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Some 20 years ago
I say an ad in the newspaper
for a milling machine, for $100.
I had to go check it out, and it
was only a few miles from my
house. Turns out it was a small
horizontal benchtop mill. Later
I was able to identify it as a
1902 (some say earlier) David
Pond mill. I bought it and took
it home. It is a really unique
piece. Wood pulley and old
skool hand fitted features.
The spindle had a key fitted to
it, and the key had dowel pins
holding it in its keyseat. Pretty
cool. It has an indexing wheel
built in to the saddle that would
index a very small table, which
could also be swapped for a
fair size dovetail vise, which
mounted to the index post.
The crank handles were cast
brass, indicative of the era it
was made. Anyhow, it came
with a belt countershaft that had
wood (oak?) bearing blocks.
Interesting thing, these blocks
actually had babbit poured into
the blocks to form the bearing
journal. Even fitted with oil holes.
Pretty unique I thought. I posted
pictured on PM at the time, and
a local guy messaged me and
invited himself over to come look
at these bearings. Not wanting
to purchase anything, just he was
interested in the bearings and
also the unique mill. He ended up
being a pretty cool guy and we have
been friends for 20 years.
Eventually when I moved, I gave
my friend the David Pond mill and
after sitting in his shop for a while,
he donated it to a local museum
where it is today.
So these wood and babbit bearing
blocks were responsible for connecting
me with a good friend that I would not
have had otherwise. This friend really
has influenced my in my love of
machines. Years later, he sold me
his Rockford hydraulic openside planer.
All because of wood bearings.
You just never know in life.
-Doozer
I say an ad in the newspaper
for a milling machine, for $100.
I had to go check it out, and it
was only a few miles from my
house. Turns out it was a small
horizontal benchtop mill. Later
I was able to identify it as a
1902 (some say earlier) David
Pond mill. I bought it and took
it home. It is a really unique
piece. Wood pulley and old
skool hand fitted features.
The spindle had a key fitted to
it, and the key had dowel pins
holding it in its keyseat. Pretty
cool. It has an indexing wheel
built in to the saddle that would
index a very small table, which
could also be swapped for a
fair size dovetail vise, which
mounted to the index post.
The crank handles were cast
brass, indicative of the era it
was made. Anyhow, it came
with a belt countershaft that had
wood (oak?) bearing blocks.
Interesting thing, these blocks
actually had babbit poured into
the blocks to form the bearing
journal. Even fitted with oil holes.
Pretty unique I thought. I posted
pictured on PM at the time, and
a local guy messaged me and
invited himself over to come look
at these bearings. Not wanting
to purchase anything, just he was
interested in the bearings and
also the unique mill. He ended up
being a pretty cool guy and we have
been friends for 20 years.
Eventually when I moved, I gave
my friend the David Pond mill and
after sitting in his shop for a while,
he donated it to a local museum
where it is today.
So these wood and babbit bearing
blocks were responsible for connecting
me with a good friend that I would not
have had otherwise. This friend really
has influenced my in my love of
machines. Years later, he sold me
his Rockford hydraulic openside planer.
All because of wood bearings.
You just never know in life.
-Doozer
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