VN VAN NORMAN no 24MLA-1512-259

BROCKWOOD

H-M Supporter - Gold Member
H-M Supporter Gold Member
Joined
May 26, 2017
Messages
954
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Really, any experience & pics of any Van Norman no 22 thru 38 is welcome. I like to document things that are of interest. If you discount the dealer that sold mine to the L.A. College Physics Department back in 59 & the dealer that collected it once retired (to make room for more modern equipment): Then I am the 2nd owner. Though excruciatingly slow - given a demanding job that feeds a family of 3 generations (or so it seems at times), a rock n roll band & the luthier, electrical & electronic work I do on demand: I wish to document this very well preserved machine. I'm a car guy at heart - yet my old MoPars must wait until I can afford to reassemble the 5000 sq ft shop I have in pieces. OK, enough of dreams & plans, well the plans are for another story anyway. Seems Kearney & Trecker have the greatest following of USA Mills that are a step above Bridgeport (in terms of rigidity & centralized motors) & Cincinnati has the largest (that a casual observer will find); but the Van Norman that I found (when comparing price, weight, ability) kept on winning out for the needs I thought right for me.
As advertised is above. Fitting into the garage:
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Sorting the drawbars:
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Fitting the overarm supports:
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Next installment tomorrow!
 
That is a manly mill for sure, and appears to be in very good condition...
 
That looks like the cleanest VanNorman that I've ever seen photos of, like it just was shipped in from the manufacturer. You found a great one!
congratulations
 
The Pendant Arm somehow got bent along the way. It just looks droopy in this 1st pic - but I
knew I wanted to straighten it.

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Thick wall electrical conduit is not straightened easily. I took my time with a torch & a vise.

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My main focus with this machine has been making a proper drawbar that fits like a glove.
But getting the overarm straight, going through the electrical system with great focus on
why the sump was disconnected still matter to me. My big delay at the moment is the age
old need a tool to make a tool conundrum. I bought a BXA QCTP for my lathe & well... It's
too big. Modify, modify, modify. All I needed was an eighth shaved off the bottom of the
tool holders to make it work - but my mini mill wasn't up to the task (even in small cuts).
So, I set up for my belt sander to do the work while I moved forward with other aspects of
the job.

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Of course the controls need to be inspected. Cutler Hammer Machine Controls are rock solid!

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I added grease to the cork seals for the pendant start & stop contacts to help them swell
back up to size, but added junk mail credit card plastic as spacers to get a solid mount
for them. These kinda put my mark on this machine as there is a name on the junk cards.

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Here, the Master Switch is lowered & the contacts burnished. These multifunction /
multi contact switches from GE are awesome & built to stand the test of time. They
were heavily used in the electric power & many other industries. I've collected several
as they were retired & hope to use them as light switches in the shop I plan to build. I
should also add the cool factor that waxed string was the way to collect the wires into
a harness before zip ties were invented.

As for the drawbar: Progress (prior to the QCTP setback) includes excellent bushing
fit, 1" x 8 tpi, 5/8 x 11 tpi & decent wrench fit. Just gotta get the tool holders dialed in
on the QCTP to get these 2 parts mated together.

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Guess who supplied electrical conduit to Van Norman in 1959? The building I took apart to one day resurrect into my shop was built in 59 & I've never seen this type of label on conduit. Plan was to knock off rust & paint - might have to find a way to highlight this though!
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Well, I picked 'Winter Grey" for my paint choice & it is a lighter shade of grey than stock. It will do for a few ancillaries for now.
Here is the pendant arm swing limiter ready to install & looking a little bright to be a match. Pendant parts & manual handles will get this color for now.
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Thanks Bob! I will be on the lookout for smoke gray.
As is, doesn't look bad & gets the job done.
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The handles were also painted winter gray.
Next is going through the wiring & sump.
 
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