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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 16, 2010 11:19:30 GMT -5
Back in the 50's and 60's you didn't hear much about tumble polished stones. They were known as baroque's. Baroque jewelry was all the rage for a while. Mostly set in electroformed gold or silver. In the late 60's and early 70's wire wrapped jewelry started to show up. I think the wire wrapping really got its start with the hippy movement. I can remember roadside tables with wire wrapped pieces of tumbled stones and crystals. A hippy couple would be sitting there wrapping stones and selling them. Of course back then sterling and gold wire were a lot less expensive, and the early tumblers were much more portable than other lapidary equipment. The hippies could easily move from town to town making and selling their wares. Don
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Nov 17, 2010 6:03:08 GMT -5
Well another up date! I skipped down to 1956 first page I opened was an add for a tumbler. Some of the names are long gone such as Victor they made a 75 lbs capacity 3 compartment tumbler out of 1/8 inch steel. You would need a hoist to lift that puppy loaded. I would love to find an old one worth fixing up be neat just to restore it. I have 3 older relics now mine are not that old just different. One thing that notice is there are far less adds for tumble rough and tumblers in the 56 issue than the 58.There was one add that made a point that it could by used in any room in the house with its added noise reduction features. I went back and looked for the add Gordon's is the Mfg. head line is ''Now anyone can can tumble''. This is the tumbler that has proved anyone can tumble in their own home. Its quiet operation makes it possible to use the tumbler in any room in the home. The drum operates between two half balls,as guides,and the new one piece rims run on rubber lined rollers,eliminating most of the operating noise.New Ryertex bearings further quiet the operation and insure long life and trouble-free action.With out the motor and belt it sells for $39.95 and weights 18 lbs. no size given they sell pre-measured 3 step grit packs coarse 1.00 fine 1.25 polish 1.50. Well it sounds like to me its just starting to take off in 56 most Mfg. are local rock shops that made their own on sight. In the 58 issue I seen adds for Scott Murray and Great Western tumblers none in the 56. I would say middle of the 50's is when it became popular and took off late 50's. George
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 8:54:08 GMT -5
Hi Turnedstone,
Is there a picture in the magazine of that Victor tumbler? It sounds like a monster tumbler I bought at an estate sale a few years back. Mine has two steel barrels the size of 5 gallon buckets that had a steel plate welded in the center of each bucket creating two chambers per bucket. I have never been able to identify the manufacturer, it does not appear to be homemade.
Thanks,
Tim
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 10:16:33 GMT -5
As soon as it stops raining, I'll get a pic of the small version of the Victor tumbler. I have one in my storage shed. Victor made several lapidary related items including a small sphere machine which I also have. Interesting fact, it was the same Victor company that makes welding and cutting torches. My Victor tumbler has the original blue paint, and the company name was stenciled on.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 10:44:12 GMT -5
Here's the Victor sphere machine. I bought this at an estate sale for $25.00. It has cutter cups for spheres from 1/4" up to just over 1". There are 2 - 1/15th. HP gear head motor driving the cutters. It needs new belts, but otherwise is ready to use. Don
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 11:34:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the picture of the Sphere Machine. Last spring I bought a Victor Sphere machine from John(JS), I had some issues with the worm drive system so I modified it to be a direct drive system with some gear reduction motors, the picture is the unmodified machine . It is interesting to see the differences in the machines. Tim
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 11:49:28 GMT -5
Now that's what I call a sphere machine. Looks like you can cut some good sized spheres with that thing. I'm looking to buy a new Covington machine sometime next year. Love seeing pics of the older equipment. That stuff was built to last.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 13:20:08 GMT -5
Here's some more old stuff I've picked up at sales. The same motor is used as a gem drill, a buffing lathe, a grinder and a very small trim saw. Not pictured are a foot speed control, a small chuck, and a flex shaft with handpiece. The saw takes a very thin 3" copper notched rim blade. Everything was made by Shipley's Mineral House in Bayfield, Colorado back in the 50's or early 60's, and is all in perfect working order. The little aluminum box at bottom right of the drill is a bead vise, for holding beads under water for drilling. Motor speed is 0 to 5000 RPM. Don
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Post by parfive on Nov 17, 2010 14:50:44 GMT -5
Jake - Sounds like you have a museum's worth of old gear. I'd spend more time playin' with it and less time in the spam folder. ;D
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 14:56:53 GMT -5
I do have a bunch of old equipment. If some of the old timers could see my storage shed, it would sure bring back memories for them.
Spam folder ? I don't watch ABC, NBC, CBS or any of those canned news organizations.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 20:18:16 GMT -5
Hi Don, Can you identify this old tumbler for me. It sounded like the Victor tumbler mentioned earlier. Thanks, Tim
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 17, 2010 20:28:35 GMT -5
Don't think it's a Victor. My Victor has a single drum, divided inside into 3 chambers. There are 3 access covers on one of the flat sides, held on with wing nuts. It has a short shaft welded in the center of each end, and rides in two bronze castings. I'll dig it out tomorrow and get a pic if I can.
Don
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Nov 19, 2010 7:11:38 GMT -5
The Victor that was in the add did have a picture and it looked nothing like that one.The barrel was one solid piece and had doors in the center it to had 3 chambers. George
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 20, 2010 13:20:50 GMT -5
I was going to post pics of my Victor, but photobucket is screwing up again. It won't let me copy the IMG code so I can post pics. I'll try again later. Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 20, 2010 14:06:37 GMT -5
Well, lets try this, and see what happens. This is what a Victor 3 chambered tumbler looks like. The straps on the ends of the barrel are plumbers tape, put there by me when I shipped it. There is also a heavy old G.E. 1/3 hp motor on a hinged mount. The weight of the motor provided belt tension. I was mistaken earlier about the bearing stands. They are cast aluminum, with pressed in bronze bearings. The end shafts are 1" dia. Don
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2010 17:03:43 GMT -5
Hi Don,
Thanks for posting the picture of the tumbler, it if definitely a monster. Someday I will figure out what brand mine is.
George, thanks for the info.
Tim
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 21, 2010 17:45:47 GMT -5
Hope some others will post pics of old equipment. It's always great seeing the equipment I started out with. I have an old Highland Park 20" flat lap in almost unused condition, but since Diamond Pacific now makes the same machine with only minor changes, it's really not worth posting a pic of.
Don
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Nov 23, 2010 10:26:04 GMT -5
That big green double tumbler has quite a few design similarities to my old tumbler. The brand of my old tumbler is a Beacon Star....I'd say it could be one of those....
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 24, 2010 17:14:57 GMT -5
I've seen those dig barrels with the handles on the side before. Just can't remember the brand.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2010 18:52:28 GMT -5
I stopped by an estate sale this weekend, got a good deal on a few pieces of equipment, buried deep in saw muck was this can. I thought some of you old timers might remember this stuff. :cheesy: Tim
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