My new(to me) mill

After two years of  watching my local tool dealers website, A mill finally popped up that meets all my needs. Thus for $525 I picked it up, it’s a U.S. Machine tool Company V2 vertical mill. The mill is about 2/3 the size of a Bridgeport weighing in at 1800 + lbs, and has a 9-5/8″ x 36″ table. I pulled the following tidbit of info off the net, that some might find interesting.

The United States Machine Tool Co. was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1915. It became the US Machine Tool division of Ransohoff Co. in 1947. In 1948, it merged with Burke Machine Tool and became US Burke Machine Tool Co. In the 70s, US Burke became part of Powermatic/Houdaille and the Cincinnati facility closed sometime in the early to mid 80s.

The Dealer initially didn’t have any photos of the mill on his website, but after sending of an email request, I received the following two photos.

12-04-08-003

b1970

Since the mill looked to be in great shape, for a machine tool at least 60 years old, my friend Stuart and I made the two hour drive to check it out. Unlike with some tool dealers, I was able to run the machine under power and take several test cuts. I finally got the mill home yesterday and took the following photos:

pallet

The Heavy Duty pallet I made to ensure the mill didn’t tip over during transport.

nameplate

The name plate is in surprisingly good shape.

origonalretailer

The original retailer?

motornameplate

The motor name plate is also in great shape.

columncabinet

The column has a nice storage cabinet built into it.

head

The quill scale is missing, and for some unknown reason someone  welded a washer to the attachment point.

knee

Interestingly the knee screw is under the Y screw, instead of to the left like other mills.

table

The table is pristine for its age.

casting

It’s to bad every manufacturer doesn’t cast their name into the machine.

Posted in: Machining

Comments

  • H Mason
    August 29, 2010

    I just purchased a Model V (no numbers ) that is identical in appearance to yours except knee screw is to the left.,same lazy susan style tool storage ,name castings etc.I have no 3 phase power so until I purchase a convertor ,I cannot check it out.Do you know anything about this model ? Info has been hard to find.I received one collet and the drawbar with it but don’t know what style it is …looks like a Morse taper to me but this is my first mill.I do have a small lathe tho.I would appreciate any help you can offer.

    • Dan
      August 29, 2010

      you can find a grainy, but still readable copy of the mills manual in the files section of the yahoo Burke forum. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BurkeMills/files/Vertical%20Mills/ People have also posted a few photos of mills like ours.

      The spindle on mine is a brown&sharp #9 taper, and while not common anymore, they can still be found.
      http://www.hhip.com, whose site appears to be down at the moment, sells a 13 collet set for like $150 if memory serves.

    • Sam
      March 2, 2023

      Have the same mill just perches missing parts around the quill need to find parts if posable were can l find ?????part any help will be appreciated ?

      • March 4, 2023

        You aren’t going to be able to find new parts for this mill. Your best bet is probably to poke around the ads and forum at http://vintagemachinery.org/

        – Dan

  • John Hajny
    February 3, 2012

    I have this e*x*a*c*t same mill, serial #1185. My father bought it many years ago but never really did much with it. The only thing I know to be deficient is that the cross feed is loose. I hope a simple gib adjustment cures this, as I am very interested in learning how to use it. I’ve dinked with it for years, but only in a very peripheral way. Now I want to get more serious and do some real cutting! Mine also has the B&S #9 tool holder for Y size universal collets. I’ve found a few sources for those still. I’m also getting a new J2 taper arbor for the Jacobs ball bearing chuck that came with it.

  • Robert
    May 18, 2012

    How do you like this machine since you have had some time to work with it? The reason im asking is because there is a guy near me selling a mill just like this and I would like to know if you have had any issues.Thanks.

  • May 19, 2012

    Hi Robert,

    I actually sold the mill before I got a chance to use it very significantly.

    • Robert
      May 19, 2012

      Did you buy another mill? If so what kind?

      • May 20, 2012

        I have been doing a lot more woodworking lately, so the spot in the shop that used to be occupied by the mill is now occupied by a a vertical band saw & a oscillating spindle sander.

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