A larger MacGregor-Gourley shaper found in a mining town in the Rocky Mountains. At some point in its life this had been modified - very professionally - by the addition, on a cast frame behind the shaper, of a 4-speed gearbox that appears to have come (judging from an attached plaque) from the 1950s or 60s.
Upon stripping it was found that this was a very ruggedly built though perhaps rather crude machine - most of the machining on flat surfaces and keyways having been done economically with a shaper and planer - only a Wood-ruff key on the stroke-adjustment spindle showing evidence of a milling machine being used. All the plain bearings and slideways had oil grooves, these being hand cut with chisel. One groove in particular stood out as having required some skill to execute - inside a 1-1/2'' bore for a length of about 6''. The main spindle bearings had been poured with babbit (white metal) direct into the casting and all the major castings smoothed with a black concoction that appeared to have been some sort of lamp black and shellac - but could it also have had some lead content?..  .