High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools

[old kodger]

I see that it's nearly time for morning tea.

[tedg53]

Any idea which plant is shown in the picture?
I live in Pottstown, PA, there used to be a Bethlehem Steel plant here where pieces for the Golden Gate Bridge were fabricated.

[Jon]

Boring mill. Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company. July, 1904.

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[Isambard]

That's a Betts Horizontal Boring Machine. Betts Machine Co. of Wilmington, Del.
It looks like Manning, Maxwell & Moore supplied it.

[Toolmaker51]

re post * 642;
Boring mill yes, but quite small. In this photo, not set up for boring, that is a 'trip wheel facing head' mounted on the spindle. The 3 pronged "T" is tripped into partial rotation as it swings arc, turning the lead screw, barely visible inside the base [looks like a drill press vise].
The machine itself is larger yet, this housing is mounted on a accessory table to provide X axis across spindle. farther down is driving end of a Morse Taper line boring rig; and isn't that the planer in the background from several posts back?



Here is a larger model from Giddings & Lewis, fits a 3" boring mill. 5-star and 1/2-13 thread lead screw; results in 0.0153 per revolution from 0.0769 thread pitch/ 5. Changing lead screw alters pitch, after consideration of part size, tool bit radius [or form], material and rigidity of setup. The tool block holds a conventional square bit, presenting it right or left hand, or angular position for shoulder or undercut. That's when attention level has to be 101%, stopping rotation properly, compared with unobstructed facing work.

PS, edit. Looking at the post, it struck me what's transpired historically; between that tool, almost 100 years old, and taking it's picture with a telephone....

[Isambard]

Not wishing to be pedantic, but Betts like others called it a boring machine,
the term boring mill relating to those of the vertical persuasion...

BTW Did anyone pickup on the dog's breakfast of the work-piece setup?

[marksbug]

yup the telephone brings a little perspective to Eveolution.

[hemmjo]

I had to look up "pedantic". I try to learn something new every day. I always do visiting here.

[Jon]

Mesta bar mill.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...l_fullsize.jpg

[Jon]

10,000-ton forging press. Homestead Steel Works. 1890s.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...s_fullsize.jpg