RR Eclipse main frame

[Kansas Rust Buzzard]

I was hunting for pics of RR Eclipses to try to figure out what size chain to use on mine and found these images from one of the past Trade Fairs. What in the heck brand of Eclipse had a bottom half that bolted to the main frame? I sure don't remember it and it must have been 20 years ago or more. I am sure curious if anyone knows, thanks

[windybob]

Well it could be F&W, or Dempster, Axtell, or whatever. My question is how do you know a genuine Eclipse from a copy?

[Kansas Rust Buzzard]

I got the parts books for all of those and none of them used a detachable base. Most of those mills used different reinforcing ribs and other minor variations from brand to brand, just like the snouts that held the main shaft were often shaped a little differently from brand to brand on the farm style Eclipse copies. Look at that one behind it, I can't tell from this angle what it is, but think of how big the base of the main frame would have to have been to bolt the flange on the ring to, it would be a very heavy and odd looking head. I am kind of dumb founded on this one.

[Minnemiller]

Well it could be F&W, or Dempster, Axtell, or whatever. My question is how do you know a genuine Eclipse from a copy?

Jim Collums or Steve Smart could tell us more about these than I can but the part numbers are the best way to tell. The non F-M railroad mills weren't nearly as common as the F-M ones so odds are its a real Eclipse.

I got the parts books for all of those and none of them used a detachable base. Most of those mills used different reinforcing ribs and other minor variations from brand to brand, just like the snouts that held the main shaft were often shaped a little differently from brand to brand on the farm style Eclipse copies. Look at that one behind it, I can't tell from this angle what it is, but think of how big the base of the main frame would have to have been to bolt the flange on the ring to, it would be a very heavy and odd looking head. I am kind of dumb founded on this one.

The big Eclipses had these bolt on cones. I think this may be from a 25' mill

[Kansas Rust Buzzard]

OK, that makes sense, all my information is for the 18 and 22 1/2 mills so I was not aware of that. On my 18ft mill, it has different reinforcement ribs in the main frame than the ones at Lubbock or any of my drawings, I wonder if FM changed them over the years of it this is an oddball brand? It was supposed to have came from the RR originally and sold to a ranch where the Texas conversion parts were added? Thanks