A few weeks back my buddy and Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host Larry Buskirk called me with a request to pick up an old Delta Drill Press that was on Craigs List. The guy only lived about an hour from us, so I called up my Army buddy that lived even closer and asked him if he could pick it up for me, and for our pal Larry Buskirk. Long story short, Larry here is your DP, it's way cool man!!!! Old Machinery for sure.

Larry, if you'd humor us, can you give us a little history on this one?

This one will be held here till Larry is ready to have it shipped out to him. Meanwhile, it looks great in my shop!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Sure I can humor everyone John,

This is a Delta Speciality Co. Model No. 620 Double-Duty Drill Press. It was Delta's first drill press.

It was available in the Delta catalogs from 1931-1936.

It is an eleven inch model, which means it will drill to the center of an eleven inch circle.

It has six speeds available by belt adjustment on the step pulleys. Using a 1725 RPM motor the speeds are as follows;

750, 1050, 1300, 1825, 2225, and 3150 RPM's spindle speed.

There were three spindles available for these drill press's.

No. 621 was the Regular Spindle Delta-Grip keyless chuck with a capacity of 17/32"

No. 622 was the Special Spindle Jacob's keyed chuck with a capacity of 1/2". This is the one on this machine.

No. 624 was the Special Spindle 1/2" bore with an 1/2" auxiliary shaft and allen wrench. This spindle was used for sanding drums, mortise bits, router bits, etc.

No. 626 was the Mortising attachment for the 620 Drill Press.

All of the above were specific to the 620 Drill Press, and will not interchange with the later model Delta Drill Press's that replaced it.

The 620 Drill Press was introduced at the same time as the 700 Scroll Saw, and the 785 Band Saw.

The 620, 700, and 785 were shown as Scroll Saw - Drill Press - Band Saw Shop No. 575 in the 1933-34 catalogs.

In the No. 575 Shop combination the Drill Press is mounted between the Scroll Saw, and Band Saw. All three machines are ran from a single motor. This is what I will be doing with my machines.

When introduced in the 1931 catalog the prices for these machines follow.

Model No. 620 Double - Duty Drill Press $16.95 without motor, but with motor pulley and belt.

Model No. 700 24 - Inch Scroll Saw $19.50 without motor, belt, or motor pulley.

Model No. 785 10 - Inch Band Saw $17.85 without motor, belt, or motor pulley.

This Model 620 has to be from 1931- early 1935 because it lacks the cast on mounting lug for the Model 882 Lamp, that is now days refered to as a " Retirement Lamp ". From research that I have done, the cast on lamp mounting lug was added sometime in 1935 to both the Model 620 Drill Press, and Model 785 Band Saw. I have found no photographic or other proof that a cast on lamp mounting lug was added to the Model 700 Scroll Saw.

The Model 620 has a few weak points, that I do not see present in the photos of this particular machine.

The head is a Zamak ( type of pot-metal ) casting, and prone to breaking. The usual spots are where the return spring for the Quill is mounted, and along the mounting point for attachment to the column post. I've also seen photos of breakage at the point where the idler pulleys ( twin pulleys where belt makes 90 degree turns ) mount to the head casting.

I will only be using this drill press for light duty work, to hopefully prevent damaging the head casting.

It will be used for drilling pilot holes for scroll saw work, and small sanding drum use. 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

That is one great history of the machine!  Thanks for the elaborate information.