I had posted this in the Antiquated forum and one of the responders suggested I post it on the main page for more eyeballs. Thank you to the few guys who did respond. A buddy asked me what this thing is. We know it is auto related but the tag is rougher than a stucco bathtub. You can read Automotive Equipment Co. and Freeport, Ill but I suspect there is more to the name that is now obliterated. Any idea what this is and who the manufacturer is? I believe it is valve related.
It reminds me of a brake shoe riveter but a quick Google search doesn't show any that look quite like that.
It was used to service valves and valve stems with a two speed flat belt powered by an electric motor from the early 1930's. It was manufactured by Automotive Equipment Co.in Freeport Ill.
It looks like one of those things that, within the first 10 minutes, would send me to the emergency room for stitches
"What is this thing?". I do think it's for doing valves, but initially, I thought it could be a boring bar. To answer your question of what it is; it's an outdated piece of automotive technology, that may now serve as something for the garage/man cave as a display piece. It's probably missing parts, definitely missing instructions, and although one of our members may be familiar with it, it's no longer a functional piece of automotive history. Not trying to cut you down or downplay what it is, it's just no longer really "useful". Sorry. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/valve-service-machine-vintage.212292/ Like I said. A quick search says; buy it now $250.
That's my buddy! We are both volunteers at Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Association. He asked me to help post it in other places and I like to research things more before I post them.
The "bits" in the bottom left corner, look like turning bits. Interesting. The "jig" would hold something odd shaped, or maybe multiple things of different sizes? Also appears those two items on the bottom right, would fit into the collar on the bottom right of the machine, maybe to hold something in place? I'd have to wire the motor and put a belt on it, just for grins.
In the 20s and 30s, there was a lot of automotive manufacturing done in Freeport IL. Starr manufacturing built cars, Henney built ambulances, and there were several other no longer existing manufacturers here during that time. It could easily have been something built for a specific reason that no longer exists. To me it looks like a fixture for boring holes in a specific item that may have been adapted for a second purpose. Freeport IL used to be the home of 5 of the top 50 of the Fortune 500 Companies World wide, until it all went down the drain. Now we are not even a reduce speed on the US 20 bypass. Gene
Butch, it very well could be useful for the right person working on the right time period engine. Think oddball Lefrance or something on that line. I like you do not see a use for it with what we deal with here.
Whatta you mean I can’t park here?! I don’t see no stinkin sign says I can’t. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
It could still be useful, assuming a person has a use for it i/e I have some old valve grinding stuff and seat grinding stuff, all to be used by hand. The valve “grinder” is a little double v block thing, a small hand crank and a cutter. Not practical for stuff used today unless you have loads of time on your hand, but I haven’t bought a replacement small engine yet. Only two valves to do, I have that much time. The seat grinder is similar, there’s a roughing one and a few stones, pilots and a hand crank. This stuff was probably useful way back when, but for me is useful still-for what I use it for
To me it looks like a "lot" of mismatched pieces with a machine that was thrown all together. Don't see a valve machine there, even if I squint my eyes. Agree with above, looks like a machine built to clamp an object to and either drill or bore that specific item....
Connecting rod boring machine for boring re-babbited rods..,. Scenes from another time automotive machine shop tools ,Pinterest Google : "automotive machine shop tools of the 30's"
If it were useful for anything at all then it would be most useful for it's original purpose, wouldn't it?.
LOL. Hell, OSHA would require A bright orange safety fence, an EPA environmental study and a 5 hour safety training course