Today Rebecca, Sean and I went rockhounding in New Bern, NC.  Rockhounding near the beach, you say?  Yes, we mined the estate of a collector and lapidary hobbyist who has gone to that big pile of gemstone mine tailings in the sky.  It is an honor to carry forward his workshop and collection.

Here is an initial inventory of lapidary equipment purchased today for $500.  All but one piece seem to be in good shape bearing-wise, freely turning and no wobble, but the real test will be when they are under load. The saw blades may need dressing to peel the steel slubs off the diamonds, or they may be worn out.  Two firebricks were included for dressing the blades.

4 Lortone splash hoods with drip tubes.

10" Lapidary Trim Saw - Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft Model No. 07-TSH 2685A (with sliding rock vise; working cut 3" high from table; with plastic splash lid. 

10" saw with odd mechanics and 4" working cut height; with splash shield and drip tube; mystery manufacturer until I get a closer look in daylight tomorrow. 

6" trim saw - ADM Rock Rascal Model J (only piece that seems to have a bad bearing; blade is warped, too.)

Vibratory flat lap - Star Diamond Industries, Inc., Model No. OL-10.

Lortone Lapidary N-7 Arbor Grind-Sand-Polish (2 stone grinding wheels)

Unknown make arbor (stone ball and stone wheel)

Star Arbor with sanding drum and expandable rubber polishing drum.

Sears Companion Six-Pound Tumbler Model No. 861.1417

Five electric motors and various belts.

Everything needs a good cleaning and lubrication. Some pieces could stand to be sanded down and repainted. All the motors need cleaning and rewiring before we can test them, and one has a broken pulley wheel. 

Judging from the stack of Rock and Gem magazines, the rocks and minerals date from the mid 1970s. Lots of agate of all sorts, obsidian, jasper, picture sandstone, rose quartz, and fossils.  Have only begun to sort all the slabs and rough. Have not even opened any of the egg cartons, so who knows what

Can't post photos from my phone, so pictures will have to wait until I get to a real computer up in Alexandria.