Photo Index - Duro Metal Products Co. - Drill Press Floor Model R3081

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Duro Metal Products Co.
Chicago, IL.

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Drill Press
Machine Size:	14 inch
Submitted By:	Gerald Buttigieg

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Drill Press Floor Model R3081
Date of Manufacturer:	Unknown
Serial Number:	R81 220 PL (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	3/16/2009 2:14:59 PM

Comments:

Just recently I bought a Rockwell 43-120 shaper without the motor and the special motor pulley. I contacted a friend of mine who runs an engineering shop in Pinetown South Africa to ascertain whether he could quote me on turning a pulley for the shaper. He said he would look at this option and that if I was coming down to Durban to visit him as we could discuss the pulley and he had a Dura drill press for sale that may interest me. I told him to hang on to it until I could see it. I suggested to him he wasnt reading the label right and it was possibly a Duro not a Dura.
Well I had to go down to Durban and duly made my call on Eric to discuss the pulley and to have a look at the Dura as well.It turned out to be as I suspected a Duro. Floor pedestal model with Serial Number R81 220 PL. Not in bad shape and the previous owner had somehow made and fitted what looked like a variable speed unit. Motor was a very old General Electric 1/3 hp. Eric wanted a Rand 1000 (about $135) for it. He left me to have a good look at it. It ran well, the crude light even worked and the only thing which I could see missing was one knob on the pull bar and possible the rest of the pulley cover if there ever was one on that model. It still had the small cover covering the spindle. It looked not too well maintained and just had the look of having stood idle for quite some time. It actually was the first Duro DP I had come across although some years back I hand seen a Table saw of that make.
I had a good look at the DP from the point of view that if I could knock Eric down a bit, I could possibly make something on the DP selling it to fund my arn needs. I offered him Rand 750 ( $100) and he said make it Rand 800.
On getting the machine home what I thought was a type of variable speed attachment turned out to be a modification which allowed easy belt changing. The single drive belt had been changed to a two belt system operating round a 1:1 ratio pulley system mounted on the drillpress post. By pulling on a lever both belts were loosened and enabled easy changing of the belts to change speed. This obviated the need ever to loosen the single motor securing bolt. Quite a nice solid machine and with many features very similar to Rockwell. Did the one influence the other in design? The table was reasonable and I liked the T shaped diagonal slots in the base. On the side, is the original ON/OFF switch which sits in a special hole in the casting. A replacement chuck is not shown as one is being supplied by the seller. The first picture shows the DP after refurbishment and the second the badge detail. The third picture shows the head with the belt change adaptation fitted. This has now been removed to restore the machine fully to what it was in its original state. The "external light source" has been removed and installed within the main body and switches On/Off with the motor. The machine was sold to Morgan Naicker.

Photo 1:

Comments: Refurbished view.
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: Picture taken of the DP in Eric's workshop in Pinetown.
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: Showing homemade belt change attachment and rather crude light.
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 4:

Comments: View with attachment removed and light now encased in main body.
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 5:

Comments:
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 6:

Comments: Machine Badge
Source: GB's Roving Sony

Direct Link
IMG Code