History 1916 colburn video and it still runs and is in use.

I thought some of the machinery nuts on here might like this, This is a 1916 or somewhere around there, colburn vertical boring machine. I have yet to see another one running,let alone still in use. if there is I sure would like to see it. One head is still running and the other is for spare parts. this would have originally been powered by eithier a steam engine,a hit or miss gas engine, or off of an overhead belt from a factory ceiling. I still use this at work about once a year for a specific hardened steel boring job. It seems loud in the video,but once it's under load, the noise level is deafning. I didn't want to go to the trouble of setting up the coolant flow and have to clean it up for one part. next time i am boring with it,i will take video. Nothing sounds like an early twentith centure piece of old iron working. I've been working there eight years,and it was in sad shape when i started, I've got it pretty cleaned up,and the proper grease,oil etc. this thing is running on leather elevator belts. one thing i discovered,is when it says grease gears,they aren't kidding. this thing slings grease everywhere under load. I'm running lucas in it for the moment, but i think it originally used lard or some derivitive of it mixed with something else. The year listed on the nmachine is patented 1916 with another patent in 1915, thats all the info i have. it's pretty neat when running, I fixed the power feed, it won't stay in power feed unless it's under load, once it breaks through, a stop cam,that is set above the machine, pops the power feed handle out of engagement. then the quill returns on it's own.
heres the videohttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=316354064770721435&hl=en

 

thats cool, but here at Bobcat, where i work, there is a 1911 2000 Ton Press that is still in use. thousands of parts a day.

I guess it was bought fron the US Govt in the 50's and was in Melores original shop. Was purposely built i guess for the WW1 effort.

 

video
we have some really old presses like that,but OSHA decided they aren't safe enough to use. they are in excellent condition too.

 

this thing has a massive amount or torque from the flywheel that is driving the bit, I grenaded a one inch drill bit last year,not broke it, it literally exploded. machine never blinked. I am just grateful to be able to use some of this old machinery. a lot of people don't get to. we also have a bridgport from '28 and it's in use very day. old machines have souls from the generations of people who have used them .

 

that background music rules

 

i couldn't find anything from 1916 the closest i have is 1922. i usually use metal,but it just didn't seem to suit something this old.