I found my 1967 Series1 Vram Bridgeport in a pawn shop near Ann Arbor, Michigan. They wanted $1500, I talked them down to $900. The table, and quill and spindle moved freely, with about .012in backlash on both the X & Y axis. It was dirty and the clutch was missing some parts, and they didn't have 220V so I couldn't see it run, but being a Bridgeport I knew I could find parts.
Brought it home with an ancient machine moving trailer with a hand operated winch that an ex-shop teacher buddy had built. Put it in my heated garage (see pic below), put a VFD on it, and set about the minor repairs to the clutch and auto-downfeed.
Transplanted the DRO Pros from my HF mill/drill, and happily used it for several years, until I got the bug to have it restored as a retirement gift to myself. I discovered it was more economical to sell the BP and purchase a brand new Acer 3VS (see 2nd pic), so I sold the BP for nearly twice what I paid.
I'm still nostalgic for my old Bridgeport, nostalgic for my old mill/drill for that matter. But there's nothing like a brand new machine.
Brought it home with an ancient machine moving trailer with a hand operated winch that an ex-shop teacher buddy had built. Put it in my heated garage (see pic below), put a VFD on it, and set about the minor repairs to the clutch and auto-downfeed.
Transplanted the DRO Pros from my HF mill/drill, and happily used it for several years, until I got the bug to have it restored as a retirement gift to myself. I discovered it was more economical to sell the BP and purchase a brand new Acer 3VS (see 2nd pic), so I sold the BP for nearly twice what I paid.
I'm still nostalgic for my old Bridgeport, nostalgic for my old mill/drill for that matter. But there's nothing like a brand new machine.
