Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - Model HF 23-105 M pedestal grinder

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:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Grinder, Bench
Machine Size:	7"
Submitted By:	Michael Milner

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Model HF 23-105 M pedestal grinder
Date of Manufacturer:	1945
Serial Number:	54-2670
Last Updated	6/4/2020 12:24:02 PM

Comments:

This one goes back to pre-OWWM days. I bought it from the widow of a man who had run a millwork shop in Portsmouth, Virginia. This was back in early 1994, when I was still in the Navy, onboard the aircraft carrier America. This is a Delta-Milwaukee machine (pre-Rockwell buy out), so it is probably World War II surplus from either the Norfolk Navy Base, or the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I couldn't get a straight answer from Delta on it's 'born-on-date'. It is my second old Delta machine, but my first restoration.

I brought her back to life at the base hobby shop, with the help of a retired wood shop teacher, and lots of elbow grease. You wouldn't believe how much rust, grime, and brushed on paint this grinder was covered with when I bought it! My shipmates at the shop thought I'd bought a piece of junk, but even after 50 years the motor still ran nice and quiet. So, I completely disassembled it and stripped the pieces to bare metal using coarse, medium, and fine wire brushes on a variable speed drill press (we didn't have a sand blaster). The i.d. tags and nameplate were protected with several layers of masking tape. Later, I used WD-40 and an Exacto knife to carefully pick away the years of built up crud off of them. Then they were buffed lightly with 0000 steel wool. Before re-assembly the pieces were primed and painted with several coats of Rustoleum Primer and Machine Gray spray paint - straight out of the can.

The old Delta parts warehouse in Memphis supplied the side covers for the wheel guards, spark deflectors, and 'Twin-Lite' electric light cable. The safety glass is (miraculously) original. I recently bought the missing right-hand 'Twin-Lite' on epay (still needs a good cleaning), for 15 dollars and change. Delta wanted several hundred dollars for one of those - even back in 1994! The toggle switch is a Cutler-Hammer replacement that looks just like the C-H original.

This restoration really got me interested in the quality and value to be found in older woodworking machinery. It was a learning experience, well worth the time and effort it took to bring this fine machine back to life. When I was done, the guys at the base hobby shop couldn't believe it was the same machine, and she still purrs like a kitten to this very day. Special thanks to Keith Rucker for helping me crop and re-size the photos.

Photo 1:

Comments: Overall frontal 3/4 view
Source: My friend's digital camera.

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Photo 2:

Comments: Detail of Delta-Milwaukee i.d. tag, sorry abouth the flash!
Source: Same as photo 1.

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Photo 3:

Comments: Rear view, showing pre-Rockwell serial number tag.
Source: Same as photo 1.

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