New Toy....Model Maker's Pillar Drill

[jimi43]

Hi Guys and Gals...

I just won a new toy on FleaBay today and the missus picked it up for me....

Can anyone help with identification? It looks like a Champion No.1 but there are no maker's marks anywhere apart from the chuck which has quite old script and is marked "ROTAX"

It really is a beautiful piece of engineering....it needs a bit of a clean/restoration....

...but it has so many gizmos and twiddly things on it that I think this will be real fun...just what I need to keep my mind occupied for the next few weeks....

...there are a few bent bits...

.....but it appears to be all there...

Any help would be most appreciated and I promise to document the whole restoration as I go along!

Cheers

Jimi

 

[Scouse]

Can't help you with the identification, sadly, but that is just plain old fashioned gorgeousness!

 

[Eric The Viking]

I note that you've got the three-speed version, you jammy dodger!

Incidentally it looks like it's supposed to be driven from a motor below, but I couldn't guess at the pulley diameter. Could it possibly be a treadle and flywheel?

The counterweight arrangement looks really odd, and possibly a bit bodged. Maybe a later 'addition'?

E.

 

[jimi43]

Init Scouse! Can't believe I got it for a mere £12.50 and for once it wasn't three timezones north of Wapping!

It came with a motor Eric....a HUGE Higgs of Birmingham 1/4HP motor with an 8" (I think) Picador pulley. I think these things could be run with anything from treadle power to evolving motor power...and I could run this with a long neoprene belt (ala Unimat) once I get all the things unseized that are seized and all the floppy bits rigid again. The counterweight looks stock...it's just loose I think. Haven't quite got to that bit yet....

Jim

 

[AndyT]

Very nice, but no need for electricity: this is a butter churn, but I'm sure you could easily adopt the same principle!

 

[jimi43]

Jake (my sawn-off labrador) is looking at me with a "your just dare" look in his eyes...I think I will stick with a motor!

I think the motor I got with it is not original...or if it is...it is way over the top for this little gem. So I think I will see if I can pick up an old sewing machine at the bootfair this weekend...with speed control...and adapt that for use.

I just cleaned the muck off of the chuck and it is a Brooke Cardinal 1/4" from the 1930s....

It is a really beautiful chuck that closes down to nothing so I am sure I can use even the tiniest bit...

Half way up the chuck shaft is an open set of ball races...unfortunately some of the balls have fallen out and are gone....anyone know how I can get some spares? UPDATE: There are none missing..half had fallen in the top and the rest in the bottom....so they are all there.

Jim

 

[doorframe]

Hi Jim... nice find. I can help with the sewing machine motor but I haven't got the speed control I'm afraid. But a simple lighting dimmer will do the job perfectly. If it's any good to you I'll pop it in the post.

Roy.

 

[bugbear]

Looks like a home brew, by a model engineer.

BugBear

 

[jimi43]

Hi Jim... nice find. I can help with the sewing machine motor but I haven't got the speed control I'm afraid. But a simple lighting dimmer will do the job perfectly. If it's any good to you I'll pop it in the post.

Roy.

That is extremely generous of you Roy....I will PM you in a moment.

Looks like a home brew, by a model engineer.

BugBear

Hi BB....I don't think it is now that I have removed all the gunk from the head. There are residual pieces of that metalic type of sticker...you know...the oval logo of the manufacturer, on the front. Not enough at all to make out the maker but enough to show it was professionally made.

If it was indeed made by a model engineer, then he is one hell of an engineer. Every single bearing surface has grub and lock screws a plenty and there is even a huge ball at the top cap to support the whole mechanism which is oiled via a removeable cap...I will try to take some close-up pictures to show you later...she really is tarting up well for an old lady!

Jim

 

[bugbear]

Looks like a home brew, by a model engineer.

BugBear

Hi BB....I don't think it is now that I have removed all the gunk from the head. There are residual pieces of that metalic type of sticker...you know...the oval logo of the manufacturer, on the front. Not enough at all to make out the maker but enough to show it was professionally made.

If it was indeed made by a model engineer, then he is one hell of an engineer. Every single bearing surface has grub and lock screws a plenty and there is even a huge ball at the top cap to support the whole mechanism which is oiled via a removeable cap...I will try to take some close-up pictures to show you later...she really is tarting up well for an old lady!

Jim

Actually, it was the super nice construction, and all the bells and whistles which made me think it was engineer made! If you found a manufacturer's sticker though - the speculation ends. Model engineers could and did spend much more time and care on their shop-made tools than any factory could commercially justify.

Just try googling quorn grinder.

BugBear

 

[jimi43]

I agree BB....this was a special piece of gear...I guess the 30s was of such an engineering standard that we tend to forget the lengths they went to with over-engineering!

I have decided to get this fully operational so everything came off...and I am going to re-blue the steel (when I get the chemicals this week)...but the surface is now level and clean...

The heavy brass counterweight arm has been straightened, cleaned and tightened to the lever and the metal used is a kind of galvanised steel...which matches that of the lever mechanism so it is part of the original design...it certainly looks the part now it is where it should be...

The Brook Cardinal Rotax 1/4" chuck is really beautiful...it closes down to absolutely nothing and should take even the tiniest bit....

As far as I can see...there is only one part missing which is the large flat brass lock nut on one side of the lever slide...

I need one like this one...

Which I can probably make.

...but you can see the oil nipple at the top of the rotating shaft...under which is a large single ball bearing sitting in a seat....so effectively the entire driven shaft sits on a thin layer of oil on a precision ball mechanism.

The slide is centred using a bar...in the middle of the casting which is then locked by the tiny grub screw below....

I need to repaint the castings...I think they are a Wadking green...so suggestions as to that colour would be helpful...although it may be a lighter green...

This is a fun restoration...can't wait to fire her up and test her.

Jim

 

[bugbear]

Still looks workshop-made to me. Too many pieces look like they were (or could be) made from sheet or bar stock, not enough pressings, stampings forgings or castings.

Which is (as I said) no bad thing.

Edit; compare and contrast the manufacturing techniques of this champion No 1.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-PILLAR-DR ... 45fa03f903

BugBear

 

[jimi43]

I actually saw that auction before I bought the one I have. I have to admit that my one does look very over-engineered by comparison.

I Googled vintage model pillar drills last night and came across the Stuart (Live Steam) castings which were available about the same time. It would appear to be the norm to be able to buy stock castings and then engineer the rest of it.

While we have that link...anyone know where I can get those orange elastic bands?

Jim

 

[bugbear]

I actually saw that auction before I bought the one I have. I have to admit that my one does look very over-engineered by comparison.

I Googled vintage model pillar drills last night and came across the Stuart (Live Steam) castings which were available about the same time. It would appear to be the norm to be able to buy stock castings and then engineer the rest of it.

Now, I'd have though a car boot hound like you would have bought at LEAST one tatty cardboard box of old Model Engineering magazines and read them.

I know I have

While we have that link...anyone know where I can get those orange elastic bands?

Jim

Drive belts?

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Lath ... Belts.html

BugBear

 

[jimi43]

Now, I'd have though a car boot hound like you would have bought at LEAST one tatty cardboard box of old Model Engineering magazines and read them.

I know I have

HA! Now come to think of it!

Blast...I'm not allowed in the loft for at least another month....it's like living in Colditz! Mind you...her indoors AKA "the keeper" has gone out with my daughter to Bluewater...they could be a while..... :twisted:

Thanks for the belt link....much appreciated!

Jim

 

[jimi43]

Just a quick update to those of you interested in the WIP of this restoration...

She is now running fine...

....by hand.

I have ordered the Chronos belt...thanks BB....I had to get a tenner's worth because of the minimum order but I am sure this stuff will be used elsewhere....anyone want a belt made up?

Thanks to Bob...I have the HUGE motor working...but I shall use that for something else because Roy has kindly offered to ship me a sewing machine motor which should work fine with this little baby...

I am in the process of making the large flat nut at the top...not too much hassle...but it is annoying me as it is the only bit missing...

Then the blackening needs doing and the painting of the castings and wee are finished...

Just in time for another bootfair this weekend to get something else to occupy my mind!

Cheers

Jim

 

[jimi43]

Today was a bit of a red letter day in all respects...

Last night I tried the tiniest drill bit I had by hand...just turning slowly and the result was quite impressive...

There was no play at all and the drive down was smooth and even.

So...today when Mr Postie knocked with two packages...I was made up!

First...a beautiful vintage sewing machine motor from my new buddy Roy....

...complete with vintage connector...!

Also arriving in the same post was a small Jiffy bag from Chronos (thanks BB mate!)...with 5 metres of 1/8" heat joining belt material!

I went a tad over the top on the "dimmer" recommendation....

I had a little VARIAC...which was found at a bootfair for a quid but was REALLY dangerous and in need of some CPR...let alone refurbishment...so an old speaker cab...a switch...an old 13A socket...some monitor terminals and a bit of ali sheet later....something I could use!

So...as long as "her indoors" allows me to stand at the lathe for about an hour and as long as I lay off the codeine long enough...I should be able to turn up a pulley to test this baby out today...watch this space!

Cheers

Jim