Old Delta 6" jointer

hi there.
definitely check out owwm.com.

they have extensive registries of all these old tools, and all the forum members can set you straight on whatever you need, too.

Checked with them and they do not have anything listed on this machine, thank you for the thought.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter

I have the same problem—just inherited a jointer from a family member. No serial #s, most of the little plates, except the depth indicator, missing. Think I have one of the two models you listed. I’ve been trying to find some kind of parts diagram or something to ID it by eye. Let you know if you find anything. If you find something… please keep me in mind.

Try ereplacementparts. Theyve got a lot of decent info.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

I wonder if that Sears molder is the Foley-Belsaw (6” width?). It may have a universal motor, which would not be my choice to put on your jointer.

If you can find a patent number on the thing anywhere plug it into Google patents. Not an instruction manual, but usually you can get a decent working drawing that way. And often by seeing who filed the patent you can figure out some more abut it. I bought a ‘J-line’ jointer as a garage sale a while back. Turns out J Line was an in-house brand of another company, Broadhead Garret that marketed the machines to schools, and probably manufactured by yet another company.

Anyway my point is that the jumping off point was actually a patent date stamped on the jointer fence.

-- Ted

I’d say you’re looking for something in the 1930’s. Delta started keeping records of their serial numbers in 1941 starting with serial number 13-0000.

Here a couple of potentially useful links:
Pre-1941 6” Jointers
http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=4918
http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=7602
http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=4680
http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=2449
http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=14946

If your old Delta Jointer is anything like my old Delta Drill Press, Lathe, and Bandsaw getting a manual close the year (a decade) is often times close enough. Here are a couple I found:
6” Jointer Manuals
1943 – http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=3236
1949 – http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=880

Lastly you can look at their OLD catalogs here:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=1141&tab=3
Select “General Line catalogs” under Filter by publication type, then you can click on “Pub Date” can that will filter those catalogs from oldest to newest.

If you have specific questions go to www.owwm.org (not .com). That is their forum site. Those guys have knowledge about this stuff that is baffling and can get you through an tune up and repair.

-- I came - I sawed - I over-built