Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy

[Mike Phillips]

Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/82061-rupes-bigfoot-orbital-polishers-virtual-museum-tour-milan-italy.html)


As you walk into the main entrance of the Rupes Corporate Office you are greeted first by Giulia who besides being the receptionist is also in charge of all travel arrangements for Rupes staff and family. So here's a shout-out to Giulia as our air line flight, hotel and all travel arrangements were 5-START all the way!

Giulia - Rupes Receptionist and Travel Coordinator
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77640



Then the next sight you see are some glass display cases showcasing the various types of tools Rupes manufactures for a variety of industries. These tools include orbital sanders, orbital polishers, rotary buffers and complete vacuum extraction systems for their sanders.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77616

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77617




Would anyone like to guess what type of tool this is?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77618


Next to the entrance lobby is room filled with tools spanning the history of the Rupes company starting in the early 1950's.


This is a two speed sander/polisher which uses an ingenious gear drive mechanism. To use a slower or faster speed you simply turn the the tool over and use the spindle for the speed required for the task at hand.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77619

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77620


The 1955 Wander Sander/Polisher
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77621


This is another dual speed sander/polisher
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77622


The 1962 Marten
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77623


The 1976 Lar 23 Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77624


The 1962 Super 12000 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77625


The 1952 Stork 123 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77626


The 1959 SS 7000 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77627


The 1970 SS 7000 AI Orbital Sander with Vacuum Attachment
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77628


The 1960 RIK 12000 Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77629



Orbital Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77630


The Super Stork Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77631



This is a gage for measuring concentric accuracy it's sitting on an original wooden Rupes used by the founder of the Rupes company.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77632

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77634



Rupes tools specially made for Rupes manufacturing
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77633


Decibel Reader
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77635



Antique picture showing tooling manufactured by Rupes

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77636

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77637


I met the current Presidente of Rupes, his name is Guido Valentini (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/82054-guido-valentini-presidente-rupes.html) just as you see on the machine in these pictures.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77638


Italian currency over the time span of the Rupes company...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77639



So there's a portion of the history and evolution of the Rupes family of tools taken while I was at the Rupes plant.


Enjoy!


:)

[Kamakaz1961]

Way cool!!

[Paul A.]

Wonderful pictorial history. Thanks Mike. They made quite a jump in the machine design in 7 years 1955-1962.

[Mike Phillips]

Way cool!!

I agree. It's really cool when a company preserves their history to share with future generations.





Wonderful pictorial history. Thanks Mike.

They made quite a jump in the machine design in 7 years 1955-1962.



I agree and even more dramatic changes from 1962 to the present!



:dblthumb2:

[Tato]

Great picture selection Mike, it's noticeable all the technology and (specially) knowhow involved in the tools they produce today.

Thanks for sharing.

[Todd@RUPES]

Great pictures Mike!

In the picture you asked "can you guess what that is"... that is the first gear-driven "forced rotation" orbital polisher/sander on the market (to our knowledge). I believe the original design is upwards of 20 years old. The tool is still sold in Europe as a bodyshop grinder to strip paint from body material.

I have many pictures that I will try to load in a separate thread, but my favorite tool is the 1961 drill that (to our knowledge) was the first power tool to use a composite body.

Thanks for sharing. :dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

Great pictures Mike!



Thanks Todd! :xyxthumbs:






In the picture you asked "can you guess what that is"...


that is the first gear-driven "forced rotation" orbital polisher/sander on the market (to our knowledge).





Ding ding ding ding!


Give the man a prize!


I posted this thread over a year ago after returning from my visit to RUPES and not a single person even tried to guess what the tool is.






Would anyone like to guess what type of tool this is?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=77618





It's the RUPES version of the Flex 3401 before Flex invented the Flex 3401.



Thanks Todd for providing the answer and sharing some RUPES history and firsts to the market.


:dblthumb2:

[haris300]

Wow I never knew Rupes made a forced rotation orbital polisher. Perhaps we'll see a production model in the future to take on the 3401 :cool:

[Todd@RUPES]

Wow I never knew Rupes made a forced rotation orbital polisher. Perhaps we'll see a production model in the future to take on the 3401 :cool:


Yes, RUPES created the first gear-driven orbital polisher (to our knowledge). However, our corporate personality is certainly on the random orbital technology front. BigFoot was actually designed to replace this technology and in our opinion, offers several significant advantages. :dblthumb2:

[Alturki]

Great

[Aaryn NZ]

Hey Mike,

I know Joe (Superior Shine) has a collection of early polishers, do you have any oldies alongside your antique wax collection Mike? :buffing:

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

Hey Mike,

I know Joe (Superior Shine) has a collection of early polishers, do you have any oldies alongside your antique wax collection Mike? :buffing:

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:


I have a couple...

I'm not a Pack Rat by nature. I got that out of my system years ago after moving a few times.

Tools take up lots of space and they are heavy. I decided to let Joe have the blessing.


I'll take a picture of what I have when I have time.


:)

[Aaryn NZ]

I came across this Rupes on a local auction site (have no idea why it popped up) I thought of you as soon as I saw it. I believe the owner still used it until recently. It runs really smoothly but is heavy! Of course when I researched it I came across this thread - should have known Mike Phillips would have an article including it.

Would be more than happy to send it your way if you would like it for your collection.

Also came across Nenette which I believe is from the 1950's - great condition but we won't be using it at the shop. Happy to send this your way also if it is something of interest.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/4152.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119912/title/4152/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/2205.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119910/title/2205/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/1289.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119909/title/1289/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/3178.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119911/title/3178/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/5123.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119913/title/5123/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/6107.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119914/title/6107/cat/3498)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/789.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119915/title/789/cat/3498)

Aaryn NZ :dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

I came across this Rupes on a local auction site (have no idea why it popped up) I thought of you as soon as I saw it. I believe the owner still used it until recently. It runs really smoothly but is heavy!

Of course when I researched it I came across this thread - should have known Mike Phillips would have an article including it.



Ha ha... that's funny...

I know a number of U.S guys have visited RUPES (non-employees), but I'm pretty sure I'm the first and only guy that took pictures and then did something with them.

It's easy to take pictures, heck a 3-year old can do that. It's making them magically show up on a forum in a way where they won't disappear like Photobucket pictures that separates everyone.






Would be more than happy to send it your way if you would like it for your collection.

Also came across Nenette which I believe is from the 1950's - great condition but we won't be using it at the shop. Happy to send this your way also if it is something of interest.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3498/medium/4152.jpg (https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/119912/title/4152/cat/3498)


Aaryn NZ :dblthumb2:

You know, I'm working on a new RUPES project and I would love to have this in my antique car wax collection and for the new RUPES project.

I'll send you a PM


:)

[Aaryn NZ]

Ha ha... that's funny...

I know a number of U.S guys have visited RUPES (non-employees), but I'm pretty sure I'm the first and only guy that took pictures and then did something with them.

It's easy to take pictures, heck a 3-year old can do that. It's making them magically show up on a forum in a way where they won't disappear like Photobucket pictures that separates everyone.





You know, I'm working on a new RUPES project and I would love to have this in my antique car wax collection and for the new RUPES project.

I'll send you a PM


:)


Haha, it is but it is also a huge compliment. :props:

For exactly the reason you have stated above - because YOU take the time to share the things you know & have seen with anyone.

Exciting that you have a new Rupes project in the works, I look forward to that too. :props:

A cool little bit of history behind this tool. I got it from a man in Invercargill, which is a city right down the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. I think it'd be pretty hard to find a Rupes polisher from any further South in the world than where this one has come from. And from what I had been told it was still in use until I purchased it. Guessing by the weight of it - Popeye must live in Invercargill NZ!!! :xyxthumbs:

Even cooler that the original toos are still with it.

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2: