Old Brown & Sharpe 10" dividing head

OldMachinist

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Rest In Peace
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Mar 1, 2012
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I picked up this universal dividing head last week. I torn it down and cleaned out the decades of grime that was inside it. Put it back together, adjusted the worm and spindle properly now it spins smooth as silk, with no backlash.
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The quick index plate on the spindle is cracked and has been somewhat repaired in the past. I'm going to try brazing the cracks and see how it looks. If it doesn't work out I'll make a new one.

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It originally had little pop up oilers, two were missing and I damaged the other one knocking it out. So I'm going make new ones.

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I need to find a couple of acessories for it.
Tailstock
#10 Brown & Sharpe dead center
Chuck mounting plate 2 1/4"-4 1/2 threads per inch

I pretty sure I'll have to make the chuck plate because I haven seen anything in that old spindle thread size in years. But if someone has one laying around let me know.

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Paul
Nice score.
I was looking at a universal dividing head this week. The thing has a bunch of change gears D-1 chuck mount, and all the goodies. Though, it appears loaded with all the optional parts, I think Id grow old trying to figure out how to use it. Still undecided yet.

Just wondering, what yours set you back, if you dont mind me asking?

 
I paid $200 for it with only the 2 index plates.

If all you're planning on doing is some easy indexing you don't need all the change gears and arms. If you have a machine that you can gear it to the table lead screw then you could do spiral milling but like you said that will take some figuring out. I was just looking for something to make a occasional gear and this one came up in my price range.
 
$550 is a good price for all of that if he has the 100 plus page manual that tells you how to use it.
 
Dividing heads are such a big deal that Shop Theory, the textbook for the Henry Ford Trade School devoted more content to it than to any other single topic. The site software doesn't like big files, so it's in five sections. Try to stay awake.

View attachment Dividing Head Part 2.pdf
View attachment Dividing Head Part 1.pdf
View attachment Dividing Head Part 3.pdf
View attachment Dividing Head Part 4.pdf
View attachment Dividing Head Part 5.pdf

You'll notice that the Attachment Manager decided to change the order of the files.
 
Dividing heads are such a big deal that Shop Theory, the textbook for the Henry Ford Trade School devoted more content to it than to any other single topic...............

That is a great set of books! I found a set in a used book store under "Automobiles". I guess the word "Ford" was all the store person understood.:lmao:

Benny
The Orphanage Never Closes
 
$550 is a good price for all of that if he has the 100 plus page manual that tells you how to use it.

I know, I thought it wasnt dirt cheap, but for the complete setup as in the pics, it wasnt to bad. A few things are stopping me though. The first thing, he claims it isnt a US built setup. It is apparently made in Tiawan. The second thing is, he has no manual for the dividing head.


With out a manual, how do I really know if its 100 percent complete as claimed. If the manual was available, I could atleast verfiy everthing is there. He cant give me any more infro other than where it was made, but not by whom. Kind of a bummer.

What would you do? take a chance, or skip it. and keep looking else where?
 
I made a faceplate/chuck adapter plate for a B & S dividing head I had years ago. You have to counterbore and "blunt start" the thread for almost 3/8" in to get it to thread on the spindle properly. That 4-1/2 pitch thread was a trick to do on a 9" SBL! I no longer have the dividing head but still have or had the dead center that went to it. I'll do some looking and see if I can find it for you.
 
I know, I thought it wasnt dirt cheap, but for the complete setup as in the pics, it wasnt to bad. A few things are stopping me though. The first thing, he claims it isnt a US built setup. It is apparently made in Tiawan. The second thing is, he has no manual for the dividing head.


With out a manual, how do I really know if its 100 percent complete as claimed. If the manual was available, I could atleast verfiy everthing is there. He cant give me any more infro other than where it was made, but not by whom. Kind of a bummer.

What would you do? take a chance, or skip it. and keep looking else where?

It looks like everthing is there. There are 12 gears in the gear set which is the right number. I'd have to do some searching to see what the tooth counts should be. The info that Hawkeye posted should apply and there is info in the Machinery handbook.
If I had the cash I'd go for it.
 
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