Couldn't let it go...

[Doug-Iowa]

to the scrapper. This P&W shaper was in a buddy's shop when he passed away several years ago. When his place cleaned out it moved to another guy's shed for a few years, now he needs the room and it needed a place to go. 1910 vintage I think, still researching. I just have a soft spot for those old machines.

I wonder if that brass tag indicates it was once Rock Island Arsenal property? That would be cool. Ill do some searching on it and get it running, then put it in the shop somewhere.

 

[Steve in VA]

That looks nice. I suffer from the same malady of rescuing old machines. Looking forward to progress reports.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

During the war nearly all machinery was tagged so the government would know where it was in case it was needed for the war. Still a lot of it around. I worked in a machine shop over 50 years ago and nearly every piece of machinery still had the government tag on it.

 

[JF in MI]

>I suffer from the same malady of rescuing old machines<

You and me both.

 

[Janicholson]

I like shapers. They do certain tasks easily and are a delight to use. that one looks solid! Jim

 

[Ultradog MN]

Great old piece of iron.
Glad you saved it.
1910?
I suppose it originally driven off a line shaft.
It looks like someone grafted an automobile transmission onto it. If so, that would make it more useable.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Wartime machines had a War Production Board tag on them. That may only be an asset tag from whatever company originally had it. I spent a lot of hours running shapers as a die maker. Hard to beat for tooling cost but management doesn't seem to like them. Last shop I worked in had a 24 and 36 Cincinnati and a smaller Hendy and they got rid of all of them.

 

[4wdtom]

Well worth saving, and you can do a lot of work with one, some things that no other machine can do such as internal keyways and splines. Keep us informed as to the progress you make with it!

 

[PJH]

I would love to have a shaper. Good that you saved it!

 

[wp6529]

(quoted from post at 09:25:05 11/26/22) Well worth saving, and you can do a lot of work with one, some things that no other machine can do such as internal keyways and splines. Keep us informed as to the progress you make with it!

The "E" shaper / slotter head on a Bridgeport can do those tasks and take up less shop space for those of us with hopelessly inadequate shop space.

 

[drsportster]

Very cool I have an Atlas. Comes in very handy.

 

[4wdtom]

Also the tool used in a shaper is the same square stock used in a lathe, can be bought for a few dollars and reground many times, or found at a swap meet or flea market for pennies.