There is only one factory left in Costa Rica still manufacturing oxcarts (started in 1923), and Uriel Castro has been working for 70 years in the business his father started
Wow, love that overhead line shaft machine shop. Last one I was ever in was Dennison Machine in Jackson, Tennessee around 1963-4. Narrow building that ran probably 40 feet then angled off to the right and went another 40 feet or so. Can't remember how they made that angle turn and didn't own a camera in those days. Doubt it's still there as he had three kids my age. Years later I bought a 12" South Bend lathe that had come off of a line shaft and had the electric motor mounted above the stepped pulley with a matching but reversed pulley to change the speeds. Years later I picked up two line shaft humpback drill press. One was bone stock and the other had been converted by mounting a Ford truck three speed transmission driven there the steeped pulley on the machine. Ran good but when I moved from Texas I left the drill presses. I had sold the engine lathe to some friends years prior as I had bought a more modern and larger lathe. Regret selling any of it but moving out of state was a big effort and you do what you can do.
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Wow, love that overhead line shaft machine shop. Last one I was ever in was Dennison Machine in Jackson, Tennessee around 1963-4. Narrow building that ran probably 40 feet then angled off to the right and went another 40 feet or so. Can't remember how they made that angle turn and didn't own a camera in those days. Doubt it's still there as he had three kids my age. Years later I bought a 12" South Bend lathe that had come off of a line shaft and had the electric motor mounted above the stepped pulley with a matching but reversed pulley to change the speeds. Years later I picked up two line shaft humpback drill press. One was bone stock and the other had been converted by mounting a Ford truck three speed transmission driven there the steeped pulley on the machine. Ran good but when I moved from Texas I left the drill presses. I had sold the engine lathe to some friends years prior as I had bought a more modern and larger lathe. Regret selling any of it but moving out of state was a big effort and you do what you can do.
ReplyDeletethings like moving, divorce, kids, etc result in sacrifices because of a variety of reasons, but boiled down, we only do what we must
DeleteUnfortunately I'm still doing things like that. Thought I would out grow it but evidently note. Getting Old ain't for sissies!
DeleteWonder if that's Uriel's grandson learning the trade in the last pic!
ReplyDelete