Harrison Grinder

[Dieselman 63]

I'm having trouble tracking down information on Harrison grinders - I can find loads on their wood lathes, but they also produced a really nice series of pedestal grinders.

Annoyingly they also carry the plaque 'Union Jubilee' as the wood lathes do. Any indication of the price they sell for would be helpful as I have seen one and because I'm stupid I'm thinking of buying it...

 

[frank horton]

look on "lathes UK" web site, it's a info web site but not just for lathes....workshop manuels etc, should lead u on to other things about this company...........Frank

 

[bigegg]

I'm having trouble tracking down information on Harrison grinders - I can find loads on their wood lathes, but they also produced a really nice series of pedestal grinders.

Annoyingly they also carry the plaque 'Union Jubilee' as the wood lathes do. Any indication of the price they sell for would be helpful as I have seen one and because I'm stupid I'm thinking of buying it...

The question would be "how much is it worth *to me*?"
In the UK, idve thought anywhere from £50-£250 would be about the price range.
If I was in the market for one, I'd want to pay £120

 

[Burdekin]

I'd agree bigegg, up to £250. I was looking at a nice 3 phase Denford Viceroy 10" Pedestal Grinder and they were wanting £245.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Well usually I double the UK cost and see if it's worth it. The machine I'm looking at is $300 to ship to my door and $300 unit cost... Really fancy it though!

 

[Burdekin]

Might be a deal to be done with the seller if you plead poor with the high shipping cost.

 

[bigegg]

Well usually I double the UK cost and see if it's worth it. The machine I'm looking at is $300 to ship to my door and $300 unit cost... Really fancy it though!

Is it worth it to *you* NOW?
Regardless of market value.
If yes, buy it.
If not, buy a cheaper one, later.

Just cos it's up to £250 in mainland England - doesn't mean it's not worth double that to someone in the Highlands, or northern Ireland - or new Zealand!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Indeed. Machinery is something of a premium over here - and there's some things that are thin on the ground in England that when I see over here I just have to throw all my resources at to get.

I accepted the offer of $300 which is about £150. It will be just under that again to get it home to me, so a fair whack but I've never seen another for sale here. Found a company locally who specialise in moving old tractors, vehicles and machinery to and from Auckland and what's more they're half the price of the big boys so that's a bonus too.

I'm really stretching myself to get it though. Hope I can manage it.

 

[bigegg]

I don't know who originally said it, or the exact quote, but it goes something like:
"At the end of our days, we will only regret the things we didn't do.
So laugh loudly, love deeply, and buy cast iron toys"

 

[Dieselman 63]

Seller has loaded it onto a pallet and is happy to lend me a pair of ratchet straps so long as I post them back - Win!

He's also able to hang onto it for me whilst I sort out transport.

Just got off the phone with the transport guys. They can pick it up this week and take it back to their workshop and they're happy for me to pay them the week after. So far so good.

I've teased you enough with words so here's what I've bought:

 

[Dieselman 63]

The machine is wrapped in cellophane and on the pallet. I've paid the bloke the final money which is great, I hate being in debt to people.

The transport people have phoned him and it's happening some time tomorrow morning. If I said I wasn't nervous I'd be lying... I hate these sort of things, shipping and phoning people, would rather have done it myself but it would have been a 704 mile round trip and I don't have any mates that generous to drive me! I've always had a soft spot for these machines since I used to use one at school (admittedly I was a bit scared after some idiot grazed a knuckle on it) but the sleek lines are very nice.

In the meantime my sister is moving house and I've got a job painting a concrete path with non-skid paint, so plenty to keep me busy. More updates as I get them!

 

[Dieselman 63]

It's on the truck! No idea when it'll be at the depot but I guess they'll let me know.

Sort of become a bit more real now, and I'm a bit more relaxed. The path has turned out to be a bigger job than expected which is good, three days work out of what I was told was only one, and more money in the bank. Client happy, and I am happy too

 

[Dieselman 63]

So, the grinder was supposed to come yesterday but is not here yet. Sad times - they say they're busy atm. I can accept that.

They also say my engine crane won't get it off their truck (flat deck I assume). I suggested they could bring it on a trailer or a tailgate, they said they'll see what they can do. I'm just watching my phone waiting for a text now... right old nuisance. I just want my new toy :'(

 

[brightspark]

get some scaffolding planks and slide it of the wagon that's how I get my diesel compaction plate of trailers .4 people cant even lift that

 

[Ton-up]

Why is it no good to use your crane? If its because of the hight of the crane, can you gently lay it over on its side and put a strap around the middle on the skinny bit?

 

[Dieselman 63]

I think it was their way of telling me 'I can't be bothered to come over today'. Supposedly tomorrow morning after nine is the new time of arrival, was meant to be today but got a text saying tomorrow.

I've even swept up a corner of the workshop especially for it and had it like that for two days now, it's a dangerous scenario. Clean and tidy floor space will be occupied by something else if it's not filled immediately!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Well annoyed. Heard nothing 9am-1pm so I texted them 'Oh yeah sorry had to go to Tauranga' ffs... and here's me telling people I can't do a job for them as I'm waiting for a delivery to arrive

But apparently I'm free to pick it up from their yard whenever I like which is really helpful when I don't have a trailer or a pick up and the invoice is for them to deliver to my house!! The cheek of it Also seen their truck has a Hiab so not sure what the fuss was about with my crane not being tall enough when they've got one big enough to plonk the thing on my roof!

Hate companies who think they can give little people the runaround to take priority on bigger paying jobs. Complete waste of a morning.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Got sick of the runaround, phoned a friend and we went down to pick it up. Bloody thrilled I am! It's superb, and it's got loads of extras too (bet you didn't think a grinder could have extras eh?).

Top water reservoir, work tray on the wheel and a separate water reservoir with tray on the front, including the angle-posable table on the other wheel. This bad boy has it all. I am going to enjoy fixing this up.

One of the guards smashed on the way, kinda inevitable though. There's loads of room under there, an LED strip would fit perfectly as would a battery pack, this may be a future mod I look into. For now though I will be unreachable for the next hour or so as I gleefully strip and examine every component!

For those wondering, its original colour looks to have been dark Harrison grey, and if I'm honest I'm well tempted to repaint it in that colour. Pics later once it's in a million pieces on my garage floor.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Ok here goes. I've had it completely in bits bar the switchgear and motor, I'll do that another day. The screws are smothered in paint and are chewn up, looks like a job for the chisel.

Here she is.

So, what are the problems? Well here's one for starters. Nice piece of laminated glass with a dunch in the corner.

All the guards are full of clag

Cast aluminium plaque, very nice. The rivets are SS and should come up really nicely when it's back in dark grey.

The water feed system was sold as non-working. That's not a problem for me as I enjoy fixing things... however this is years of not having worked. Still, tools and strength get anything moving in the end, and I managed to get the reservoir off eventually.

Look at this nice brass. It's a wonder why someone decided to gush paint all over it. It's seized solid with paint, and it's been difficult to get this far. Can't wait to see it gleaming with the new paint, it will look splendid.

That's all for now, I've been recalled inside to cook dinner. I should have another update for you later on

 

[Burdekin]

Nice. The castings of old machines have a cool retro look don't they.