Hello all,
New guy here but only because I'm looking for a good place to hang out and talk Bridgeport Mills and share interests. I am a hobby machinist, barely... and still learning all the time. I typically bite off more than I can chew but it always makes for a good learning experience and unique results.
Anyways, I'm here to share my recent barn find / rescue.
Its a 1943 Bridgeport Round Ram M-Head. The tags on it have allowed me to trace it back to being used as a pattern makers machine at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during WWII. From there it ended up in the Shenandoah Valley, then back in Richmond, and now back a mere 15 miles from the same shipyard it was originally delivered to.
I purchased the machine from a guy in Richmond and he knew it needed work and actually had never used it. So far I have replaced the lead screw nuts in the X and Y, cleaned up the ways and gibs, etc. I have a new motor on order because when I heard this one run in his 3 phase shop it had a very notable bearing squeak. I only have single phase so its getting a 1 hp inverter rated motor with the appropriate VFD and potentiometer controls, so long as I can get it all wired up correctly. I plan on making my own mount for the C frame motor and also extending the motor shaft to the correct length because I believe the early Bridgeports used a longer motor shaft.
Also I am adding a DRO setup that I've been tinkering with some using a cheap set of scales and also, as blasphemous as it is, installing an import type power cross feed. I know its a WWII machine and its a Taiwanese Power Feed, but... oh well. The parts its making are to work on my old '42 Dodge Truck.
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156267-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156270-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156272-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
I'll keep updating as I go along with the motor swap, DRO, etc.
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151684-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151685-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151686-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151687-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151688-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151689-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152647-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152651-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152653-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154227-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154229-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154231-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154933-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154936-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154938-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
New guy here but only because I'm looking for a good place to hang out and talk Bridgeport Mills and share interests. I am a hobby machinist, barely... and still learning all the time. I typically bite off more than I can chew but it always makes for a good learning experience and unique results.
Anyways, I'm here to share my recent barn find / rescue.
Its a 1943 Bridgeport Round Ram M-Head. The tags on it have allowed me to trace it back to being used as a pattern makers machine at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during WWII. From there it ended up in the Shenandoah Valley, then back in Richmond, and now back a mere 15 miles from the same shipyard it was originally delivered to.
I purchased the machine from a guy in Richmond and he knew it needed work and actually had never used it. So far I have replaced the lead screw nuts in the X and Y, cleaned up the ways and gibs, etc. I have a new motor on order because when I heard this one run in his 3 phase shop it had a very notable bearing squeak. I only have single phase so its getting a 1 hp inverter rated motor with the appropriate VFD and potentiometer controls, so long as I can get it all wired up correctly. I plan on making my own mount for the C frame motor and also extending the motor shaft to the correct length because I believe the early Bridgeports used a longer motor shaft.
Also I am adding a DRO setup that I've been tinkering with some using a cheap set of scales and also, as blasphemous as it is, installing an import type power cross feed. I know its a WWII machine and its a Taiwanese Power Feed, but... oh well. The parts its making are to work on my old '42 Dodge Truck.
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156267-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156270-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/156/156272-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
I'll keep updating as I go along with the motor swap, DRO, etc.
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151684-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151685-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151686-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151687-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151688-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/151/151689-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152647-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152651-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/152/152653-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154227-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154229-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154231-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)
![IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg IMG_20151206_131716_zpsztmaue0m.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154933-fce1a7180d52dd2f9f01d1f1ef870570.jpg)
![IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg IMG_20151227_182757_zpsejb394sb.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154936-287e803ca2c2f6d3d15c35c5afb59db8.jpg)
![IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg IMG_20160106_213040129_zps1cpgbvoq.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/154/154938-bdb4f1953075c72e6d5a3ff610cc4066.jpg)