[Newbie] Trying to find info on this new to me vertical mill

S

splitshottin

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Hello all, new here on the forum since now I have questions to ask. I recently picked up this vertical mill for a great price and now in the process of cleaning it up. It has no name plates or castings that I can find. All I've found is 177 stamped on the knee as well as the ways. The head also has C.C. stamped under the gear cover. it has an old 1hp Brook Ac Induction Motor, which says Made in England, that is mounted on the back connected to an old Furnas switch for forward and reverse. It has a Brown & Sharpe #10 taper as well.

I am trying to find anything about this machine so anything will be greatly appreciated. Luckily it came some attachments so I can at least use if for something once I get it operational.

Thank you very much.

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Nice looking old mill,I cannot ID what make it is but if you look at Tony’s UK site you should find out what is the mfg. Good luck,let us know who made it?
 
That's a tuff one , reminds me a bit of some old index mills. Either way she's a beauty for sure. Looks very capable of doing tons of machining jobs. Good luck with her. And welcome to the site.
 
Never seen one like it- curious to know what make it is - looks nicely made and strong
Mark
 
I will second that it is an Index mill, guessing a model 40. That's what I have, and the head is certainly different (B&S #9). You might be able to contact Wells-Index with the #, they could even tell you who purchased it and when. I just finished putting a DRO on mine, love the thing!
 
#10 B&S - Oh Gads...
Gotta love the standards they used.
Different in that the 'Z' Handle is similar to Index's but's it's on the right hand side...
 
@splitshottin ,

Beautiful old mill! Not everyone sees the potential in this type of old equipment.

I started at Tony's site (http://www.lathes.co.uk/) at the Index page (http://www.lathes.co.uk/index/)based on comments from @Silverbullet and @yarrrrr above.

yarrrr's comment about the "type 40" made me follow the "Blank and Buxton" link on that page, which leads to here:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/blankbuxton/

....and that is _VERY_ close.....
A few differences I notice are; the main casting on yours is rectangular, where the "Blank Buxton" seems to taper smaller at the top, the spindle casting on yours looks much bigger (diameter and height), and yours seems to have a "box" base, where the "Blank Buxton" is flat.

I'll keep poking around over there.
-brino

EDIT: the motor mount is also very different, your motor is mounted on a plate that's on the back end of the shaft thru the head.
 
okay,

it's NOT the Columbia: http://www.lathes.co.uk/columbia/

But it sure looks like the Zenith: http://www.lathes.co.uk/zenith/
I think that's it!

the vertical dovetails look identical
the rotating bar thru the head for the motor mount looks identical
the cast splines on the motor mounting plate are very similar, your plate is bigger
it agrees with the #10 B&S spindle taper
even the "louvres" on the box base look right.

-brino

EDIT: the most noticeable differences I see are:
1) what I believe is the spindle lock handle. The Zenith mill on Tony's site has the lock handle towards the front of the spindle column. On yours, that handle is in the middle of spindle column.

2) The one on Tony's site has the name "Zenith" right in the casting. Yours seems to be missing a plate that had the manufacturers name.
 
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