t wrote:
Thanks to Jim Wilkins, I have been able to identify the mysterious "key
cutter".

It is the third pic, on the site Jim pointed out.

www.lathes.co.uk/benchmaster/index.html

according to the handyman who stopped by the other day, all the bearings
seem to be very sound.

now for my original question:

is there any value in this machine?

there are two options:

one, i get to get my first machine for a soon to be budding metal shop,
as i have most of the wood tools i need.

two, i help the widow sell it.

if the value is too high, then selling is my option.

i'll be posting pics soon.

Cus
If it's the same as the third picture referenced, it' sjust a standard
Benchmaster horizontal milling machne with the overarm support fitted
(it's removeble). It's a very nice, if small and simple, horizontal
milling machine. It's as good as any other in it's size and weight
range, though it lacks refinements like power feed and backgear.

Beware that many of these were used in light production settings, as
'second operation' machines, and had rack and pinion feeds. Such are not
nearly as useful for most home shop purposes.

The same basic machien ws offered as a vertical mill, and it was about a
half hour job to convert from Hor. to Vert. if you had ALL the parts.

I have one bought as a vertical, and since converted to a horizontal
with a mix of Benchmaster and self-made parts. It's only shortcomming as
a vertical is the lack of a quill downfeed. While that can be a bother,
it's really not terribly limiting in what you can do with it. I
converted mine to a horizontal simply because I got a larger and better
vertical mill.

Dan Mitchell
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Dan Mitchell
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Dan Mitchell
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