Photo Index - Porter-Cable Machine Co. - Porter-Cable D-5 lapping machine

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Porter-Cable Machine Co.
Syracuse, NY and Jackson, TN

True Manufacturer:
Porter-Cable Machine Co., Syracuse, NY and Jackson, TN

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	11-1/4"" disc
Submitted By:	James Huston

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Porter-Cable D-5 lapping machine
Date of Manufacturer:	c. 1938
Serial Number:	13 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	3/3/2023 7:30:24 PM

Comments:

This machine was found by fellow owwm'er Mark k, who located it in a closed down machine shop and brought it to my attention. Thanks to his quick action, and the efforts of members JMOtocka, Dan Grade and even Gerald ( Afric-arn-a), who was stateside at the time on a tour of the US, this rara avis came home to my shop.
Offered in the late '30s but discontinued around the start of WW2, this lapping machine was developed to put the final edge on HHS tooling ( while the D-5 could conceivably hone carbide tools, that technology was in its infancy at the time) for lathes and milling machines. Never common ( my example is number 13 of possibly the entire production run!), this lapping machine may be the only survivor. The original tool-holding compound is missing, but I hope to gather enough information to reverse-engineer a reproduction of it someday. As it stands, I find it adept at sharpening chisels and plane irons, with the addition of PSA sanding discs cut down to the peculiar 11-1/4" disc. The lapping machine sports four speeds via the 1/3hp Master motor ( 3 phase), the belt being accessible through the cast aluminum door at the back, secured with a bronze latch.
I call this old fellow the dodo, because he's a short, fat, and extremely rare bird.

Photo 1:

Comments: the night the D-5 arrived
Source: James Huston

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Photo 2:

Comments: The bronze latch, indicative of the build quality
Source: James Huston

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Photo 3:

Comments: Not yet complete, but safe and healthy
Source: James Huston

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