I viewed it today, it's a long story as it's 3am here now (went to see a mate on the way home)
First it was a cupper and a good chat. I think I was being sussed out before proceeding.......fair enough.....
And the reason why....
I saw a LOT of machines, a museums worth....this guy has some collection and is clearly not a dealer as most are set up for production and the rest well preseved for longer term storage...!!
And I got to drive a train....yep...that's right a train.....on a lot of track too, it was huge....
I had a really good day today with loads of fun......
Oh, the Beaver, I bought it but it won't be coming here for a mth or so.....John S....you're not wrong mate, it's got roughly about the same footprint of the Bridgeport but at the same time the Briggy looks spindly in comparison, not that you could seriously call a briggy spindly !!!.....we have a saying here.....built like a.........house....
It needs a couple of minor repairs, nothing that should present any difficulty.. the ways look spot on to me, no sign of any wear that I could find anywhere, no backlash, no play and all the machines not on use were very heavily greased up.
The sheard pin is external and a simple fix, the powered downfeed feels like a spring needs replacing. It works put you need to hold the actuator lever in. Simple small cover to remove to get inside the workings.
Spindle speed change is easy and low gear ratios are by a backgear that puts the spindle into reverse but it needs a main motor reversing switch replacement. Nothing difficult.
Slow and high speed transverse are by two separate motors at either end of the bed, the switch on the high needs looking at. It just looks like dirty contacts to me.
Bed has a couple of very small dings, certainly nothing to wory about. The rest is in very good nick.
He gave me the price over the phone yesterday, I agreed to it today and he said is that it ?........I looked bemused at him....."well barter with me then"
So I got it for a pittance, he was almost giving it away......!!
Really, really, nice chap, I spent hours there between oggling at all the machines and playing at engine driving...
, all industry standard machinery...about 10 big millers, maybe 30 lathes, a whole hoard of pillar drills of all shapes and sizes, I guess about 8 of them that I could see, two shapers, one small and one large, two large cylindrical grinders, surface grinders, tool cutter grinder, and a whole load more piled high at the back that I just couldn't see properly.
One lathe must have been at least four tons, most around 2-3 tons each and a very nice Smart and Brown
And none of it for sale, I asked about a couple of items and I got a firm no....he just collects them by what I could tell.
I thought I had problems.....
Been invited back with the family to a BBQ where people from all over bring their trains to run on his track, he said I should meet some friendly locals at the same time....
The track was very interesting, he's been using his JCB to dig the track ways and I really enjoyed the ride as he has made it very interesting. Bridges, tunnels currently being built, lots of points, quite a large pond and lots of tress and shrubery. I can't remember how long he said the track was, but I wouldn't want to walk it !!
Fantastic day out.....
