Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

Originally Posted by Nuts

I'm horrified, nay even appalled.

This was at the bottom of page two!!!

Keep up the good work Chris and Thomas


Nuts

OK, I just got home today and saw this and...........I'm mystified as to what you might be referring to??

Thomas

[LPete3]

Thomas,

I think what Nuts is referring to is that there were no posts since April 12, so the thread had slid all the way down to the bottom of the second page of the gallery. I'm not sure this has ever happened before.

Your attention to the details is top notch. Looking forward to see what the next treasure is that you post.

Lynn

[Nuts]

Originally Posted by BB767

OK, I just got home today and saw this and...........I'm mystified as to what you might be referring to??

Thomas

Originally Posted by LPete3

Thomas,

I think what Nuts is referring to is that there were no posts since April 12, so the thread had slid all the way down to the bottom of the second page of the gallery. I'm not sure this has ever happened before.

Your attention to the details is top notch. Looking forward to see what the next treasure is that you post.

Lynn

Yup, what he said ^^^^^^^^

My somewhat warped sense of humor strikes again.


Nuts

[BB767]

Originally Posted by Nuts

Yup, what he said ^^^^^^^^

My somewhat warped sense of humor strikes again.


Nuts

Actually I like your warped sense of humor. But I would never have figured that one out. Bottom of page 2 has never happen before huh? I'll have to see what I can do about that.

OK, I promise to get something on here tonight, promise. I spent most of the day in the shop plus I do have a backlog of other material. Thanks everyone for being so patient with me.

Thomas

[slimpickins]

Thread is almost up to 3/4 million views. I give it another month or two before it passes the bunker garage! ... on its way to a million views?

You're famous Thomas!

[BB767]

I spent a few hours doing some lathe work.



The lathe normally lays under a cover to keep it clean. It is a precise machine and I want to prevent fine grit from grinding and such around the shop from getting onto the various components and wearing them unnecessarily. Note the dehumidifier in the lower right.



This was my Dad's lathe, a SouthBend which he bought new in 1948 I believe. He made the bench it is sitting on. The 3 Kennedy machinist tool boxes are ones I bought "preowned" 25 years or so ago from two separate owners and then reconditioned them. A couple needed to be "de-rusted" and some of the drawer slides needed tweaking or replacing, the boxes were missing some hardware and needed paint touch ups. Kennedy makes paint that has a crackle finish just like the original factory paint. It's hard to tell where it's been repainted I am happy to report.





As you'll recall this is what the original shop SouthBend lathe looked like by the time I bought the property. It's almost identical in age as Dad's and is the same model and size.



With so much bare, unprotected metal it's important to keep the humidity in the shop low. I like it under 40%, 30% is even better. Also a light coating of oil on the bare metal when done is helpful. This machine is 63 years old. A little care goes a long, long way.



This is the front axle from the Walker floor jack.



I used the lathe to spin it while polishing which was so much easier and faster. Note the cardboard I put behind the lathe work to catch the material flung off the lathe while polishing. I used WD 40 and various grits of emery cloth, 180, 220 and 400. Most of the time I used 220 or 400.



The right side has been done, the left is untouched as yet.



The axles are slightly worn as you can see from the light under the square but not enough to do anything about at this time. The front wheels have needle bearings so it's not noticeable when reassembled and if they are kept well lubricated (grease from a grease zirk) they will last for many, many years to come.



This is the handle pivot pin. Right side completed as compared to the unsightly , left side.



All done. The idea is to clean these pieces up "somewhat" I don't want to remove too much material and create too large a clearance. Just a light polish.



The ram attachment pin done.





The lifting arm pivot. That's mostly old hard grease and not rust so no pitting resulted, thankfully.



Before...



...after.



The hole the pins fits in needs to be polished as well. That is much more time consuming but will look like the surface of the pin when done.

More is on the way. Thanks again for all your interest and patience.

Thomas

[BB767]

Originally Posted by LPete3

Thomas,

I think what Nuts is referring to is that there were no posts since April 12, so the thread had slid all the way down to the bottom of the second page of the gallery. I'm not sure this has ever happened before.

Your attention to the details is top notch. Looking forward to see what the next treasure is that you post.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn for the input. It's all in the details isn't it?

It's getting to be fall down there; do you get rain like they do in Brazil in the fall? Did I mention we fly into Lima? That's a flight I haven't done but never say never. I'll give ample warning if I do.

Thomas

[ZRX61]

Just seen one of those Erco(?) air meter thingiemagummers on American Restorations

[BB767]

Originally Posted by slimpickins

Thread is almost up to 3/4 million views. I give it another month or two before it passes the bunker garage! ... on its way to a million views?

You're famous Thomas!

Who'da thought there were so many people as quirky as me? Initially I really just figured I'd put a few before and after pictures on here and be my way. But noooooooo, back by popular demand.

Oh, about that famous thingy you mentioned. Why Oprah and I could be buds, you know- really tight. She's in Chicago see, just up the road from us here in the "Center of The Universe". David Letterman would be calling me up to "do lunch" since I'm in New York so often and Jay, why we're practically joined at the hips. I just can't understand why he hasn't called ........I mean he's a car guy, I'm a car guy, Badda-Bing Badda-Bang and he's hanging out at my shop checking out the Walkers and the Rotary Lift and I'm off driving some of his cool rides and doing his show, paparazzi digging though my trash, signing book and movie deals............... and then Chris said something to me to the effect of "only in your dreams buster!!!!!!"

