Can any of you guess what this is from?

This topic has 13 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 12 April 2021 at 20:23 by John P.

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11 April 2021 at 19:34 #539193
William S
Participant
@williams
Hello all just a bit of fun, testing your knowledge on old machinery, can any one guess what this is from:

I do know what its from, so guess away!

William

Edited By JasonB on 11/04/2021 19:36:57
Advert

11 April 2021 at 19:34 #14224
William S
Participant
@williams
I do know, I just wish to test your machinery knowledge!
11 April 2021 at 20:28 #539205
Jon Lawes
Participant
@jonlawes51698
Some sort of industrial mimeograph machine or similar? The belt drives are intriguing?
11 April 2021 at 20:31 #539210
John P
Participant
@johnp77052
Crystal lake cylindrical grinder drive unit or similar type machine.

John
11 April 2021 at 20:36 #539213
David Noble
Participant
@davidnoble71990
Flab fighter

David
11 April 2021 at 20:48 #539216
Sam Stones
Participant
@samstones42903
I have no idea what it is William.

However, in the background of a couple of your pictures there’s a Taylor Hobson (or similar) pantograph engraver.

Let us know soon.

Sam

Edited By Sam Stones on 11/04/2021 20:48:46
11 April 2021 at 21:01 #539219
Oily Rag
Participant
@oilyrag
1920's shoe polisher machine as placed next to elevators in posh hotels! Required a high bar stool to use so quickly fell out of favour. Mops and polish applicator missing.

Seriously – Haven't got a clue!

But what I thought was intriguing was the pulleys in one photograph appear to be the wrong way round giving identical speeds whichever pulley is chosen.

Martin
11 April 2021 at 21:03 #539221
John P
Participant
@johnp77052
It was the similar type machine ,look on Lathes uk Jones and Shipman 520 cylindrical grinder. Is the machine

that you have in your album a J&S 520 grinder.

John
11 April 2021 at 21:34 #539234
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
No idea, but it looks "white goods" enough to me to suggest specialist aspects of the printing or textiles trades.

Or an electrical coil-winder? The clue being the shaft just visible in the gloomy depths, looking like a lead-screw to ensure correct wrapping of the wire. If so there ought be a rapid-reversing mechanism on that screw; and something for holding the core on a mandrel or between centres, and both functions adjustable.

Is its stand original? It seems a different colour though that might be shadows, but looks of much older style, as if originally for a lathe. Could be cast aluminium rather than iron. Or a welded fabrication.

The machine's general styling and paint-work to me suggests 1950s-60s, maybe 70s. I think that era partly because 1930s-50s machines not being machine-tools as we'd ordinarily think, were often though not exclusively finished in black, possibly crackle, and chrome; and the casings on earlier ones were sometimes in distinctive art deco style to match the very latest in office and clean-goods fashions.

No maker's name or trade-mark anywhere on it?

'

Don't tell us… your next question will be for advice on getting it, the press and engraver up those stairs and into the spare bedroom without the Domestic Authorities catching you in mid-"flight" ……
11 April 2021 at 22:36 #539241
jon hill 3
Participant
@jonhill3
At a guess something to do with printing or book binding, judging by the presses on the floor?
11 April 2021 at 23:05 #539242
V8Eng
Participant
@v8eng
Useful machine if you have all the other parts of it as well!

Edited By V8Eng on 11/04/2021 23:07:02
11 April 2021 at 23:12 #539244
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
I could be completely wrong but is it an overhead drive unit for a Jones Shipman Cylindrical grinder? Model 520?

Matt
12 April 2021 at 18:57 #539391
William S
Participant
@williams
The 2 people that said cylindrical grinder, you were correct, it is the overhead drive off a Jones and Shipman 520:

Image from Lathes.co.uk

The grinder however I am unsure about!

I belive it to be a Crystal Lake-http://www.lathes.co.uk/crystallake/

The shape of the castings look very similar, bulbous shape to the wheelhead bearings etc. what do people think?

I acquired the grinder last September from the nephew of the previous owner, who didn't know anything about it, when I got it it looked like this:

It has been stripped down and looks to be have been undergoing an overhaul, surfaces have been scraped as well as the bearings. It has been largely repainted just the wheelhead and tailstock needs finishing. There is a box somewhere with all the ancillary items which a previous owner has lost, the nephew could not find anything that looked to relate to it so I am in the dark with what I am missing. I have worked out the cam operated locks for the workhead and tailstocks.

The drive I thought was going to have to be homemade as finding something would be like looking for rocking horse doo dah. That was until I stumbled across an ebay listing for the above overhead drive! Turned out to be a chap I had dealt with before just around the corner from me! What were the chances.

It appears to be all there, minus some bolts and springs, a quick tweak with the clutch adjustment and that seems to work, it needs a taking to bits and a good clean, working out all the belt runs etc. The pulleys being the same way might be intentional, needs investigating. The lathes site explains the drive a bit if people are interested

William
12 April 2021 at 20:23 #539404
John P
Participant
@johnp77052
Hi William

Nice find that grinder ,they seem to be quite rare .it is almost made as a mirror image of the J&S 520 grinder ,i saw the photos in your album some time ago in the photo No4 the lettering on the casting looked as if it was JS0 by the drain hole at the rear of the machine but the machine did not look like the 520 grinder ,looks as if it is mostly there the end covers are missing from the table , certainly looks to be a Crystal lake grinder.I think that they are still in business .

Write some more when you get it going.

John
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