Mystery old small horizontal milling machine

A machine I bought a few years ago on ebay from a chap in Wakefield. I have used it a few times, though it is still on a trolley on the floor. I made a table specially for it but haven't arranged heavy lifting help. I really should sort that out! The rats have been at my packing polystyrene...

Does anybody recognise the make and or model?

.

Sorry ... No ... But it does look well-proportioned with that substantial overarm.

On appearance alone, I would think it 'inspired by' the round-bed Drummond lathe.

MichaelG.

Hi Matt, it could be an early Centec **LINK** If not, it looks very similar.

Regards Nick,

Hi It looks early American to me, Pratt and Whitney maybe?

.

Well spotted, Nick

MichaelG.

The table with the enclosed end to the slot and the vertical handle for the z axis are characteristic.

Thank you gentlemen. Some interesting pointers with the odd family resemblence. Nothing yet that jumps out at me as "that's it!" yet though.

A clue - the start button, which you have to press and hold for a second or so for the motor to get going and then you can release it is marked with "STARTET". I don't know if that's a brand name or a foreign language word for start or power. It is not clear whether the switch is an original part or not. Certainly similar vintage. Start and stop button. I didn't photograph it as it was in too much shadow and I didn't have a light to move.

Matt

"Startet" is the trade name for the electrical switchgear, its found on many machines. So probably original.

Beware that they may contain asbestos as an insulator, but probably not enough to do any harm unless you snort it or blow the dust out.

Edited By Robbo on 19/09/2016 22:27:12

Hello Matt,

​I can't help you with the identity of the miller, but the Startet name, as Robbo says, was used on many machines in the past, in the days before the infinitely safer No Volt Release DOL starters became standard practice.

​The amount of asbestos contained within it is very small and is wrapped around bi-metallic strips, with the current carrying wiring wrapped around the sandwich so that they act as rather crude load limiting devices.

​The operational danger with them as starters is that once latched ON, incoming power failure does not trip them out and motors will restart unexpectedly when power is restored. The OFF operation has to be done by the manual push button, or gross overload. I would set it aside as a piece of history and use an up to date starter instead when you finalise the restoration. It should be an interesting project.

Regards
​Brian

Matt

Startet was a trade name of the Midlands Eleectric Manufacturing Co (MEM) of Birmingham started in the early 20th century. They made huge quantities of electric switchgear over the years but disappeared into the Delta Metal Co in 1971 and are now owned by the Eaton Corp of the USA.

I cannot comment of the safety or otherwise of the switch or asbestos contained therein but would hazard a guess that no one using your mill has been killed by either. More dangers in crossing the road methinks. Restore it and use it.

Atlas?

Atlas? Yes, again some family resemblances in images of older machines I can find on the 'net.

Asbestos and no no-volt reset. I think I will survive. But thanks for the warning. Awareness is key!

Hello again Matt,

​Since you have decided to use the starter fitted, it might pay you to clean the contacts inside; I imagine they will have oxidized over the years of inactivity.

​Switch construction is easy. Two screws release the cover and you will see the cluster of windings I described previously upright in front of you. Across that is a Bakelite bar with an adjuster on the left hand end to set the overload trip current.

​With a piece of fine emery cloth folded to give two abrasive faces, slide that between the contacts and latch the switch on with the Bakelite bar to apply pressure to the chosen contacts. Do this to each in turn.

You will notice that the underside of the OFF button terminates in a simple Bakelite cone to push the latching bar upwards to release and break the switch operation.

​That really is all the maintenance the switch needs and done at the time you rewire a supply and refresh the motor connections, it should perform happily for years to come.

Regards
​Brian

Thanks Brian,

It runs fine at the moment, but does lie inactive for months at a time. When I get it up off the floor and onto a table I will look at cleaning the switch contacts.

Cheers,

Matt.

Matt Can I suggest that you use sandpaper rather than emery for cleaning the contacts

Roy

Hi Roy,

I would certainly do that if you could explain to me (and others) the reason why. I would just have used whatever fine grit abrasive paper I had around - aluminium oxide or silicon carbide most likely, or even scotch-brite type plastic foam abrasive pads and some dedicated electrical contact cleaner.

What are the reasons not to use emery and to use sandpaper?

Thanks and regards,

Matt.

I'd be wary of using anything abrasive on a switch contact.

Much depends on what the contact is made of. Some contacts are faced with an anti-corrosion layer of un-reactive metal (like Platinum), which means they get dirty rather than corroded. As Emery paper is made to remove metal it's all easy to remove the protective layer and spoil the contact.

Other types of contact are much more robust but unless you know what's what I would try Switch Cleaner and gentle cleaning first.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 21/09/2016 11:57:34

If I remember correctly, the contacts in those old Startet units were simple stampings of springy copper or brass strip with a flash of silver plating. I am only talking about a stroke or two to brighten the surfaces, not serious metal removal. They were built to a price.

Brian

.

+1

Try Servisol

MichaelG.

Emery can become imbedded in a soft surface and act as a continous abrasive, whereas other grits "scratch" the surface clean,