IN ONE OF THE ROOMS STOOD A DECKEL FP1 MK2 UNIVERSAL MILLING MACHINE LOOKING A LITTLE WORSE FOR WEAR, WHICH WAS NOT SURPRISING, AS IT STEMMED FROM THE 1950`S. THE ASKING PRICE WAS 25,000 NOK WHICH WAS A BIT OVER THE TOP FOR A STANDARD MACHINE. HOWEVER THE PRICE INCLUDED THE ORIGINAL CABINET WHICH CONTAINED SOME INTERESTING ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THE LITTLE USED SLOTTING HEAD AND THE VERY USEFUL DIVIDING HEAD WITH IT`S OWN OVERHEAD ARM FOR THE MACHINING OF SPLINES ON A SHAFT etc.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ANOMALIES THAT I COULD`NT IMMEDIATELY WORK OUT WHAT THEY WERE FOR. THERE WAS A SET OF ENGRAVING MASTER LETTERS AND NUMBERS THAT FITTED INTO A PLATE THAT IS DESIGNED TO BOLT TO THE MACHINE TABLE BUT NO PANTOGRAPH! WAS THIS UNIT DESIGNED TO BE USED ON THE DECKEL? THERE IS ALSO A LARGE TABLE DESIGNED TO BE ROTATING BUT I COULD`NT FIND THE CORRESPONDING CONNECTING PART TO MOUNT IT TO THE TABLE!
THE MACHINE HAD SOME PARTS MISSING FROM THE SLOW FEED ASSEMBLY SO THAT THESE FEEDS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED BUT THE TABLE COULD BE HAND FED VIA THE HANDWHEELS.
IT WAS A BIT OF A GAMBLE AS IT WAS NOT UNDER POWER SO THAT I COULD`NT SEE IT RUNNING BUT I WAS PREPARED TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE IF THE PRICE WAS RIGHT. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND MANAGED TO GET A GOOD REDUCTION SO THE DEAL WAS DONE.
THE FIRST THING THAT I HAD TO DO WAS TO TAKE AWAY ALL THE HEAVY ACCESSORIES TO MY WORKSHOP AND DISCOVERED THAT THESE ARE VERY HEAVY, SO THAT I WILL HAVE TO DEVISE A SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO MOUNT THEM ON THE MACHINE WITHOUT STRAINING MY BACK.
I BOUGHT SOME OTHER SMALL THINGS AT THE SALE AT VERY REASONABLE PRICES SUCH AS A LOT OF PLASTIC BINS TO TIDY UP THE CHAOS STILL EXISTING IN THE WORKSHOP.
I WILL ADD A SECTION ON THE DECKEL ONCE I HAVE IT IN THE WORKSHOP, EXAMINED IT AND TAKEN PHOTOS.
ALAN.