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mike gregory - Posted - 06/12/2011: 10:05:33
Some years ago, I picked up some steel rings, 11 inches across and about 2 inches high. If I understood the fellow correctly, they were piston rings (or maybe he said piston ring liners) from diesel locomotives.
This was at the locomotive repair facility in Milwaukee, which has since been replaced by the baseball stadium.
They made a few very nice, very strong banjo bodies. One even got chrome plated.
So, anybody know where I might get a few more?
I realize that the postage on something that heavy is probably horrific, so I'm looking for "close".
Edited by - mike gregory on 01/16/2012 12:32:19
banjofrog - Posted - 06/12/2011: 10:16:04
There's a place in Cornelia, GA called Johnson Railway Service that rebuilds locomotives. Here is their contact info:
Johnson Railway Svc, 198 N. Main Street, Cornelia, GA 30531
706-778-8004
Hope this helps.
Wayne Smith
BobCu - Posted - 06/12/2011: 10:41:33
Not exactly sure where you live Mike, but there is a huge railroad musuem up in Scranton, Pa. They have a good collection as well as an extensive shop. They might be able to do something for you. Also, check up in the Flemington, NJ area. There is a steam locomotive ride available (I think the Ivyland Railroad" and I also think they repair as well.
Take care,
beegee - Posted - 06/12/2011: 10:41:55
A quick google search shows one in New Richmond WI. Is that close to you?
kevinwholmes - Posted - 06/12/2011: 10:46:28
GE builds new ones from scratch in Erie, PA. They repair/refurbish them too.
Edited by - kevinwholmes on 06/12/2011 10:47:06
mike gregory - Posted - 06/12/2011: 11:12:02
quote:
Originally posted by beegee
A quick google search shows one in New Richmond WI. Is that close to you?
That is the closest to my home town, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (The Centre of the Civilised World).
Got a grandbaby all grown up and living near Minneapolis, MN. Maybe I should arrange to visit her and stop by New Richmond on the way.
Thanks for the info.
Vapor - Posted - 06/12/2011: 12:23:32
They used to work on them up here Mike. There is a big shop in N Fond du Lac.
mike gregory - Posted - 06/12/2011: 14:17:53
OK, Vapor, what's the name of the shop, if it's still in business?
I'll see if I can contact them.
Ronnie - Posted - 06/12/2011: 14:37:19
A friend works in a Locomotive shop in Mt. Vernon IL. I'll try to contact him also.
mike gregory - Posted - 06/12/2011: 15:58:41
I appreciate all efforts y'all are making on my behalf.
Vapor - Posted - 06/13/2011: 06:24:03
Hi Mike,
It is the Canadian National RR yard in North Fond du Lac. I don't know anyone who works there anymore, or I would make a call. I will check with a few people and if I come up with more, I will let you know.
Charlie
mike gregory - Posted - 06/13/2011: 08:09:46
Thanks, Charlie.
jomando - Posted - 06/13/2011: 13:44:37
Mike,
I used to work for Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, they built new locomotives in La Grange, IL. They also had 5 or 6 rebuild shops around the country, one in VA, one in Florida, one in TX, the one I worked for was in Hazlewood, MO, but it closed over 25 years ago. I don't know if any of the others are still open or not.
If I had only known I would someday build banjos I would have gotten many bearing races from the alternators & generators, they were 12" of solid steel about 3" deep. One of the skilled trades guy did make a banjo out of one, but I never got to see or hear it.
Edited by - jomando on 06/13/2011 13:45:11
mike gregory - Posted - 06/13/2011: 15:46:19
That KAYDON ring for the EMD model 645 looks a lot like what I got from the scrap heap.
Thanks.
(I fired off an e-mail, asking them if they deal in small quantities, and explaining that I intend to make banjos. They might send me one, just for the novelty of seeing their ring in a banjo.)
Edited by - mike gregory on 06/13/2011 15:59:58
g3zdm - Posted - 06/13/2011: 16:31:14
This thread confirms my long held suspicion that Mike G is loco. 
