Not a boring machine!

[Rhyolith]

Great thread, very much enjoyed reading this! Love these old drilling machines and have been restoring smaller ones myself for the last year and a bit in a somewhat self taught manner. I have yet to see one like this in person, looks gorgeous with the restoration, nice balance of keeping the history and preserving the functionality.

I am very pleased to see a hand powered drill press being use, thought I was the only one who used those these days! What make is yours out of interest? I have a Union A1, brilliant machine and one of my first successful restorations.

 

[AndyT]

Great thread, very much enjoyed reading this! Love these old drilling machines and have been restoring smaller ones myself for the last year and a bit in a somewhat self taught manner. I have yet to see one like this in person, looks gorgeous with the restoration, nice balance of keeping the history and preserving the functionality.

I am very pleased to see a hand powered drill press being use, thought I was the only one who used those these days! What make is yours out of interest? I have a Union A1, brilliant machine and one of my first successful restorations.

I'm glad you liked it!

I did a separate thread on the drill press https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/nice-new-bench-drill-t80666.html

I don't know what make it is - do say if you recognise this logo:

 

[matthewwh]

Here's another puzzle piece for you.

Abraham Spafford started producing tools under his own name in Sheffield in 1858 after leaving a brief partnership with Samuel Peace. I have a lovely old Peaces, Spafford & Co sash saw, hence the research. The independant A. Spafford and Co went on to become a successful family firm and were still going right up to the 1970s. Previously Peace had a partnership with Robert Ibbotson who lived in New York and acted as the firm's US agent, this would suggest a gearing towards and links with the US market, presumably in a similar way to Sorby's focus on Australia.

 

[AndyT]

Matthew - Simon Barley's book confirms what you say but lacks a picture of the Spafford mark - you could send him a photo direct or use the backsaw.net forum.

 

[matthewwh]

Thanks Andy,

Email duly sent.

 

[swb58]

Is that AS or RS? ^^^

 

[AndyT]

Is that AS or RS? ^^^

I'd assumed RS (or SR) but with no other evidence, could not be sure.

 

[swb58]

I thought the mention of Abraham earlier meant it was understood to be AS, just looks more like an R to me, sorry, no info either way.

 

[Rhyolith]

I am intrigued to what it could be... I am pretty sure your drill is Union like mine (considering the "A-1"), however there is next to no info on the Union company other than it made lathes under the name T.S. Harrison and Son: http://www.lathes.co.uk/union/

Shame that "T" is so an R or that might be the answer!