Some dreams just die hard, ya know? I guess my 15 minutes of fame and glory has come and gone while I wasn't even looking.....

Has been Thomas

[BB767]

Originally Posted by ZRX61

Just seen one of those Erco(?) air meter thingiemagummers on American Restorations

Did they do it up right or just dress it up on the outside and leave all the screws unclocked??

The first ECO air meter was made around 1916 or 1917 by the Western Manufacturing Company, of Oskoloosa, Iowa. It appears that the first ECOs were actually called the Economy Air Meters. The name was then shortened to ECO and is pronounced EEEECO, not ECHO *

Thomas

*Curtsy Jack Sim, Petroliana Collectibles

[LPete3]

Your welcome, Thomas. Yes, the little things that take the most time is what makes the difference. It is easy to see that you don't mind going the extra mile to make sure things fit and work right. It takes more time in the beginning, but it is more efficient in the long run.

We are just starting into fall, the nights are starting to get colder, the days still have some sunshine and warmth, but that wont last long. Then it just stays gray and damp. We have lived down here for the last two and half years. We are getting ready to return to the States on May 9th. Both of our kids will be starting college and we have pretty much finished the orphanage, so we feel it is time to return and see what is in store for us next. As far as the rain goes, we are about 30 miles South of Lima in the desert so we only get about a 1/4 of an inch of rain a year and it is usually in a mist that lasts for weeks.

I wondered if you had flown to Lima. The last couple of times I listened for the pilots name, I didn't hear yours.

Carry on and keep up the good work!

Lynn

[BB767]

Originally Posted by LPete3

Your welcome, Thomas. Yes, the little things that take the most time is what makes the difference. It is easy to see that you don't mind going the extra mile to make sure things fit and work right. It takes more time in the beginning, but it is more efficient in the long run.

We are just starting into fall, the nights are starting to get colder, the days still have some sunshine and warmth, but that wont last long. Then it just stays gray and damp. We have lived down here for the last two and half years. We are getting ready to return to the States on May 9th. Both of our kids will be starting college and we have pretty much finished the orphanage, so we feel it is time to return and see what is in store for us next. As far as the rain goes, we are about 30 miles South of Lima in the desert so we only get about a 1/4 of an inch of rain a year and it is usually in a mist that lasts for weeks.

I wondered if you had flown to Lima. The last couple of times I listened for the pilots name, I didn't hear yours.

Carry on and keep up the good work!

Lynn

Wouldn't you be surprised if you heard it was me up front. You'd probably be telling all the passengers around you, "hey, I know that guy and he's certifiable nuts! Do you know he's got a trim plate in his shop that's crooked If he can't install that correctly how can he possibly fly this thing???

Seriously Lynn, if you ever are on one of my flights, please come to the cockpit as you're getting off and introduce yourself. Just tell the flight attendant you know me and they'll make sure you get up there.

Thomas

[Nuts]

Good thing I don't fly, there would be two nuts on the plane.

Very nice to see the old lathe put to use. Those old machines are a piece of art.


Nuts

[Kevin54]

Originally Posted by BB767

Did they do it up right or just dress it up on the outside and leave all the screws unclocked??

The first ECO air meter was made around 1916 or 1917 by the Western Manufacturing Company, of Oskoloosa, Iowa. It appears that the first ECOs were actually called the Economy Air Meters. The name was then shortened to ECO and is pronounced EEEECO, not ECHO *

Thomas

*Curtsy Jack Sim, Petroliana Collectibles

The show American Pickers just purchased one on one of the last few episodes but it was an Islander. They talked the woman down to something like $350


It looked like this one



Thomas....I'm looking forward to when the weather really starts getting nice so you can start really digging through the other stuff you haven't hit yet. It is just mind boggling of all the history that you have stored, restored, and not touched yet

BTW...beautiful SouthBend lathe. You are an inspiration to all. Not only do you restore it to like new condition, you use it as it is intended to be used. Truly working displays of art and history.

[MetalMangler]

ARGHHH!!! I've been lusting after a lathe for a while now, and with recent expenses I've been regretfully putting my search on the back burner... Then you just HAD to come along and show your B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L lathe and re-ignite my lathe fever!

Grrrr!


MM

[hobbitss]

Originally Posted by BB767

Some dreams just die hard, ya know? I guess my 15 minutes of fame and glory has come and gone while I wasn't even looking.....

Has been Thomas

Nope... Your's comes in 5 second increments... Lots more to go...

Tools!!!!

[ZRX61]

Gloves and emery strips on the lathe... bad juju....almost lost a thumbnail a couple of weeks back & that was without gloves...

[johno]

Originally Posted by ZRX61

Gloves and emery strips on the lathe... bad juju....almost lost a thumbnail a couple of weeks back & that was without gloves...

How so? Really.

[AFSilverado]

Wow I reached the end! What a great story you have told!

I was even able to run to the crappy little BX here at an "undisclosed location" in SWA and get the current issue of Car Craft.

Great story Thomas, keep up the hard work!

[ZRX61]

Originally Posted by johno

How so? Really.

If the lathe grabs the strip & you don't let go in time you won't be able to do this:
Luckily I let go just in time & my thumb bounced off the spinning lump of metal in the lathe...If I'd been wearing gloves it could have grabbed the glove & then torn my hand off..