Garage Sale Find

[Ghosty]

Hi All,
Picked up this 4 jaw chuck on the weekend for a Dollar. It was covered in grime and dirt, the chuck key had seen better days.
It took nearly a day to clean up the chuck, and then I made up a new chuck key and even reused the "T" bar from the old chuck key.
The chuck is a COOTE & JORGENSEN, Model C0454 4 1/2" 4 jaw chuck, Made in Australia.
After cleaning up and ckecking, it appears to be in very good condition as far as being true goes.
Cheers
Andrew

 

[bazmak]

very nice

 

[DJP]

I too would have grabbed a 4 jaw at a garage sale. The 3 jaw chucks are usually worn out.

It's interesting that you got it for a dollar. It was either end of day clear out time or the value was unknown to this generation. Makes me feel old but happy for you.

 

[Ghosty]

I too would have grabbed a 4 jaw at a garage sale. The 3 jaw chucks are usually worn out.

It's interesting that you got it for a dollar. It was either end of day clear out time or the value was unknown to this generation. Makes me feel old but happy for you.

I walked past it at first as it was covered in so much crap I did not recognise that it was a chuck the first time. I don't think they know what it was, there was no other machine stuff there.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[john_reese]

The jaws and screws on that chuck are a lot heavier than I would expect on a chuck that small. They appear to be a lot sturdier than the jaws on my 5" Bison.

 

[Ghosty]

John,
The jaws are 0.725" wide, but only use a 1/4" square chuck key, one of the reason that I had to make a new key, it also has mounting holes to take 5/16" cap head bolts. I have a 80mm dia 3 jaw and it has a 8mm square chuck key.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[abby]

What did you make your key from ? Will it harden and temper ? If not you will find it wears out very quickly.
Trueing a job to within a thou or so often requires more force than a 1/4" square mild steel can take.
This has been my experience with independent 4 jaws
Dan.

 

[radial1951]

Hi All,
Picked up this 4 jaw chuck on the weekend for a Dollar. It was covered in grime and dirt, the chuck key had seen better days.
It took nearly a day to clean up the chuck, and then I made up a new chuck key and even reused the "T" bar from the old chuck key.
The chuck is a COOTE & JORGENSEN, Model C0454 4 1/2" 4 jaw chuck, Made in Australia.
After cleaning up and ckecking, it appears to be in very good condition as far as being true goes.
Cheers
Andrew

Hello Andrew, I would say that is a rare chuck. In almost 50 years in engineering I have only seen one other Coote & Jorgensen chuck and that is my 6" 4 jaw. It has been mounted on a backplate for my Heavy 10 South Bend since about 1975. Before that, my father owned it but I have no idea for how long or where he got it. Mine also has a small square drive on the chuck key but it has never been a problem. It is quite likely to be 1940's era. C&J were a highly respected engineering company which became part of Borg Warner.
Regards, Ross G.

 

[Ghosty]

Dan, The new key was made out of a 1/2" bolt, One can be seen in photo 4.
Ross, Don't know about the rare bit, but I know how expensive a new 4 jaw would cost, The chuck looks as if it has had little use, as there is very little wear on the jaws or screws. I live on a pension so dollars are tight.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[DJP]

It's very old so of limited value. I'll give you double what you paid and I'll cover shipping. Deal?

 

[Ghosty]

It's very old so of limited value. I'll give you double what you paid and I'll cover shipping. Deal?

Not a bad deal, but I think I will keep it

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Ghosty]

Hi All,
Picked up another small 4 jaw yesterday, this one has had a hard life, two of the jaws are cracked, the chuck seems to work though.

 

[Ghosty]

Some more pics after clean up. It looks as if it had a threaded shaft at some stage in its life, and has been machined to a MT2 shank. Only markings on it except for the jaw numbers are T.N.C.

 

[DJP]

You need to stop this 4 jaw collector behaviour. It can become addictive and you will end up preferring one while the others will end up at your garage sale.

 

[Ghosty]

I just could not help myself, never seen a 2 1/4" chuck before. Will use it sometime maybe.

Cheers
Andrew