Antique Machine Tools

[jdleach]

I was wondering if there was anyone interested in the collection, and restoration of antique metalworking machines.I have in my possesion several elderly lathes, mills, drill presses, etc.that I have used over the years, and have admired them for the quality and pride that was built into each one. Yet,as I look around, everyone seems to be preserving and collecting every item under the sun except for the machines that made them. Does
anyone else have the same views?

[Ben Shank]

I have several, very elderly machines with patent dates of 189x and several I'm not sure about but I'm sure they are in the early 1900's. I hope to restore each back it's orginal condition, including the paint color(if I can match the color...black). I plan on using them after restoration, as I don't want a shop of fullscale models, if they can't be used what's the point of having them.This will be a long term project
rebuilding as I have the time and resources. I will probably continue to collect "orphans" as I run across them, since once they are gone they are gone. I am not interested selling them after restoration. Are you trying to find a home for these machines.

[green frog]

Gentlemen, I am a "newbie" both to machining and to the acquisition and restoration of old tools, however, my Father has fallen heir to a benchtop engine lathe made by Lempco of Bedford (now Cincinnati) OH sometime in the 20's or 30's. I have searched several sites for info, including a thus-far unanswered e-mail to the current Lempco for any info on this veteran. Do either of you or any of our other readers have any info on this neat old machine? TIA, the Green Frog

[Bobby Roakes]

Hi I have an old sear's lathe and I get more enjoyment from playing with that at home the I do with a very expensive cnc at work, If you are looking for a home for one of your old machines I have a little room and some time to make it run like new or if you need help fixing it I'd be glad to give what advice I can have a good day

[Ben Shank]

Try looking at this site, it's a really neat site with probably the most information on old machinery of any I've found: http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html
Unfortunately a lot of the info on old machines has been lost in the closing of shops and no one ever thought anyone would ever want it...so it got pitched. Some is surfacing from woodwork, but I'm afraid a lot is just gone.
I don't really have any machines I want to let go, maybe if run across something in the future, I'll post it. There is a lot of pleasure from taking an old machine and brining it back to a useful life, anyone can go a piece of Chineese junk, but not everyone can restore an old machine.

[Milacron of PM]

This might be of some interest

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Antique+Machinery&number=11

[Ben Shank]

Thanks, D. Thomas,I went and took a glance and bookmarked the site. I don't have time tonite but I'll look it over good and probably addthat to my ever growing list of things to look at............when will ever find time to actually WORK on my machines?????

[jdleach]

To all the people who replied to my original post, thank you. It is heartening to know that there are a few people who are genuinely concerned with the loss of a part of our industrial heritage. I firmly believe that if enough of us get together, we could very possibly get an "antique machine tool collector" movement started.
P.S.: I do not wish to part with any of the machines I have, they are such a part of my life and past, that I have given them names( my 9" Logan is called Ernie.)