Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - "slo-speed" drill press

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl.
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Drill Press
Machine Size:	14"
Submitted By:	James Huston

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	"slo-speed" drill press
Date of Manufacturer:	c.1935?
Serial Number:	N/A
Last Updated	1/15/2012 12:18:11 PM

Comments:

I bought this machine after seeing a postage stamp sized photo that didn't do justice to the working over this old gent had received from the P.O.;The table was nearly drilled in half, the column was scarred from something with a set screw being drug up and down without being loosened, and the quill had been replaced by one from another machine, which required the quill clamp to be way overtightened to get the quill to stop wobbling,thereby causing the headstock to take a permanent set.I was a little bummed when I saw it in person, but I payed for it anyways.
I rebuilt this lathe right after going to my first get-together of owwm'ers , and I really think that if I hadn't spent all day talking to other members, I wouldn't have tried to save it.You people are a bad influence (I'm kidding).I repainted it, installed a motor I got from bigjoe,a quill and spindle from daveg59, and a table and column clamp from BAM.Oh, and I benefited from Jamie Norwood, both in his excellent restoration of a similar drill press, and his post about making bushings to allow replacing the original notched race bearings.
When i was in D.C. with my wife, I saw a bust of Andrew Jackson that the headstock of this drill press reminds me of. I recall seeing that shock of hair and that lean face every time I use this machine.As a result, this drill press is known in my shop as ol' hickory.
I'm not sure which model of "slo-speed" this drill press is,as I have my doubts about the originality of the spindle.In its day, it was available with a keyed and keyless chuck, as well as a #1 Morse taper spindle. I have the #1 and the keyed chuck, and it has proven useful to be able to swap out spindles.I upgraded it with a pilot wheel to replace the sliding bar; this was an upgrade you could buy from Delta around the time the drill press was being made.
After the rebuild, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the runout was better than many new drill presses.It appears that this machine has a lot of life left in it.
I plan on turning a wooden condom for the motor as soon as the blank is dry enough.I believe it would have originally been maple.
This one will be hickory.

Photo 1:

Comments: Ol' hick in situ
Source: Jhuston

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Photo 2:

Comments: closeup of headstock
Source: jhuston

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Photo 3:

Comments: light and everything
Source: jhuston

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Photo 4:

Comments: there's 125 years of drilling know-how in this photo.
Source: jhuston

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