 of those, and send one my way!
I have the exact same one. My serial number starts with "40", so I assume mine is a little older.
Here's what the power switch looks like on mine, in case that's helpful.
Oddly, mine does not have a separate switch for the lamp. The lamp is on all the time when the press is plugged in, so I think that may not be the original setup.
Like yours, mine does not have the slow speed option, which would be a 3rd set of pulleys that mounts at the top of the main column. Keep an eye out for one of those, makes that press much more usable for metal work. Actually, keep your eyes out for 2 of those, and send one my way!
Bobioz1
Well-known member
Looks like a home made lamp. I wouldn't get to busted up over it.
Thanks for the info, my serial number is on a tag like this:
54-35XX
Pretty neat machine, seems nice and bearings are tight, no slop. Finding more info online. My light just has a 2 prong plug on it, plug it in as needed.
Attachments
I'll try as Jake suggested, see what HD has and maybe rob the guts out of and try to make something work.
Nice drill press.
I have the exact same one. My serial number starts with "40", so I assume mine is a little older.
Here's what the power switch looks like on mine, in case that's helpful.
Oddly, mine does not have a separate switch for the lamp. The lamp is on all the time when the press is plugged in, so I think that may not be the original setup.
Like yours, mine does not have the slow speed option, which would be a 3rd set of pulleys that mounts at the top of the main column. Keep an eye out for one of those, makes that press much more usable for metal work. Actually, keep your eyes out for 2 of those, and send one my way!
Juts found one on ebay, kind of pricey though
Delta Multi Speed Attachment:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/171958619744
jakemac
Well-known member
Thanks!
What is the speed range as it is without the extra pulley set Mike?
According to this thread (see link below) the speed range with a 1750 RPM motor was either 680, 1250, 2400 and 4800 rpm with the standard sized pulleys or 470, 780, 1300 and 1950 with the larger pulley set.
The largest pulley on the op's setup looks fairly large so I'm guessing that it's slowest speed is 470. Is that correct?
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthr...rill-Press-Speed-DP-220&p=1082943#post1082943
In the pic it looks like the standard speed pulley, (high speed). But it's hard to tell and there may be distortion in the photo. The slow speed pulley is about 8 1/2" diameter at the largest while the standard speed pulley is about 5 3/8" I think.
I've had great success with the slow speed version in drilling metal, even drilling large holes in steel plate, and that's with a 1/2 horse motor. Eventually it comes down to the rigidity of the drill press of course.
The Delta's a fine machine, I have a couple and use them all the time.
I've had great success with the slow speed version in drilling metal, even drilling large holes in steel plate, and that's with a 1/2 horse motor. Eventually it comes down to the rigidity of the drill press of course.
The Delta's a fine machine, I have a couple and use them all the time.
Looking at it again I think you're right. The motor and spindle pulleys look very symmetrical in those photos. So that that pretty much rules out the "470, 780, 1300, 1950" range because those ratios are very asymmetrical around 1750.
The ratios for "680, 1250, 2400, 4800 " on the other hand are pretty much symmetrical around 1750, so I guess that's it.
Alexbn921
Well-known member
Nice find. You can probably reuse the outside off the switch with new internals and all new wiring to the motor. As far a color goes, I'm a big fan of gray. A lot of these machines left the factory in gray. That light on the side is super cool too. Wish mine had something like it. If you want to add an offset pull that mounts on top of the column, it should give you all the speed range you need. Good luck with the restore.
rlitman
Well-known member
No no no no nooooooo!
That is a genuine original Delta lamp, and is actually worth a bit on its own.
They were made to fit the drill press, band saw, and scroll saw.
Are you sure? Look closely at the pics and you'll see the vent holes look out of round, staggered, and the material looks very thin. Also the shape is too cylindrical, not enough curves. Certainly does not look like the one that came on my 1957 DP225.
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Concur, someone invested a bit of working time to make a functional copy of the original Delta machine lamp.....'maybe not so pretty, but it works alright'
Its lamp socket is the common old style unit, with a threaded end for lamp-shade attachment, of which a good serviceable replacement one should be easily found.
cheers
Carla
rlitman
Well-known member
I've seen several different styles of lamps produced by Delta. On the machines I've owned, I've seen two, both with aluminum shades. One was spun, and the other was cast, and both did indeed have a more flared shape than this cylinder. Nevertheless, while I have not seen a steel shade on a Delta lamp, I'm still not convinced that it is anything but genuine, considering it's age.
I was able to straighten the knob part of the switch for the light, it works and is not "as bent" now. I took the motor switch out, the bakelite housing is cracked, the contacts are broken (someone had both leads tied together, bypassing the switch), I havent been able to find anything that would work in its place that would look original.
I can take a few more pics of the light??
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And I will never believe that Delta would drill the vents holes free-hand and all over the place
Bobioz1
Well-known member
Yeah, if that's a Delta lamp it must be a one off prototype from their early skunkworks. But I doubt it. The drill press is a good one though. Enjoy it.