Photo Index - Sears | Craftsman - Craftsman branded/ Walker-Turner built

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Sears | Craftsman
Chicago, IL

True Manufacturer:
Walker-Turner Co., Inc., Jersey City, NJ; Plainfield, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery & Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Drill Press
Machine Size:	15"
Submitted By:	Ted Duncan

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Craftsman branded/ Walker-Turner built
Date of Manufacturer:	1935
Serial Number:	NONE
Last Updated	5/4/2022 6:26:42 PM

Comments:

Craftsman Drill Press

15 inch. Floor model. ½ in. chuck.

“CRAFTSMAN” is cast on both sides of drill head in raised letters. It appears at one time there was an oval decal of some sort (SKF Bearing, possibly) on the front of the drill head.
Of note is the “bowl” on the drill head that serves as the spindle pulley guard is right side up, not upside down like on other Craftsman Atlas, Dunlap or Walker-Turner drill presses. This bowl is cast into the head, it cannot be removed.

There is only one fastener to secure belt tension instead of 2. It’s located on the left of the drill head. The fastener is a knob and not a bolt or grub screw.
There are no production or serial numbers anywhere on the tool. It is my understanding that Craftsman put a tag on the base, in front of the post. There is nothing there. Further, I understand that Walker-Turner did not put any numbers on their drill presses before 1939.

From all this I guess that this machine was possibly built by Walker-Turner in the mid-1930’s. I have found an advertisement from 1935 that shows the same right-side up bowl and belt-tension securing knob features.

2 feed handles, not 3 or 4.

2 ½ in post.

9 ½ x 10 adjustable table (note “circle of shame”)

Multi-position work lamp (mounted on left)

Feed stop stud and stop nuts on right

Quill lock in center

Head/Column lock on right.

Upper quill bearing adjustment/lock on top.

3 speeds, but this may have been a modification.

From the imprint of the decal, I am guessing red was the original color of this press.

I do not believe that the motor on it is correct. Not a double ended shaft. It has a sheet metal, rather than a cast iron base. It required new holes for mounting. I see that the cast iron motor base is broken in two places, but still functions OK. Both belt pulleys are broken in places. Everything works OK, runs and drills just fine.

I bought this press at an auction over 5 years ago. It could be quite rare. Since that time I have only seen photos of 2 Craftsman presses similar to this one.

Photo 1:

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Photo 2:

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Photo 3:

Comments: Note oval decal???
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Photo 4:

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Photo 5:

Comments: Note lack of ID tag.
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Photo 6:

Comments: Note the lack of ID tag.
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