Good evening everyone.
My family recently purchased an old factory and in the old tool room was a Dalton TL. I am really fond of old machines and have restored a South Bend Heavy 10 and an old knee mill, so when I saw it I quickly snatched it up.? At some point over the years, bed extensions had been welded on and after reading everything I could find on Dalton lathes, I was pretty bummed b/c of not knowing the serial number.??
Wasting no time, I got to work tearing everything apart and cleaning it up and while I'm not close to getting everything "paint ready",? I think it's not too bad damaged.? The ways have some marks but that's to be expected after almost 100yrs.?
I knew I didn't want the bed extensions, so I cut them off and stuck the bed in my mill, with the hopes of peeling the metal back until I found the serial number.? Well luck would have it that after two nights, I found part of it.? They had welded part of it up and that is as clean as I can get it.? I think the serial number is 10103 which I would think it high b/c of the tags have the New York address, so I believe it would've had to be built between '22 and '25 but please let me know if you feel that is incorrect.? ?There was a smaller tag with a place for a model number on top of the cutting table tag.
Someone has made a steady rest for it over the years, I also found a milling attachment (It looks like it could be from Dalton but there are no markings on it....that I have found), the 3c collets that came with it and a precision level along with a few chucks, and various live and dead centers.? The collets all have Dalton stamped on them.? I have not found the collet draw bar yet, so I guess I'll have to make one of those if I can't find it.
I don't think the Master motor is the one that came with it but after doing some research, it is period correct and runs like a top.
My plan is to get it back to as close to new as I can (within reason) and to quote Henry Ford "you can have any color you want as long as its black", so black is what it will be.? I plan to bring everyone along as I go and if anyone has any pointers or information, please let me know.
Thanks
Trey
