Line Shaft Tour

[Frank Prince]

This is very interesting to me. In the 1970's, I had the opportunity to help restore an late 1800's oil/grease factory located in Elizabeth N.J. It was steam powered driving all it's machinery. I spent several months working there. I enjoyed it so much, that I decided to become a millwright by trade. My last 26 years before retiring a couple years ago, I worked to an engraving/printing company. My job was to modernize the engraving press' that they had in the building. All the machines were early 1900's line shaft driven. The fun part was taking the heavy cast iron flywheels and drive wheel and machining them for use with "modern" electrical motors. I would machine the crown off the flywheels and cut "V" grooves to except drive belts. What was really interesting was using a Bullard milling machine built in 1905 to do the machining. It was converted from a line shaft flat belt machine to electric in the 20's or 30's. It had 3 speeds that was maintained by a 1930s Studebaker top loader transmission. We had other converted machine shop machines including a vertical milling machine, a gear cutter, and radial drill press.  I do have 2 sets of flat belt drive wheels manufactured in England in the 1930s. I had to rescue them.

[Heelerau]

Joel I commented on your Utube regarding this amazing shop you have built. A rare skill and a huge amount of drive and vision.  I see you are a relatively young bloke, and hope you have the chance to pass on your knowledge to some young apprentices.  As I mentioned on the tube, a late neighbour, Washington Parker built his own workshop in the early 1950s and he installed a line shaft, just a single one, driven by a lister petrol engine, driving a lathe, mill, drill, grinder and a reciprocating cut off saw. He like yourself was a ver multi skilled bloke and a ver good farmer. This little shop was just for his own farm maintenance. If ever I get over to the US again, I would like to visit with you. 

 

Kind regards 

 

Gordon