Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
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/galler...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/galler...php?file=77616
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77617
Would anyone like to guess what type of tool this is?
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...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/galler...php?file=77619
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77620
The 1955 Wander Sander/Polisher
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77621
This is another dual speed sander/polisher
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77622
The 1962 Marten
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77623
The 1976 Lar 23 Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77624
The 1962 Super 12000 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77625
The 1952 Stork 123 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77626
The 1959 SS 7000 Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77627
The 1970 SS 7000 AI Orbital Sander with Vacuum Attachment
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77628
The 1960 RIK 12000 Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77629
Orbital Sander/Grinder
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77630
The Super Stork Orbital Sander
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...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/galler...php?file=77632
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77634
Rupes tools specially made for Rupes manufacturing
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77633
Decibel Reader
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77635
Antique picture showing tooling manufactured by Rupes
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77636
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77637
I met the current Presidente of Rupes, his name is Guido Valentini just as you see on the machine in these pictures.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=77638
Italian currency over the time span of the Rupes company...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...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!
:)
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Wonderful pictorial history. Thanks Mike. They made quite a jump in the machine design in 7 years 1955-1962.
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kamakaz1961
Way cool!!
I agree. It's really cool when a company preserves their history to share with future generations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Puckman
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:
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Great picture selection Mike, it's noticeable all the technology and (specially) knowhow involved in the tools they produce today.
Thanks for sharing.
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
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:
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Todd@RUPES
Great pictures Mike!
Thanks Todd! :xyxthumbs:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Todd@RUPES
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Phillips
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:
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
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:
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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:
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:
Re: Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy