Project of the day with patina

[Canuck750]

Some people spend good money to have fake patina applied to look like this, $1500 CDN isn't too much money...…..



https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/mcy/d/surrey-east-1982-piaggio-3-wheel-truck/7117943232.html

Missing a motor, rusty box, but it could be a neat little project

[booob]

I've got a couple of ape 501s, you have a good source of parts up there in canada.

[Kiwi_Roy]

You want me to go and look at it for you?

[s1120]

Vary cool!!  My stepdad had a old Dihatso one as a project when I was in high school. I always thought it was cool, but he sold it before I had a chance to ride it.

[chuck peterson]

That would be perfect transport for my six, oops, seven, Moto Demm Smily mopeds...is it Italian?

[Canuck750]

You want me to go and look at it for you?

Thanks Roy but no, I have no place to put it and I can't justify another project, now if it was Moto Guzzi Ercole I would probably go for it.

[Canuck750]

That would be perfect transport for my six, oops, seven, Moto Demm Smily mopeds...is it Italian?

Yes sir, it is a Piago Ape, most of them had 50cc scooter motors, I saw plenty of them being used in Italy last summer, very cool little beasts.

[Groover]

My dad used to have a '78 P501 in Giallo Texas when I grew up in Italy. The P401 also had the single headlight. The P601 doubled the headlights to each side of the shields

[Two Checks]

Somebody will put a late model GM LS engine in it....

[Glawster]

I bought this just before the UK lockdown, thinking to do a bit of fettling and ride it through the summer.  Trouble is, one thing led to another and now it's in it's component parts.  Everything was pretty much shagged out, so it's a full restoration.  Won't be any "patina" remaining, but at least I can stop the tinware rotting through.  Should be a nice little bike when it's done - check out the dog badge on the front mudguard!

DSC_1763 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

[cliffrod]

I bought this just before the UK lockdown, thinking to do a bit of fettling and ride it through the summer.  Trouble is, one thing led to another and now it's in it's component parts.  Everything was pretty much shagged out, so it's a full restoration.  Won't be any "patina" remaining, but at least I can stop the tinware rotting through.  Should be a nice little bike when it's done - check out the dog badge on the front mudguard!

DSC_1763 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

Very cool.  If you're already into the project, i assume you've already been in touch with Mike McGarry.  https://www.motoparilla.co.uk Great guy, regarding Parrilla or otherwise.

[cliffrod]

I took on a less involved project over the last week that is very patina-oriented... 

I've been looking for an affordable metal lathe for making tooling and other items for many years, mainly for Metalshaping-related work on sculpture, bike and car projects.  They've become collectible in recent years- especially anything with more ornate cast iron pieces-  so not cheap like they were.  Rural SC isn't the hot bed of such equipment either.  I'm a lathe novice and have limited space, but didn't want a hobby lathe.  Just over a week ago on Friday, this circa 1890 Putnam Machine Co. Line Shaft lathe, approx 14" X 40", popped up on c/l ten miles away for $450.  I brought it home looking like this on Sat AM, then cleaned out a small shed Sat afternoon for a neighbor.





Did minor cleaning with brush and kerosene last week around other work. Looks like it's always been inside.  It's black in every nook and cranny so that's probably the original color.. It seems very complete with many gears, steady rest, live & dead centers, drill Chuck, lantern posts some tooling, etc.  there's no rust, with the only damage of consequence found on the cross slide where it's been crashed into the chuck.  Should be able to repair that without major problems.   Ways are very good as well.  No discernible play in the mainshaft.  After the major cleaning was done, some boiled linseed oil refreshed the old paint.  It looks fantastic IMHO.  That's all I plan to do.









Not much for accurate information on these old lathes.  Putnam was awarded subsequent patents in 1892 and 1899 that were similarly included on the nameplate.  Dating approximate production by lack of these dates is all you can do.  These cast iron legs are also unique to earlier lathes and consistent with pre-1900 production.  The legs are hollow for use as toolboxes & stowage. The nameplate swings on a screw to serve as the door for stowage compartments.





On Friday (day before yesterday) I winched it into place in my metal shop. I still need to rework the haphazard tower for the pulley jackshaft and current single phase 220 motor. 





The best part is current out-of-pocket cost is $100.00, ($450 purchase price less $350 raised from sold items) with more left from the free clean-out to hopefully cover the remaining balance.  Very cool and definitely Guzzi content.

Now I've got to find time to learn how to operate it.  Making some tooling/equipment and actual pieces for my Corsa-Record project are high on the list.

[lucian]

Nice find, you'll have a lot of fun with it as creative as you are. My high school metal shop teacher used to always tell us that the metal lathe was the only tool in the shop that could reproduce itself. A very useful addition to your shop.   

[giusto]

Very nice....I love those little bees!  Always wanted one but never could figure out what I would do with it, I'm not on a farm and too far from town for any real use besides riding up and down the 1/4 mile long driveway