Retroman
Well-known member
Looking to buy this WT DP anyone know roughly what year? owner says 1930's but looks early 50's to me? Any info on this DP is appreciated buying it today for $200.00 What do you experts think?
Walker Turner DP Worth the price?
- Thread starter Retroman
- Start date
Musicinabottle
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2016
- Messages
- 3,371
No foe toes!
Voi
Well-known member
Looking to buy this WT DP anyone know roughly what year? owner says 1930's but looks early 50's to me? Any info on this DP is appreciated buying it today for $200.00 What do you experts think?
Trying to make your photos work.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
Not an expert, but I would pay $200 for that. Probably not used much as it appears to have no "ring of shame" drilled into the table.
Voi
Well-known member
You're welcome. I just removed the 's' from https to make them work. I knew it worked for GIFs but hadn't tried it for non-animated images.
BTW, I think that DP is from the 60's based on the pulley cover.
onesojourner
Active member
I would say it is worth $200. I would not pay more than that especially considering it is a bench top unit. I regularly see Delta 14 floor standing units sell for 100-150 here.
Check the model. Some W-T used specialty bearings with extended races. It cost me nearly $100 to replace the bearings in mine, and I wouldn't buy another one. Delta and Atlas are just as nice, and parts tend to be more widely available (and cheaper).
454ragtop
Well-known member
Interesting DP, with the optional production table, and what looks like a vernier depth stop, have to wonder if it has the third slow speed pulley setup........
Think the price is fair without it, total home run if it does have it.
Think the price is fair without it, total home run if it does have it.
ALLFAST
Well-known member
Plus it appears the top surfaces are unbuggered and it looks very much original and complete. I would also not hesitate to pay 200 to 250,300, especially if it's a keeper to uou. You won't lose value if you refurbish it and decide to resell (not too much anyway !) That's a fine looking machine !
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
It's a third pulley on the drill press. You can see it in the linked photo.
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/attachments/f19/55323d1342489270-fs-walker-turner-drill-press-imag0168.jpg
If it has that, $200 easy. Without it, it's still a very nice machine and looks very clean. The production table is nice. I'd say $200 was reasonable though it depends upon your market. I paid a lot less for mine but it needs more work. Mine has a standard table, no third pulley. I think I paid $40 but that was a deal and I knew it. It was worth $150 no problem. I'm with you as to date, 1950's not 1930's.
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/attachments/f19/55323d1342489270-fs-walker-turner-drill-press-imag0168.jpg
If it has that, $200 easy. Without it, it's still a very nice machine and looks very clean. The production table is nice. I'd say $200 was reasonable though it depends upon your market. I paid a lot less for mine but it needs more work. Mine has a standard table, no third pulley. I think I paid $40 but that was a deal and I knew it. It was worth $150 no problem. I'm with you as to date, 1950's not 1930's.
Last edited:
454ragtop
Well-known member
The third pulley is an add on accessory, which allows slower speeds, mostly used for metal working. It's between the motor and quill pulleys as shown in the pic linked above.
Maui
Well-known member
Note that the photo of the machine with the third pulley that is linked above has a Craftsman motor on it which is obviously not original. That third pulley is rare, really rare. I own three Walker Turner drill presses and have never come across one that has that third pulley on it.
If the one you look at has that third pulley pay him the $200 and be glad you got such a great deal!
Maui
If the one you look at has that third pulley pay him the $200 and be glad you got such a great deal!
Maui
They are not the same drill presses. As you pointed out, the motor is different, as well as the general condition. I agree with you about the center pulley, and that he could likely sell that accessory for $150 (or more) and get a free drill press!
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Not sure what you meant by 'different', the condition or the drill press. Mine (not the one in the photo) is a 1200 series model. I believe OP's is as well (that project got put on hold a while ago, so I'm going by memory here). The casting for the motor mount includes the riser that supports the arm for the pulley. Mine looks just like the one in the photo (but without the arm or the pulley). I too found the Craftsman motor amusing but that is clearly an aftermarket addition. I think the motor on mine had a cast iron housing. I remember it was really heavy. The earlier models had a cast iron belt guard as well I believe. Mine however is the later pressed steel version. OP's is pressed steel too, thus the idea that it is more likely '50s than 30's even without a specific memory of the design differences over time.
Retroman, Jump on that deal. Looks to be in nice condition, and the production table in that condition is worth about $200 around me. Clean production tables are as rare as the mythical column mounted 3rd pulley for this area. 
