Upcoming "arn" acquisitions

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Tue May 06, 2014 10:35 am

Saddle bags??:D BIG ones.

heathicus wrote:I plan on riding my Harley to Eddie's, Gene. I haven't installed a trailer hitch on it yet.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue May 06, 2014 10:46 am

Digging through the 30's era general Craftsman catalogs at the Vintage Machinery web site, I found 1935 as the last year that exact jig saw appeared in the catalog. It cost $20.95 then ($361.34 in 2014 dollars).

I also found the Companion "No. 4" belt driven grinder in the catalogs. In 1935 it cost $1.98 and included two 4" grinding wheels ($24.15 in 2014 dollars). Of course, you have to supply your own motor. You could buy a 1/3HP, 1750 RPM motor that year for $9.95 or a 1/2 HP, 3600 RPM motor for $18.95 ($171.61 and $326.84 respectively in 2014 dollars).

I haven't found an exact match on the table saw yet. I found an extremely close match in one of the catalogs. A tilt table model with the only differences I could see being the style of the fence attachment (C-channel instead of a flat bar) and the blade height indicator being a lot wider.

Looking through the old Craftsman machines on Vintage Machinery, I discovered something else rather interesting. But I'll find a more appropriate existing thread to share that bit of trivia.

I've got to get my mind off this stuff and get some work done!!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue May 06, 2014 10:50 am

Who is 'Fast Eddie'?

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Wed May 07, 2014 1:31 pm

I'm going to pick them up this evening after work!

Just from the pictures above, I've identified the machines as this:

Jig/Scroll Saw: Sears Craftsman SJ-30. Appears in the 1933-1935 Sears power tools catalogs. Appears to work very similarly to the jig saw designed for use on the Shopsmith 10ER. It can accept small scroll saw blades, or large saber saw blades. A spring in the upper arm maintains tension. The upper arm can be removed for working with large pieces and saber saw blades.

Bench Grinder: Sears Companion No. 4. Appears in the 1932-1939 Sears power tool catalog. A new design for the belt driven 4" grinder appeared in the 1940 catalog. Initially part of the "Driver" line of belt driven tools from Sears. The "Driver" concept is illustrated in the attached image.

Jointer: Sears Companion Jointer-Planer. Appears in the 1932-1934 Sears power tool catalog. Also part of the "Driver" line and initially called a planer instead of a joiner. What appears in the catalog is just a line drawing and there are enough very tiny differences to make me wonder if I'm looking at the right thing. But by 1935 the differences are significant.

Table Saw: Sears 8" Bench saw. The first version of this saw appears in the 1938 Sears power tools catalog. That initial version is very similar to the pictures of "my" saw, but there are some slight differences as well. The one in the '38 catalog has the flat bar fence attachment, but the blade height gauge is shorter and wider. The saw pictured in the 1939 catalog has a blade height indicator like this one, but the fence attaches to a C-channel instead of a flat bar. The one in the '42 catalog has the flat bar and a blade height indicator that looks like this one, but the design of the fence is completely different. In '43, they went to a round bar for the fence attachment. In the next catalog available, 1948, it still has the round bar.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Wed May 07, 2014 11:54 pm

Pictures later. Didn't have time today. But I did get everything home. I mis-identified the jointer. It's the model after the one I thought it was. My favorite thing is the scroll/jig saw. It is massive and heavy and awesome.

In addition to the pictured items, there was a couple boxes of medium and small random stuff. The coolest thing was a complete Sheldon bench vice. All I could find about this is that is from the 1890s through early 1900s. And Christopher Schwartz uses one. He mentions it here: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/workb ... eport-card

The jointer and table saw seem so tiny. The table on the saw is no bigger than an ER table and it only takes an 8" blade. The rip fence feels light and flimsy. But everything is in really great condition. Motors run quiet and smooth. Bearings everywhere feel solid. Everything that should move moves smooth and easy. Rust is light - no pitting.

squashfest81 · Post by **squashfest81** » Mon May 12, 2014 8:36 pm

I happen to be the caretaker of one of these saw. My understanding is that they were made by King Seeley for Craftsman from 47 to 49. 8 inch blade. Tilting table. Crank to raise the blade and one to tilt the table. Blade height indicater on the side. Mine will have to be patient as it needs bearings.
Good saves there.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue May 13, 2014 12:18 am

squashfest81 wrote:I happen to be the caretaker of one of these saw. My understanding is that they were made by King Seeley for Craftsman from 47 to 49. 8 inch blade. Tilting table. Crank to raise the blade and one to tilt the table. Blade height indicater on the side. Mine will have to be patient as it needs bearings.
Good saves there.

I've found mine needs new bearings too. One is dry, the other is frozen solid. The table saw is missing the lock mechanism for the fence and the bracket to attach the blade guard. The jointer is missing the blade guard.

Speaking of the jointer, it has developed some interest on OWWM. It has many similarities to a couple well known models, but doesn't seem to exactly match anything that's been seen before.

squashfest81 · Post by **squashfest81** » Tue May 13, 2014 7:42 pm

Definitely keep us in the loop if you source bearings. I will do the same if I get there before you.
Thanks for all the research. Mine is a 47 to 49 based on the cast fence that slides on a round bar.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu May 15, 2014 10:50 am

JPG40504 wrote:
Add 10' to the building.

No No No No No No No No ....... Not 10'... 100'

.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Thu May 15, 2014 11:01 am

robinson46176 wrote:No No No No No No No No ....... Not 10'... 100'

.

One day, that will be an option! Right now, I built my shop like a "portable building" with the intention of being able to move it. We're not staying here next door to my in-laws forever. We've been sticking to our plan, and if nothing throws us off course, by the end of this year we should be able to start looking for land somewhere else.