Howdy from Georgia

[Jakeman]

Thanks Allthumbz (Nelson).
At last, someone knows what a VN 1/2 is! They must be rare, I could only find a little information on them. Mine was rescued from a scrap yard.
Thanks for ***************.com, I didn't know about it! It looks great! Also, there I learned about classicsteamengineering.com
How will I ever get anything done now?
It just keep getting better!
Good luck with the VN #12!
Don

 

[Allthumbz]

Don,

The model 1/2 dates back to 1911 or 1912, if not earlier. Some of them have "Waltham Watch Tool Co." cast into the door- that was the predecessor company to VN. Van Norman moved from Waltham to Springfield Mass. and dropped the Waltham name in 1911. I don't have any info on when this model ceased production.

You must have seen Jim K's web site on the Van Normans-

http://jmkasunich.dyndns.org/vannorman/VN_Home.htm

Parts are so expensive, I bought 2 VN#12s - one to use for parts.
A friend of mine has a 1/2 with a BP "M" head on it for vertical milling,

The 1/2 is a bit more stout than say, a Burke #4 mill.

My #12 is apart to the base for moving- took me about 4 hours to strip it down to the base and trunk.

Enjoy!

Nelson