The Delta Vintage Project - Part One: Serial Numbers - Discussion

I found this page very useful!

My father and I recently rescued a full height delta drill press from my grandfathers shop. It has the old style silver and red tag that reads 3-2878 (according to that list that would put it pre-1941 correct?) It also has a U.S. Army brass tag rivited to the base. The tag reads: "US ARMY Ordnance dept. 415 ac div. gmc contract w-ord 474" Since my father to this press, he handed his drill press down to me. Also an old Delta, the red/silver tag reads 7-4270. Also pre-1941 I would think! Below is the bench top model now in my garage.

I inherited an old Delta Milwaukee 17" drill press. In it's current position, I can't find a model number, but it's serial number is X10-2549, which doesn't match the patterns listed. Any ideas ? I'm a bit curious what it might be worth. Unfortunately, I have to move soon and won't be able to keep it.

Hello folks, glad to be part of your group! I really like vintage stuff, I have a 1977 Kawasaki KZ-650, 2nd owner, 21,000 miles, pristine, and an old family ukulele, was my older brother's.

Maybe you can help me out. I inherited my dad's Delta saw when he passed in 1974. It seems to have all the gadgets. It matches some of the pics of older saws, it was in their house when mom passed in 1978. Thinking I would use it, I moved it to my house, where it's been in the garage since. It's big and heavy, as you probably know.

I've looked to find how old it is by the serial number plate. Can't seem to locate it or the holes said to be there if the tag was removed. The only branding I can find is the 45-degree measure plate for the tilt. It says "Delta Power Tool Pittsburgh, 8, Penn Made in the United States of America". Lettering is black on aluminum. Background is black for the degree marks and numbers. The base measures 19.5" by 21.25" at the top with the table removed. FYI, the motor is not original, I remember pop replacing it with a larger one, needing to fabricate a new mounting bracket with a notch in the side of the stand to allow full raising of the blade.

I am taking pictures for posterity, and maybe to help it find a new home where it can be appreciated. Pop was quite the guy, too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. They lived in NYC up to 1947, when they moved to CT and had me. Pop worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the war, said HE built the USS Missouri (partially true, he was so skinny they lowered him down the 16" guns for QC). He built wood pleasure boats, control line model airplanes, designed and built ham radios (originally licensed in 1932), and taught nautical classes in CT for the Power Squadron and CG Auxiliary, where he was land base for the local flotilla. His career was as a wheel alignment specialist at a local Chevy dealer.

Sorry I took so long for this email. Pop would be happy to have his saw find a new home. Any hints as to its uniqueness would be greatly appreciated. I can get you the pictures if it will do any good.

Thanks in advance. My cell is 203 314-0857 if a text works.

Old Delta (Glenn)

This page did in minutes what I couldn't accomplish in hours elsewhere. I've dated my Delta Rockwell Homecraft 11" drill press to Tupelo MS 1952. That was more information than I had expected. Thanks for everything. Since I prefer older machines I'll be around often.