Thread: Boynton & Plummer Post Drill

Originally Posted by Vann

For the Table: Unlike most post drills, where the table pivots off a bolt through the fork, this post drill has (had) a table that pivots off the pillar/column.

The remnants of the old table were still attached to the pillar when I took delivery of the drill. The removed remnant looks like this...

TabHL.jpg

The Boynton & Plummer 1903 catalogue (available online through OWWM) contains an illustrated parts list. I printed the page showing the parts and then blew-up the portion showing the table. Using a known dimension (the diameter of the pillar) I calculated a few other dimensions (always rounding to the nearest imperial dimension) resulting in this...

Attachment 335840

I visited a local "theme park" yesterday. At the entrance to a barn was this E.N. Boynton No.1½ post drill - forerunner to my Boynton & Plummer No.1½.

It is missing it's flywheel, and the wooden handle of the crank arm. Otherwise it looks complete. It is rusty and completely seized (spindle, feed, auto-feed, crank, table) except for little follower wheel at bottom of auto-feed lever.

Surprisingly the table is intact (breaking off at the neck, just beyond where they pivot on the pillar, seems a common problem).

ENBtableML.jpg ENB4ML.jpg detail of underside - which I had assumed was flat

Having neither ruler nor camera, I asked my son-in-law to take some photos. I measured the diameter of the table as being 2 credit cards and half the eftpos receipt wide . I measured that today as being 8 inches - which is what I scaled off the parts drawing some months ago.

I can't put off making this pattern much longer.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Vann

Today I scored an incomplete Boynton & Plummer No.1

B&Pno1.jpg Sellers photograph.

That'll get me the flywheel, crank hub, and crank arm (although the wooden handle may need work). Also, hopefully a couple of square head 7/16" bolts for the crank bracket.

The downside is, it's in Dunedin. I'll get my brother to collect it for me, but he's not capable of knocking up a crate, so it'll have to wait for my next visit (possibly October this year) before I get my hands on it.

Cheers, Vann.

I arrived in Dunedin last Sunday (1st November). A couple of photos of the No.1 drill:

aBP1.jpg aBP2.jpg

Part of my trip home was to be by train and ferry, so when I stripped it down and found the main casting to have a repair, I felt less guilty about leaving that heavy, bulky piece behind.

aBP3.jpg plated and rivetted repair, quite nicely done

The only markings on the drill was this:

aBP4.jpg "Boynton & Plummer, Maker, Worcester, Mass."

And this:

aBP5a.jpg aBP6.jpg "18"

I would guess that these were individually fitted, rather than mass produced with interchangeable parts. If that's the case, then I suggest this will have been the eighteenth No.1 in that batch. Similarly the No.1½ post drill is marked "3" in a number of places:

Chuck3b.jpg CC3b.jpg

I bought this post drill for the flywheel and crank hub, for my No.1½ Boynton & Plummer post drill. Other components such as feedwheel; coupler; feedwheel; and feednut & screw, will be kept as spares, as they are interchangeable with the No.1½ post drill.

It's good to have the parts home. However, a few other major projects will have to take precedent. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll get little bits done on this over the next few months...

Cheers, Vann.

That's good news it's been a long wait.
I saw so many silvers today all complete.

Vann,
I wonder if those two 18's are match marks struck by the machinist as part of that machines build, possibly the eighteenth that day? Similarly with the No 3's?
I agree that the riveted repair is nicely done, an interesting story behind that perhaps.
Cheers,
Geoff.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

I wonder if those two 18's are match marks struck by the machinist as part of that machines build, possibly the eighteenth that day?

I agree, definitely match marks.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

I agree that the riveted repair is nicely done, an interesting story behind that perhaps.

I didn't get any back story with this drill (sometimes I ask the seller - but I felt bad, scrapping the drill for parts, so didn't). However, I'd guess that's a very old blacksmith's repair (it is a blacksmiths post drill after all).

aBPrepair.jpg t'other side

I've a couple of other post drills broken in a similar location. What's happened is someone has been happily cranking away when the drill has reached the end of it's travel. The coupler nut bottoms out and the energy in the flywheel puts such force on the casting that it breaks. However on Boynton & Plummer post drills they have a "patent automatic stop on feed" in the form of a small groove (to the left, and below the coupler nut in the pikkie). This allows the feed-screw to rotate so that the feed no longer advances. So how this break occurred I don't know?

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I saw so many silvers today all complete.

But no Boynton & Plummers !

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Vann

But no Boynton & Plummers !

Have they knocked Silvers off the perch as your favourite now?

I have seen the occasional Wiley & Russell, Green River maybe 1 or 2 but don't think I have ever come across a Boynton & Plummers over here.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Have they knocked Silvers off the perch as your favourite now?

Not yet .

Maybe I should start a Silver post drill thread - and bore you all to death .

Cheers, Vann.

Hi ho Silver!

Originally Posted by hiroller

Hi ho Silver!

Does that make my Boynton & Plummer "Tonto"?

Cheers, Vann.

That right, Kemosabe!

Here are the parts I bought home (I'd discarded the broken main casting)

aBP12.jpg

aBP11.jpg

This is how I carted the flywheel (and a few other minor bits) on the ferry. The box weighed 13kg (and I had a similar box with a Silver flywheel in the other hand). The rest of the components were in my backpack.

Originally Posted by hiroller

Looking good. What your plans for the missing parts?

aBP13.jpg parts to go on my No.1½

- The crank arm is heavily rusted; the handle shaft has been replaced by a bolt; I'm not sure if the wooden handle is original. I'll probably remake the whole assembly;
- I need to remove the shaft from the crank hub, then bore it out to fit the No.1½;
- the No.1 flywheel is exactly the same as used on the No.1½ (it weighs 9kg);

aBP14.jpg common parts (spares)

These: half washers, coupler nut, feednut & screw, feedwheel, and spindle, are all the same as used on the No.1½. I'll keep these as spares.

aBP15.jpg other parts (of no use)
The: crank bracket, yoke, spindle cog, crank cog, pillar and feet are surplus. I may re-purpose some (I have more than one post drill without a pillar - while the spindle cog may become a candle holder ).

Cheers, Vann.

Must be almost time for the family photo!