Photo Index - Buffalo Forge Co. - Floor mount, flat belt drive

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Buffalo Forge Co.
Buffalo, NY

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Drill Press
Machine Size:	15"
Submitted By:	Paul Hubbman

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Floor mount, flat belt drive
Date of Manufacturer:	1890s?
Serial Number:
Last Updated	8/4/2023 8:24:44 PM

Comments:

This drill press is in a recently discovered workshop in the basement of an 1890 office building that recently changed ownership. I'm wondering if it's original to the building. It appears complete, designed to run off an overhead line shaft, but fitted with its own electrical motor. The motor control has several speeds, and the flat belt system has matched 4 speed stepped pullies for additional speed control. The table raises and lowers by a geared crank mechanism. The spindle appears to have ball bearing thrust bearings, though i can't tell if the spindle bearings are sleeve or ball. Everything seems to fit well. The spindle has a taper head - don't know the size, but there is a nearly full set of tapered drill bits that slide in, as well as a chuck fitted to a taper. The drill press does work, but needs a lot of cleaning up and lubrication. Everything seems original, including the paint. The original Buffalo company decal is still mostly in tact on the drill press head. I'll have to try to get a decent photograph of it.
I'd want to rebuild the motor if i were going to put it to use, and i don't know if i'd trust the flat belts. For the most part, though, it looks like it could easily be "restored" to nearly like new condition.

Photo 1:

Comments: Full view
Source:

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Photo 2:

Comments: Side of head
Source:

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Photo 3:

Comments: Buffalo decal
Source:

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