Boynton & Plummer Shaper

[jlegge]

Just getting around to posting about the Boynton and Plummer shaper I picked up along with a Monarch Junior lathe (see post in the Monarch group). The best I can figure the shaper was made around 1900, maybe bit few years earlier. The larger flywheel has been removed and the electric motor pulley replaced it. It cuts surprising well for its age. Does anyone know why there is the hole in the back which cuts through the builder's name. It almost looks like it was cast in place, but it looks odd.

 

[ncjeeper]

Those legs underneath are pretty awesome looking.

 

[enginebill]

Nice shaper, I doubt the hole is original and it's anyone's guess as to why it's there. Nice vise too.

 

[discodan]

We have one at the Tuckahoe machine shop museum. I'll take a bunch of pictures and post them for you. Ours is operational using the original hand crank

 

[Robert Lang]

Does anyone know why there is the hole in the back which cuts through the builder's name.

More than likely someone cut the opening, to put a long shaft or rod through, to machine the other end.

Rob

 

[jlegge]

That makes sense

 

[discodan]

Pics of our machine at Tuckahoe.

 

[Vince]

I have seen these shapers in 3 "configuration". 1.) No hole in the back for doing work on shafts (keyways). 2.) Hole cut in the back through the makers name so shafts work could be performed. and 3.) With a factory hole cast into the main casting for shaft work.

I would say your machine would be one of the older ones. I believe I have seen one that only had one of the 2 names on the main casting. I need to check my references, but I believe the company goes way back before 1900.

Funny story about the one at Tuckahoe. When we cleaned it up, the column was filled with chips. We also noticed that the gear on the cross travel rod that powered the ram was a shop made replacement gear. When we cleaned the chips out of the housing, we found the original gear under several layers of chips. (OK, maybe just I found it funny. I can picture a owner yelling at either an employee, or himself, "How did you loose the gear?, you can't buy those things at a store! Go look again!"

Vince

 

[Robert Lang]

I have seen these shapers in 3 "configuration". 1.) No hole in the back for doing work on shafts (keyways). 2.) Hole cut in the back through the makers name so shafts work could be performed. and 3.) With a factory hole cast into the main casting for shaft work.

I would say your machine would be one of the older ones. I believe I have seen one that only had one of the 2 names on the main casting. I need to check my references, but I believe the company goes way back before 1900.
Vince

E.N. Boynton started by at least 1866 ( Boynton & Harthan).
In 1867 it was Boynton & Worcester (E.J. Worcester, who had many patents for post drills).
Boynton was alone by the early 1870's. Plummer became a partner in 1879.

The very early shapers had the E.N. Boynton name only.
There was no hole in the back. The cast in hole came much later and when they put the hole in, they moved the name down in position.
Any hole through the name would not be original.
One of the features of the early shapers, other than the name, is the open slot for the stroke, rather than the later T slot.

Rob

 

[maynah]

Here’s my Boynton and Plummer I used to have. With link to YouTube vid.

For Sale: Boynton and Plummer 10" x 15" Traverse Head Shaper

I have a very nice Boynton and Plummer shaper I’m selling. Very good condition. Works as it should. This is the biggest one, 10” x 15”. It has a very nicely made motor drive for it, all welded 1/8” plate. The drive bolts to the side although I never put it on and most people here probably...

www.practicalmachinist.com

 

[jlegge]

Very interesting discussion. This little shaper cuts better than I expected. I am slowly learning how to grind tools for it, and when I get it right, it would easily take a 1/8 depth of cut in mild steel.

 

[discodan]

The one we have at Tuckahoe is hand cranked. We use it for demonstrations and kids love it. We mainly cut aluminum or cast iron and it cuts very nicely.