I am looking at a BP series 1 that is going to cost me about 500$ and a few hours of work. Nothing major. The machine is said to run but that doesn't really concern me too much - I have plans of adding an Ajax/Centroid controller which should do away with all of the outdated controlls.

The questions are - What is the air cylinder for that is on the front/top/left of the machine? Is it for the PDB?

Question #2 - what is the cylinder with the attached hoses on the oppsite side of the head? Spindle speed control of some sort?

Question#3 - What taper should this machine have? (it appears to have some sort of quick change small taper on it now, something like a quarter turn to release the tool..I thought it said something like "quick change 20", but I can't find it anywhere)...

Assuming all of the controls were no good but the ways, ballscrews, and motor are in great shape - would this thing be worth 500$??

It is just like the BP in this link:

http://www.centroidcnc.com/bridgeport_boss.htm

Question 1: brake air cylinder.
Question 2: speed change air motor.
Question 3: Either a QC30 or a Universal Quick Switch 200.

George

Ok, I looked up the Kwik switch 200 stuff and those things are tiny! Is there any advantage to using or not using the 200 stuff?

Kwik switch 200 goes up to 1" shank.
That is tiny?
Cutmore

The taper itself is tiny, Not to mention the spindle looks like it's smaller than normal. Well, I should say I've seen smaller mills with bigger spindles.

In other words, I plan on running it pretty hard and those things may pose a problem, not to mention the avaialbility of the qwik switch tooling doesn't seem to be as readily avaialble.

try this place for tooling, they also have a page that shows the different machine tapers so you can tell what you have. Just don't buy all the kwik switch 200's on me!
http://www.tools-n-gizmos.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=2905418.12306*Dp24x5&user2=yes&user4=KS200&titttle=Universal_Kwik-Switch_200_Tooling_for_sale&ppinc=MT
Cutmore

Thanks for the link! I don't know that I'll even get that machine, so those tools will be safe! ;)

Does that type of tooling perform pretty well? PRetty rigid?

Yes these tool holders are plenty stong enough, I was using a 3" diameter face mill planing the end of a quick change axle adapter. I only had 3 clamps on the part. The part loosened up & my face mill hung-up and stopped my 2hp spindle! This bent the shank on the facemill adapter but the toolholder & luckily the spindle were fine.
So I would say you won't have a problem with this type of toolholder.
Cutmore

ouch!