Thread: Vintage machine tools - a whole factory full - about to go to scrap

Andrew,
which forging hammers? Where did you see them? I don't think I came across any. Or do you mean the steam/air hammers I mentioned? They are about 10 feet tall and look very heavy - that's all I know about them.
Are you thinking of buying them? Lance told me the scrappies will come in about 5 weeks....

Yep, steam/air hammers;
"There are also several forging hammers, one with a flywheel the other with a cylinder, possibly steam or air."
... or whatever is there

An approximate measurement of the top hammer block and piston rod of a steam hammer would give its' rating (usually in hundredweight/ cwt).
This will help to consider if me fetching them is possible!
Pics and details of these and a potential 'flywheel' hammer would also be much appreciated.
ta,
AndrewOC

Originally Posted by Machtool

If any of you blokes are going there for an inspection, can you take a few more photos of the 3 centre lathes for me. And see if the spindles still turn.

I was over at my metal sprayers yesterday, and they asked me about finding a lathe headstock. They want something rough to hold shafts and rotate them slowly to spray them.

They would be happy to take a full machine and just use the bits they want.

Regards Phil.

Hi Phil,

Sorry, I didn't see your post before leaving, but I did have a bit of a look at the bigger of the three lathes.



Spindle seems ok, everything moves that I tried. I reckon a steam clean, and a bit of derusting and you could power it up.



This is the headstock on one of the smaller ones



Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by AndrewOC

Yep, steam/air hammers;
"There are also several forging hammers, one with a flywheel the other with a cylinder, possibly steam or air."
... or whatever is there

An approximate measurement of the top hammer block and piston rod of a steam hammer would give its' rating (usually in hundredweight/ cwt).
This will help to consider if me fetching them is possible!
Pics and details of these and a potential 'flywheel' hammer would also be much appreciated.
ta,
AndrewOC

Hi Andrew,

I'm not sure exactly what I was looking at, so you might get a better idea from the pictures.
I concentrated a bit on the smaller of the two hammers, the big one you would have to get way back even to get a picture of it.











The big one, was immense, I can't see it being moved without very costly cranes and transport, the smaller one might be a proposition..

Regards
Ray

More abandonded factory gems..

This was sitting over in one corner








You get mixed emotions, seeing something like this, a once beautiful precision machine, neglected and abandoned in a collapsing tin shed...

It would be a great restoration project, but not for me, I'm afraid..

Regards
Ray

Brings tears to your eyes...

Hi Ray,
I can understand your emotions, that machine once came in brand new and shiny, and everyone would have been exited to use it.

RC
Did you see that big horizontal in the back ground in Rays first picture? Might be the cheapest one you will ever get.

Dave

I managed to grab a few bits and pieces,

A small angle plate 12"x9"x15" complete with rusted on gum leaves..



And a few cope and drag sets, including a nice aluminium snap flask


I looked for swage plates and hardy hole fittings but, although there were a couple of buckets of hardy hole bits it was just as we were leaving and the guy wanted $5 each for them, so I passed on the offer. No anvils.

There were casting patterns everywhere.. like this pile in one corner.


On the way out of Bendigo, Josh spotted a cast iron fence post that matched the wooden patterns he saw in the factory..

Thanks to Joe for having the presence of mind to stop and have a look the other day.. at least maybe a small fraction of what was once there will be saved from the scrap dealer.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

You get mixed emotions, seeing something like this, a once beautiful precision machine, neglected and abandoned in a collapsing tin shed...

It would be a great restoration project, but not for me, I'm afraid..

Regards
Ray

They are a bit of a two edges sword.... A worn machine like that has limited use in my opinion.. I have had my share of rooted machines and in my opinion if you can avoid them they are not worth the trouble of owning unless they are small or you have the means to recondition them properly...

Nice angle plate Ray, A bit of a sand blast with a trip through the surface grinder and it will be like new. I have been keeping my eye out for something similar myself, around 12x12 would suit me.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Hi Ray,
I can understand your emotions, that machine once came in brand new and shiny, and everyone would have been exited to use it.

RC
Did you see that big horizontal in the back ground in Rays first picture? Might be the cheapest one you will ever get.

Dave

Hi Dave,

That was the "Victoria" mill, someone had already written their name on it in chalk. It looked like a pretty good mill.

I think a lot of machines have gone out the door just in the last few days. Word get's around.

Regards
Ray

I think it was Welder I spoke to the other day about remembering a lot of non members read this forum as well, and to keep his cheap supplier to himself or the guy will be over run with inquires.

Dave

Joe and Ray,
PM sent,
dibs on the hammer!
A.

Originally Posted by .RC.

That's right, otherwise we would be fighting over it...

Why didn't you buy the planer over in Adelaide, advertised on Ebay a few weeks ago?

PDW