I have a similar machine for my daily driver. Great little DP. I believe mine is from from 1953'-54'
Very informative article on a floor model over at Woodnet
Try this link: Walker Turner Rebuild
Let us know how you come out.
I have a similar machine for my daily driver. Great little DP. I believe mine is from from 1953'-54'
Very informative article on a floor model over at Woodnet
Try this link: Walker Turner Rebuild
Let us know how you come out.
I doubt it will have the slow speed third pulley it sounds as if those are as rare as a Hen's tooth. I just want and need a good American made DP. Doesn't look like it needs a paint job so I will just keep it original. Just clean it up where required. Meeting the guy this morning hopefully, he has been a bit flaky.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Just because it is rare, doesn't mean you won't find it, or find it in an unexpected place. Any of these slow speed adapters are coveted. The first Craftsman Veri-Slo adapter I saw was on a Craigslist 'Free' drill press. Unfortunately I didn't know I wanted a drill press yet, or that you had to jump on Craigslist ads quick. It wasn't until later that day I found out how valuable the Veri-Slo adapters were.
A couple years later, I found another one on a 'broken' $60 Craftsman drillpress. Actually it was the same sale where I picked up the Walker Turner. Turned out it was the Vari-Slo adapter that was 'broken', not the drill press. I resold the drill press and kept the Vari-Slo for my machine. I need to find and replace a missing pin and it should be good to go.
Since picking up the Walker Turner, I've seen one Walker for sale with the adapter. I think they wanted $250 for it, but for some reason I wasn't able to get to it. Next one . . .
I hope that machine is as nice as it looks.
A couple years later, I found another one on a 'broken' $60 Craftsman drillpress. Actually it was the same sale where I picked up the Walker Turner. Turned out it was the Vari-Slo adapter that was 'broken', not the drill press. I resold the drill press and kept the Vari-Slo for my machine. I need to find and replace a missing pin and it should be good to go.
Since picking up the Walker Turner, I've seen one Walker for sale with the adapter. I think they wanted $250 for it, but for some reason I wasn't able to get to it. Next one . . .
I hope that machine is as nice as it looks.
454ragtop
Well-known member
The third pulleys are around, never know where they might pop up. Picked up this jewel a few years ago, I think I paid $25. Was mounted on a multi head table at one time I think, somebody cobbled it into a floor model. What a disaster, but made a lot of money parting it out, between the third pulley and the retirement light alone.
Attachments
Inspected the DP this morning no third slow speed pulley, didn't sound real good so I passed on the deal. Really looking for a cheaper one with all the parts I want that maybe is a little rougher and I can restore and pickup fairly cheap.
Thanks for all the help I am new to the vintage tool game.
Thanks for all the help I am new to the vintage tool game.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
New to the vintage tool game you say. This is a disease. Shut down craigslist and get away while you still can! 
I suspect you may end up kicking yourself but that is not to say there won't be other opportunities. There will be. Good Luck in the search.
I suspect you may end up kicking yourself but that is not to say there won't be other opportunities. There will be. Good Luck in the search.MayerMR
Well-known member
If I were in the market for a DP then I'd pay $200 for the Walker Turner...I was lucky and picked up a WT drill press a year or so ago and I absolutely love it. I don't have the slow speed pulley, though I've had my eye out for one, but to be honest, not having the slow speed pulley hasn't negatively affected me at all.
To be honest, you could probably buy a cheap 1hp 3-phase motor and VFD controller for less than what those W-T middle pulleys sell for. And you would have much more versatility.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Blasphemy. But a good idea. Blasphemy. I wonder if it even needs to be 1hp. Probably no great savings in going smaller. I would hate to take off the original motor. We are going to need a variable speed drill press in our shop. I'll have to keep that idea in mind. Maybe apply that concept to a newer floor standing Rockwell. Definitely got me thinking . . .
tombell572
Well-known member
A 1/2 horse motor ( real one, not offshore over-rated) should be plenty for that size D/P. I believe the would have been the standard size.
Tom B.
Tom B.
The reason for a larger motor is so you have adequate power when you reduce the speed. A 1hp motor is roughly 1/2hp when you reduce the rpm by 1/2.
MayerMR
Well-known member
As blasphemous as what you say is, that is a good idea! haha. That said, I've not really been negatively affected by my current single-speed setting on the drill press just yet so I'm just keeping my eyes peeled for the slow speed pulley for now.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Heads up! A WT DP with a third pulley FS on OWWM for $120.!!! In CT.