Photo Index - Taylor & Fenn Co. - M-50 Vertical Milling Machine

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Taylor & Fenn Co.
Hartford, CT

True Manufacturer:
Taylor & Fenn Co., Hartford, CT

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Mill, Vertical
Machine Size:	6" x 20" table
Submitted By:	T. Wagler

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	M-50 Vertical Milling Machine
Date of Manufacturer:	1941
Serial Number:	M50-619
Last Updated	5/27/2015 6:47:19 PM

Comments:

I acquired this milling machine from a rural workshop near Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada. The specifications for it include: 1.5 hp single phase 240v motor; 6”x 20” table; power longitudinal feed, with max. travel of 13.5”; cross travel 6”; knee travel 14”; spindle travel 2”; MT2 taper spindle; built-in coolant flood & re-circulation system; and a set of change gears for varying the spindle rpm and longitudinal feed rate. The mechanical distribution of power from the single rear-mounted motor is quite unique, with multiple flat belts and 3 separate changes of direction before getting power to the spindle. The longitudinal table feed is also powered from the same motor with an intricate, almost Rube Goldbergian design of pulleys, drive-shafts, and mechanical end-of-travel disengagement switches.

The tags on the machine also tell an interesting story of its history.
One tag reading “Property of Government of Canada, Small Arms, 1941, V-2088” indicates that it spent its early life at a factory in Long Branch (Toronto), Ontario which manufactured STEN sub-machine guns, Lee-Enfields, and sniper rifles as part of the war effort. A photo archive of the production lines inside the factory can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gblakeley/sets/72157626289261917/with/5582684483/. A detailed history of this Canadian Crown Corporation can be found at this link http://heritagemississauga.com/assets/Small%20Arms%20Final%20Report%20-%20by%20Liwen%20Chen.pdf.
Another tag reading “Canadian Arsenals Ltd, Small Arms Division, V-105” indicates that this machine survived beyond the war effort and the dismantling of the Small Arms Ltd. factory in 1946 and lived on for at least a little while in service at this 2nd Crown Corporation which was formed during downsizing the factory’s manufacturing capability from 5,500 to 200 employees as the war ended. Somehow from there it ultimately ended up in a rural workshop near Morrisburg, Ontario which is where I found it. The previous owner advertised it as a John Bertram & Sons machine, due to a tag bearing the name of that company. Bertram indeed manufactured a line of metal working equipment, but usually much bigger heavy-duty industrial stuff – they probably just acted as sales agents for this particular machine. The casting mark of Taylor & Fenn Co, and a picture of a very similar machine on this web site show that it is actually a Taylor & Fenn machine.

Photo 1:

Comments: Taylor & Fenn M-50 Vertical Milling Machine
Source: Personal photo

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: Machine Tags
Source: Personal Photo

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: Prior to removing guards
Source: Personal photo

Direct Link
IMG Code