El Dobro - Posted - 06/13/2011: 18:37:03
quote:
Originally posted by g3zdm
This thread confirms my long held suspicion that Mike G is loco.
And he has a lot of motive.
Helix - Posted - 06/14/2011: 05:44:46
Mike and I were walking down the railroad tracks the other night, and I said, "this is the longest stairwell I've ever been on."
And Mike said: Yeah, but what's hurtin' me is these low bannisters. "
It sounds like a liner to me, it could be high-nickel-content cast iron. Scrap yard.
( ))='=::}
Edited by - Helix on 06/14/2011 05:45:31
mike gregory - Posted - 06/14/2011: 06:03:41
Indeed, it was a scrap yard, at the railroad repair shop.
A pile of scrap metal, the size of a two-car garage.
Randall - Posted - 06/14/2011: 13:58:53
Mike
I have a customer that parts out locomotive engines from all over the world. They had some rings there today. I took pictures of them and will post in this thread when I get home. If they are what you might want, I think I can get them reasonable!!
mike gregory - Posted - 06/14/2011: 14:28:28
That would be nice.
Helix - Posted - 06/14/2011: 20:48:57
good job Randall
Randall - Posted - 06/15/2011: 16:13:36
Well, Here they are!! Sorry for the delay! We played music last night at the Toot-n-Moo!
They are called bearing Races for a GE locomotive. After measuring one, a fellow could possibly machine a tone ring looking think out of these things!! Don't know what they are made of. I will find out a price or if there is a price by next Tuesday.
Edited by - Randall on 06/15/2011 16:14:52
Randall - Posted - 06/15/2011: 16:18:40
If this is not exactly what you are looking for, I will try again!! They got train parts of all kinds in three warehouses!!
Randall - Posted - 06/21/2011: 06:41:22
Hey Mike!! I got you a ring!! Just like you requested. It's about 1/4" thick, 2" tall and 11" across!! It's sure gonna be a heavy banjo!!
mike gregory - Posted - 06/21/2011: 08:14:35
OK!
I'll send you a message with my mailing address.
TrainmanCSZ4UP - Posted - 06/22/2011: 08:28:14
Looking forward to hearing what it will sound like Mike.
Randall - Posted - 06/22/2011: 08:33:26
I got a dollar that says it sound somewhat like a train!!
Randall - Posted - 06/22/2011: 13:40:04
The ring is moving on! Headed Milwaukee way!!
What you gonna name this banjo? All banjos got names! Ole 97? Fireball? Orange blossom special?
mike gregory - Posted - 06/23/2011: 09:34:51
Since it's the fifth diesel parts banjo, I think "Railroad lady #5" would be appropriate.
The client also wants a cartoon of that famous Bluegrass Gospel singing grizzly, "Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear" on the inside of the resonator, visible through a clear head.
So, HE gets to name it. His money, his banjo.
vintagewells - Posted - 06/23/2011: 13:14:32
Who'd have thought that an old locomotive part could be recycled to a banjo! What's the resonator made of! a hubcap?
Just think of the whole world of debates that could spring up: pre war vs modern parts, and brand preferences....
LOL
Randall - Posted - 06/23/2011: 15:52:49
The part is from a General Electric made locomotive.
"We bring good things to life"!
TrainmanCSZ4UP - Posted - 07/06/2011: 08:05:01
How is the build going?
Edited by - TrainmanCSZ4UP on 07/06/2011 08:05:18
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 07/06/2011: 08:22:16
quote:
Originally posted by TrainmanCSZ4UP
How is the build going?
Maybe Mike got side tracked?
Randall - Posted - 07/06/2011: 08:44:06
I hear the Special coming!!
mike gregory - Posted - 07/06/2011: 09:10:21
The parts are being collected, and the design is being thinked about.
Got to dig up a few more pieces.
Luckily, it's great weather for rummage sales.
It's a slowwwwwww train, but it's a-coming down the line.
Maybe I'll post some preliminary pics in about 2 weeks.
TrainmanCSZ4UP - Posted - 07/06/2011: 11:42:38
Look forward to seeing and hearing it.
