The black box at the bottom of the picture above is a core box.
	That's the cutter head on the table. It has a left handed thread as promised in the pattern papers. There is a tiny lathe like bit on shaft though it is hard to see. This setup allows radi smaller than the cutter head to be made. That's a US quarter (about an inch in diameter) on the table for scale.

Some background information:

I bought this machine at a foundry auction. It pains me to admit that I did not know exactly what I bought- but the price was certainly right. It was billed as a shaper- I had hoped it was a metal shaper. As it turns out, there is a patent number on the machine. The US government has fortunately put the patents on a web site. One click later I realize that I am the proud owner of a patented "Machine For Making Core Boxes". Click on the patent number above! Update: The patent can be viewed at google patents

I collect and use pattern makers tool. I couldn't be happier now that I know what the machine is for!

I had had stuff cast at that foundry this machine came from. The purchase was somewhat sentimental - I didn't quite believe its description as a shaper. The last owner of the foundry was the great-grandson of the founder. It was a real shame that the place closed up. I was happy to get a few things at the auction- now I'm even happier.

• My oldtools post about my first visit to the foundry.
• an Oldtools thread about its closing
• Galootapalooza III recap. It includes pictures of a visit to the foundry.
• Their logo. Shows a pattern I made and a casting made using the pattern.

This information and pictures will be sent to The Old Woodworking Machines web site!

To see a core box and resulting core in action, check out my mitre gauge page.
Click here to read my oldtools post about cores, core boxes and this machine.
Core boxes can also be made using a pattern maker's plane

Back to my patent page
Home