Anyone know what this old grinder is for??

[Ton-up]

Hiya, workmate bought this old grinder yesterday but has anyone any idea what it is for? The stone fair whizzes round with the gearing, but as can be seen in the pics, the stone rises and falls slowly. It has STAR cast on the side mounting.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

It is for sharpening reciprocating (finger-bar) agricultural mowers.
http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/sharp/sharp.htm

 

[500e]

It's the 1885 one

 

[hunter27]

It's a small hand lathe for turning down semi precious stones

 

[500e]

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/sharp/1880.htm

 

[Barking Mat]

For sharpening something. I'll go to bed now......

 

[Screwdriver]

Lovely old thing. I want one!

 

[Ton-up]

Thanks for the info lads! Rudi, in your link, I'd say its the last one in the 1896 - 1900 section. They say the stone does 3000 rpm and I don't doubt it!!

It is nice, unfortunatly the guy buys stuff to make money on, and he paid £90 for it.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Grinders of this general type are often seen in museums, or old tool collections displayed at agricultural shows, but I never realised that so many patents had been recorded. No idea what price they sell for, and possibly this is a rare model (even if 150,000 were sold in 1899). The Museum of English Rural Life, located in Reading, would probably have info.

Never used one myself, we just had a portable stand to hold the knife while we sharpened it with a hand file. Flat file with a rounded end instead of a tapered tang, commonly known as a “reaper file” until that name was hi-jacked and applied to a type of computer data file.

 

[Bsmith]

Grinders of this general type are often seen in museums, or old tool collections displayed at agricultural shows, but I never realised that so many patents had been recorded. No idea what price they sell for, and possibly this is a rare model (even if 150,000 were sold in 1899). The Museum of English Rural Life, located in Reading, would probably have info.

Never used one myself, we just had a portable stand to hold the knife while we sharpened it with a hand file. Flat file with a rounded end instead of a tapered tang, commonly known as a “reaper file” until that name was hi-jacked and applied to a type of computer data file.

Yes Rudi, think reaper/ mower blades were usually sharpened with a file, I have sharpened one with an angle grinder. Although the grinder in the picture is attached to the reaper/ mower wheel, I think it's actually sharpening a sickle blade.
Ohh, let me get it right, think the reaper/ mower blade is actually called a knife, the triangular pieces that rivit on are the blades. The long bolts from starter motors or 12v dynamos are the ideal size for making the rivits.

 

[Migmac]

That's cool. You would think they would be pretty common but I have never seen anything like that and I have been on farms where nothing is thrown out.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

That's cool. You would think they would be pretty common but I have never seen anything like that and I have been on farms where nothing is thrown out.

Those canny Scottish farmers have probably sold them all to rich collectors. Fair chance that there might be one in the museum at Kittochside, East Kilbride.

 

[Migmac]

Going to East Kilbride soon, might pop in if I have time. The last museum of that type I was in was the one at Biggar, was like a whole street inside one building.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Going to East Kilbride soon, might pop in if I have time. The last museum of that type I was in was the one at Biggar, was like a whole street inside one building.

Last place like that I was in was at Beamish. I spent my time wandering round the 'street' looking in the shop display windows saying "Oh, I remember our Mum had/used/wanted one of those" - and even......."I used to have one like that"

Pint in the pub was good though.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

The last museum of that type I was in was the one at Biggar, was like a whole street inside one building.

Biggar is particularly good if you are interested in old gas works, or Albion trucks.
If you ever find yourself in Aberdeenshire, go and see the collection at Alford. http://www.spanglefish.com/alfordheritagemuseum/index.asp