Cincinnati Bickford Super Service Drill Press Manual: The Documents and Details Owners Need

The Cincinnati Bickford Super Service is a heavy industrial radial arm drill press from the mid-20th century, one of the landmark American machine tools. These are precision machines: large, heavy, built for production shop work, and still running in some shops today after decades of use. If you own one or are responsible for maintaining one, the manual is the document that covers installation, operation, lubrication schedules, speed and feed selection, and the parts breakdown needed for repair. Getting the right version of the manual matters because Cincinnati Bickford made the Super Service in several column sizes (21-inch, 24-inch, and 28-inch being common designations for the column swing), and the manuals differ between sizes.

The Super Service is a radial drill press: the arm extends horizontally from a vertical column, and the drill head travels along the arm, which can also be raised, lowered, and rotated around the column. This gives the machine the ability to position the spindle over a wide area without moving the workpiece, which is the core industrial advantage of a radial design. The machine uses a geared-head spindle with power feed, variable spindle speeds through a gearbox, and a substantial Morse taper spindle (MT4 or MT5 depending on the machine size) for tooling.

Straight answer: the Cincinnati Bickford Super Service manual exists in print and PDF form through industrial-machinery documentation specialists, reproduction manual sellers (including Amazon listings and mcspt.com), and VintageMachinery.org. Identify your machine’s column size and the serial number before searching, since those details determine which version of the manual applies.

Identifying your machine before finding the manual

The Super Service came in multiple sizes. The column swing (21, 24, or 28 inches) is the primary size identifier, and this determines which manual applies. The serial number, on a plate on the column or base, establishes the machine’s production era and any mid-production changes that might affect parts availability. Record both before searching for documentation.

For operation and parts, the manual breaks down into two sections: the operating/instruction section and the parts section, sometimes sold separately as reproduction documents. The parts manual is the more critical reference for repair work, since it contains the exploded diagrams and numbered parts lists.

Where to find the manual

• Reproduction-manual sellers: Specialty sellers carry reproductions of the Cincinnati Bickford Super Service instructions and parts manuals. Amazon carries at least one reproduction covering the 21-, 24-, and 28-inch Upright Drill versions (repair parts manual specifically). Machinery specialty sites like mcspt.com sell the 9-inch column version.
• VintageMachinery.org: The site maintains a publications index for Cincinnati Bickford Tool Co. with 23 submitted publications; members have submitted manuals, catalogs, and parts lists available for viewing or download.
• Practical Machinist forums: Owners and rebuilders of Cincinnati Bickford machines share documentation and sourcing advice. The forum has multiple threads on the Super Service radial drill.
• Industrial dealers and riggers: Shops that deal in vintage industrial machinery sometimes have documentation that came with machines they acquired.

Using the manual for maintenance and repair

The Super Service uses a gearbox-driven variable-speed spindle, which means the maintenance schedule covers gearbox oil, spindle bearings, and arm elevation mechanism lubrication. The manual’s lubrication schedule is critical on these machines; a dry gearbox on a 70-year-old radial press causes expensive damage. Follow the schedule for the lubricant types and service intervals.

For parts, the Super Service is a vintage machine with limited new-part availability. Common replacement needs are spindle bearings (matchable by bearing dimensions), V-belts in the drive train (matchable by measurement), and electrical components (switches, contactors) that can be substituted with modern equivalents of matching specifications. Structural castings and gearbox components require a used-parts donor of the same model.

The honest flaws

Two honest points. First, the Super Service is a complex industrial machine, and maintenance or repair beyond basic lubrication and bearing replacement is not a beginner project; the geared head and power-feed mechanism require familiarity with industrial machine tools. Second, structural parts for these machines are vintage-only, which means condition and completeness of a donor machine matters greatly when buying for parts. Neither is a criticism of the machine, which is genuinely capable and worth maintaining; both set accurate expectations for the work involved.

Who needs this manual, and who should hire a specialist

You need this manual if you operate, maintain, or are restoring a Cincinnati Bickford Super Service and want to do it correctly, particularly for lubrication schedules and parts identification. The manual is the authoritative reference for a machine of this quality and age.

Hire a specialist for major gearbox rebuilds, spindle-bearing replacements in the head casting, or arm-elevation mechanism repairs if you are not experienced with industrial machine-tool rebuilding. These are skilled jobs on a precision machine, and doing them wrong is expensive to undo.

Conclusion: identify the machine, then find the right manual version

The Cincinnati Bickford Super Service manual is findable and essential for correct maintenance.

• Identify the column size (21, 24, or 28 inch) and serial number before searching.
• Find the manual through reproduction sellers, VintageMachinery.org, or Practical Machinist.
• The parts manual is the critical reference for repair; the instruction manual covers operation and lubrication.
• Follow the lubrication schedule rigorously; dry gearbox operation damages expensive components.

FAQ

What is the Cincinnati Bickford Super Service? A heavy industrial radial arm drill press from the mid-20th century, made in several column sizes (21-, 24-, and 28-inch are common), with a geared-head spindle and power feed.

How do I identify my machine’s size? By the column swing (arm travel radius), listed on the machine’s nameplate or identifiable by comparing to the manual’s dimensional specifications.

Where do I get the manual? Reproduction sellers (Amazon, mcspt.com), VintageMachinery.org’s publications index, and Practical Machinist forums.

What Morse taper does the Super Service use? MT4 or MT5 depending on the machine size; confirm from the machine’s nameplate or manual.

What parts are available new? Bearings (matched by dimensions), belts (matched by measurement), and electrical components (modern equivalents). Structural castings require a used-parts donor.

Is this a good machine to own? Yes, for a shop that needs radial-drill capability and has the skill to maintain it. These were precision production machines and, properly maintained, they still perform to that standard.

References

• VintageMachinery.org, Cincinnati Bickford Tool Co. publications index: http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=2543&tab=3
• Cincinnati Bickford Super Service Upright Drill 21”, 24” & 28” Repair Parts Manual (reproduction), Amazon: Check on Amazon
• Practical Machinist, Cincinnati Bickford Super Service discussion threads: https://www.practicalmachinist.com/forum/threads/cincinnati-bickford-radial-drill-help.411214/
• MCSPT, Cincinnati Bickford manuals: https://www.mcspt.com/shop/Cincinnati-Bickford-Manuals.html