My Gouldand Eberhardt “G&E” 16 inch Shaper

[OldCarGuy]

A Cincinnati 24” shaper was the first machine I learned to run as achild over 65 years ago. For nostalgic reasons alone and for years I've yearned to have one in my garage shop. Maybe an Atlas or South Bend7” model. But I wasn't about to shell out the huge prices being asked, being that it's really a toy. Then 16 years ago I received a message about a University that was parting with their 16” G&E for a mere $500.00 donation to the school. Sight unseen and cash in hand, I left with my flatbed trailer on a 1,500 mile journey to pick it up.

Look what else came along for the ride! An old Allen 16" power tapper/drill press.

My G&E has a tag indicating it was originally owned by the Department of the Navy. Additionally the seller said it was recovered from WWII naval war ship. However the serial number indicates it was manufactured in 1943. Making it the latter part of the war..

You will not find many shapers in today's modern machine shops because of their inefficiency. But they are more common in many smaller shops and or home hobbyists. Who recognize their worth from a low up front investment and a five dollar high-speed tool bit can remove a ton of steel. Readily making blue chips from tool steel. Set the tool, go to other work. When the clapper stops, you know it's finish. More often than not I use the shaper's 15” wide vise for bending steel, or firmly holding a part that I'm working on..
Holding an old 1914 Cadillac engine jug to remove head from cylinder using my 1" impact wrench.

 

[machPete99]

Wow, thats a beast!

 

[woodchucker]

the nice thing about the shaper (bigguns) is that they can be used as a key slotter. Not as nice as a dedicated one, but it will do most jobs. I don't own a shaper, nor many machines, but I like them, they may not be as efficient, but they are quiet by comparison, and they leave a nice finish.

 

[projectnut]

Like you my first introduction to machine tools was the shaper. When I was going to school at WSU Platteville back in the 1960's there was a huge machine shop in one of the buildings for those looking to become "Industrial Arts" teachers. Just inside the door was a huge shaper. I don't know the brand, model or size, but it was a monster that could throw half inch chips across the room.

Needless to say, I was impressed, but on a different career course. Many years later I was offered a Leuter & Gueis 16" model, but it was too large to get into the shop. When the Badger Army Ammunition Plant closed in Baraboo WI, I was able to get a 7" AAMCO. It gets used a few times a month, and definitely a piece of history.

The interesting point is at the time they almost couldn't give shapers away. It was one of the first lots up for action and didn't get a single bid. They took it back, bundled it with a dividing head and a few other tools, and brought it back out near the end of the auction. Everything on the pallet went for $175.00. While it isn't as pretty as your G&E it still gets the job done.

EDIT: The price for the shaper, dividing head and tooling was $175.00 not $1750.00

 

[GeneT45]

My 16" Cinci also has a Navy tag on it. Purchased in 1943 for the princely sum of $3113. I didn't get a 'real' shaper vise with mine though...

GsT

 

[talvare]

That G&E is a beautiful machine.

I have one of the 7" AAMCO shapers but rarely use it. It seems that almost every time I think of a job that I could do on the shaper, I realize that I can do it on the mill with a lot less time and effort. I wish I had more shaper specific tasks because the machine is just fun to use.

Ted

 

[Ultradog MN]

Very, very nice!
I still like shapers.
Was a machinist in the Navy and ran one on my first ship. Planed quite a few 471 Detroit diesel heads plus other jobs. The one we had was about a 3 or 4 ton monster. 30 or maybe 36" stroke. Looked like a big fat Buddha.
I bought a 7" South Bend shaper a few years ago. Cleaned, fixed and dolled it all up and then it just sat there for a year.
So I hauled it to a local auction house and sold it for an embarrassingly high price.
Yours is a far more useable size.
I would like one to take the oxy/acet slag off of pieces I torch cut.
Thanks for posting the vid.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Taking it on the word of the previous owner. I was told my shaper came of a WWII battleship. But in the back of my mind didn't make sense to have a 4,500 pound machine for shaving a bit of steel off something. So working on a 4 ton monster indicates might be more behind their story.. In any event,, Thank you for your service.

 

[NCjeeper]

Nice score for 500 bucks. Mine is a year earlier than yours.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Taking it on the word of the previous owner. I was told my shaper came of a WWII battleship. But in the back of my mind didn't make sense to have a 4,500 pound machine for shaving a bit of steel off something. So working on a 4 ton monster indicates might be more behind their story.. In any event,, Thank you for your service.

Thanks.
If you can find the serial number stamped into it somewhere look next to that for a small anchor stamped there. Most Navy machines I've seen had an anchor as a sign of the Navy's acceptance of the machine.
PS, 4 tons is a paltry sum for a ship to carry around.
Both of the ships I was on weighed in at around 10,000 tons = relatively small.
A battleship like the USS Missouri weighs nearly 60,000 tons.
Kinda hard to get your head around that much steel aint it?