Index Head Identification - Question B&S?

[bcall2043]

I bought this index head some time ago with the plan to maybe cut a gear for my lathe that had been broken before I got it and repaired with screws in the missing tooth gap. The gentleman that I purchased the index head from said that it was a Brown and Sharpe and I have been told that by others but cannot find any manufacturer’s marks on it anywhere. It only came with one index plate and no gears. I was able to find a center that fits it, a B&S #10. I’m thinking that I may have to make some plates to round out the capabilities of this little jewel.


I found the illustration below of a B&S mill with an index head built with the “slotted wings” like mine but it seems to be opposite handed.


The question: Is this a Brown & Sharpe or some other brand?

Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes

 

[bcall2043]

Did some more digging on the net and found some better illustrations of the B&S index head with the “wings” in an old B&S book. Looks almost exactly like mine except for a couple of fasteners and it opposite handed.


Rear & Side View


Rear/Gearend View


Index Plate Hole Info

If no one has seen one like this I may just have to put on the project list to see if I can take it apart and put it back opposite handed.

Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes

 

[Old Iron]

Benny I have a #2 Brown & Sharpe and mine is setup the same as yours.

They were meant to be driven off the right end Of the table.

Paul

 

[bcall2043]

Benny I have a #2 Brown & Sharpe and mine is setup the same as yours.

They were meant to be driven off the right end Of the table.

Paul

Paul, thanks for the reply. I would like to see photos of your index head. I like the old machine tools!

I just looked and my Brown & Sharpe #1D milling machine and there is a large hand wheel on the right end of the table with no apparent why to attach a gear drive. The left end of the table has a more conventional balanced crank handle with what looks like a shoulder to mount a gear however there is no gear mounted. Something else I will have to come up with since I got no gears or brackets with my index head! It is predicted to get into the 60's here this afternoon and I will get some pictures of my #1D table screw configuration and post them. Right now I need to run an errand for the wife.


Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes

 

[Old Iron]

Re: Index Head Identification - Question B&S?

Heres a few pictures, The reason I said the right side is because my B&S Horizontal drives off the right side.

Paul

- - - Updated - - -

I want to get a chuck for mine and I think the spendle thread is 2 1/4 x 4.

Paul

 

[bcall2043]

Paul,

Thanks for posting the photos of your index head. I probably have my terminology messed up but I call you index head a trunnion mount. It sets on the round protrusions near the center of rotation. I described the one I have “with wings or winged” because of the slotted fin things that the locking bolts slide in. The pivot is about the worm shaft drive.

Below are the photos of the table feed screw at each end of the B&S #1D universal mill that I have. The first one shows the right hand end with a wheel type crank and no apparent place for a gear. The second photo shows the left hand end with what I call a balanced crank handle. It has a necked down area between the handle and the table. There is a drive key between the shoulders but no gear. I assume that is where the drive would be taken off of the feed screw. However the index head that I was told is a B&S seems to be made or assembled backwards. Thus my questioning if it is a B&S or some other type. Also the old books that I have found showing the Brown & Sharpe “winged” index head seem to show it mounting and driven at the left hand end. With no manufacturer’s markings one can only wonder what I have!




Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes

 

[Old Iron]

My B&S #2 universal drives the head from the right end of the table, But mine was built in the 40s.

Paul

 

[bcall2043]

My B&S #2 universal drives the head from the right end of the table, But mine was built in the 40s.

Paul

I suspect mine was built much earlier. I have not been able to find anything about the 1D model and the last patent date listed on the machine as 1907.


I may get on the Brown & Shape forum and see what I can find out.

Sorry about the nasty photo. It was taken when I first found the mill. It was stored in a building up north of Bangor Maine. It was a nice trip to adopt the mill and get it back to Tennessee.

Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes

 

[Old Iron]

Benny I don't think there is a serial number list on these mills any where they were guessing when they told me around the middle of the forty's. I'm Prolly going to let mine go I really don't need it now that I have the K & T Milwaukee it is a universal also. And it needs more work than I want to put in it.

Paul