Randall - Posted - 10/30/2011: 13:42:22
Mike!! How is the Railroad Lady coming along?!
mike gregory - Posted - 10/30/2011: 13:49:43
By strange coincidence...
Just the day before yesterday, I had enough other projects out of the way, that I slotted the neck blank and epoxied in the truss rod.
Perhaps I should post some pix.
FXHERE - Posted - 10/31/2011: 09:33:40
Whats Loco Mikes Motive??
mike gregory - Posted - 11/01/2011: 13:59:52
Here are some photos.
Neck is 100 year old construction scaffolding maple. Harder than most wood I've tried saw. Dulled my blade, I tells ya!
Stainless lid might look nice as a resonator. (Inside might be painted, per client's request. Visible through CLEAR head.)
Fancy tray would be SO beautiful, with the marquetry showing on the outside. BUT--! Can I trim it down, turn it over, and re-fasten the sides so that it all looks GOOD?
Time will tell.
By the way: the person for whom I'm designing it, does not currently have a banjo, and plays classical guitar. So we decided to try a neck with 5 full length strings, and the nut and bridge slots spaced the same as a classical guitar.
Edited by - mike gregory on 11/01/2011 14:10:27
mike gregory - Posted - 11/21/2011: 13:30:35
Been a while since I posted anything, but I've been DOING things. So here's some photos of progress so far.
mike gregory - Posted - 11/21/2011: 16:16:57
Drilled the body for the brackets.
Tomorrow, go get the bracket bolts, and make the J hooks out of the motorcycle spokes.
Since the spokes and nuts are an odd size thread, I'd either have to pay $$$ for a SPECIAL die to thread the cut ends of the spokes, or rethread 14 nuts, as well as threading the spokes.
I'm cheap, so I'm re-threading the nuts.
mike gregory - Posted - 11/21/2011: 19:00:37
And here's the resonator.
TxBubbaDog - Posted - 11/22/2011: 00:40:15
Lookin good!
mike gregory - Posted - 11/22/2011: 09:11:22
That fancy tray is going to be held on with magnets, since the body is, after all, a chunk of steel out of a diesel locomotive.
They had a pack of six of these magnets for $2.99, and, as shown, just TWO of them will lift and hold a hammer. Six should be more than enough to hold a resonator.
stigandr5 - Posted - 11/22/2011: 16:07:34
I'm excited to hear this thing when it's all fired up!
mike gregory - Posted - 11/29/2011: 10:55:14
Darn me like and old sock, or dam me like a beaver pond, but this thing is taking a lot of time.
Several more hours on the bill, but it's shaping up.
Photos, ( L to R)
5 magnets will easily hold the resonator to the steel body.
Electric grounding lugs make decent bracket shoes.
Plain old aluminum flat stock, with the ends overlapped an slanted, has worked several times before as a tension hoop.
And the manliest J -hooks in town. Fourteen motorcycle spokes, each one of which had to be sawed short, and re-threaded. And since the thread was a NON-standard, and I didn't want to buy a $35 die to do the spokes to match, I used my existing taps and dies, and made everybody be 6-32.
Cutting and threading the spokes was the hard part. Turns out a bargain store bolt cutter won't cut the grade of steel that bikers want to have holding their wheel together at speeds up to (whatever they do with no troopers watching ). Had to hacksaw each one, and as is my habit when hand-sawing, I counted arm strokes.Averaged between 20 and 40 per spoke., for about 420 total, give or take a few.
Too bad I'm so ( obscenity deleted ) lazy, or I wouldn't even mention the laborious labors. However, by (your favorite deity), this is going to be a good-looking banjo when I'm finally done.
Stay tuned for further developments.
Oh, wait. Legend has it that Banjo Players traditionally do NOT stay tuned!
=);{ )
Edited by - mike gregory on 11/29/2011 10:56:46
mike gregory - Posted - 12/01/2011: 16:45:57
Sawed and sanded some of the inlays from the tray, used a Forstner bit to inlay trhem into the neck.
Then put the neck on, and used kite string to check the alignmet.
Basically, I'm real close to done.
Have to make a bridge, and then start tweaking the fine points.
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