Hi Will,

I have for some time now been seeking a set of dimensioned drawings for a good boring machine from which to attempt producing a 3D model and so I downloaded the patent details of the Taft machine that you mention above. This machine appears to be quite sophisticated and therefore I have my doubts that this would have been one of the earliest boring machines and more likely a development of earlier prototype machines. The patent holder is clear about the novel features of this machine and therefore one would need to look at other aspects of the design to see what he did not claim under his patent to establish just what the existing level of technology of the day might have been.

Researching patents is a gem of an idea.

Regards

Ken Hume