Oldest Working Machine?

Here is my Hormel-Wagner combo sander from 1914. Based on the patent, it looks like it might be the first of it’s kind.

wow i cant even come close. 30 years old is the oldest i have

I’ve got a wrench from the 1800’s, but not power tools. My saw is an old Craftsman, but it’s probably from the ‘60’s. My dad has some power tools from the ‘40’s, but nothing near 1914.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

The main tool in my shop is over 60 (ME)

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

my oldest tool is my early 60”s table saw, an old delta, but it”s not even close to that sander.

-- Roper - Master of sawdust-

gosh ,
i never even noticed ,
my tools either work ,
or they don’t !
i’ve got 3 different catagories of tools .
1- shop tools .
2- job site tools .
3- tons of old tools ( some might work , and some may not )
but i can’t bring myself to throw away ,
i give some to W.W. that need them .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

I have in storage, an old ‘Porch-Post-Turning-Lathe, CA early late 1800’s/early 1900’s. No pic’s
Ira

-- Rustfever, Central California

Wow, I thought I was doing well with a couple of 1953 Shopsmiths, but I guess I’m way outa my league here, although if you count the # of tools they each convert to with accessories, (about 11 or 12) I’m in pretty good shape on sheer numbers.

I really think, though, that using the older power tools is kind of a cult-like thing. At least for me, it’s not just the use/utility of the tool, it’s feeling you get using something that old. Also, they never seem to break or wear out.

It’s the same with many of my hand tools (Planes, saws & chisels). I think my newest hand plane is over 60 years old & most are much older. -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

Well, I guess David’s sander just shut this thread down, huh!! :-) I don’t have anything that can touch that.

No need to shut down the thread. I could be disqualified on a techincality because I don’t have it hooked to a motor at the moment. Besides, I love old machines. OWWM.org is one of my other favorite sites.

That little thing is quite heavy though. It only takes a 4”x36” belt, but it weighs around 50#. You don’t see castings like that anymore.

david ,
i take it that you are talking about a belt sander ?
but it reminds me of my buddy ,
that went back to the doctor after they removed his colostomy bag.
the doctor told him not to lift anything over 5 lbs. .
and he said ,
” i guess i’ll have to get my wife to help me take a leak ” !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

I have a Delta Table Saw. I’m not sure, but it should be from the late 40’s or early 50’s
I started using it in the early 60’s . It was old then. I still use it now, only recently took it out of my door shop.
Still has the original motor and bearings (although they need to be changed)

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

Patron my mother in law complains that the trouble with her colostomy bag is she has difficulty finding Gloves and shoes to match LOLAlistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

I have a 1930s vintage bench-top shaper, a 1945 dewalt “portable” 12” RAS, a 1954 Delta double-arm 10” RAS, and two Sears bench top tools—table saw and jig saw—from the 1920s?, both of which have not been reconditioned. if you really want to see numerous old woodworking machines, go to http://www.owwm.com, which is related to http://www.owwm.org, mentioned above

-- Raymond McInnis Washington State ray@woodworkinghistory.com

The oldest wood working tool I have is my 103.0404 Craftsman Scroll Saw (mid 1940’s). The oldest tool that I have is my Companion bench grinder (late 1930’s). I use it for more than just wood working so I don’t really put it in the same category. Several other old tools, both working and undergoing resto, but these are my oldest.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

My patternmaker’s lathe was made by Rollstone Machine Company, Fitchburg, MA in the 1880s. :)

Hutch

-- I hope the volume of shavings one creates is directly related to the probablility of one's success, cuz if so I've got it made!!

My oldest stationary machine is a Rockwell jig saw from about 1965. Although I dont use it anymore, I keep it in working order and it looks neat :-)

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

-- Don S.E. OK

I am in the final phase of restoration on a Walker Turner 16-544 TA 1180B table saw. The serial number puts it at 1944-45. It was completely stripped to bare metal, primed and painted. All of the bearings have been replaced, motor has had new bearings installed and new wiring. I have recently found an original Walker Turner blade guard that will be installed. It has been a lot of fun and work restoring the saw.

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

Thats going to be one sweet saw Ken…look forward to seeing the finished saw when done.

-- Don S.E. OK

Looking good there Ken! & I agree with Don, if you don’t have pictures, it didn’t happen!

-- If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem!

I’ve got a Colcord-Wright drill press without any date info to go on . The best guess I’ve been able to come up with from internet research is maybe around 1910-20. A motor is real obviously not the original power source as it’s definitely something added on later. It takes really wide leather belts that were driven by something not part of the DP.
Here’s mine but it’s hard to see the DP with the lighting, the table I built for it and other stuff hung on it.

Here’s a clean one that I spotted on eBay a while back

-- Use the fence Luke

I run a 1923 Diehl ripsaw everyday . About once or twice a week a 1930’s Oliver shaper for s4s of general stock with a feeder .They will both outlast me !! There are pics of these machines in some of my earlier posts -

-- rob

1948(?) Shopsmith 10E. Still works like new too. One of these days I’m gonna restore it.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Here’s my Northfield Shaper 1967. Need to clean her up a bit before I relocate her into the new shop…
[IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b200/cdat/A%20and%20J%20Tooling/shaperpart2006.jpg[/IMG]

I’ve got a 1932 W-T Driver Line drill press.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

How about this Sioux electric drill. It was a gift to my brother from my father. I’m guessing it would have to have been between 1935 and 1944. Not much earlier or later. Brushes have been replaced a couple of times. It has a retrofitted switch, original parts not available. And, it has a newer cord and plug. It works quite well. I don’t use it but I hold onto it for sentimental reasons.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://web.me.com/deceiver6/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

I just sold a Beaver tools jointer I think dated to 1943, and a drill press from the 50s. I’ve got a couple old tools i wouldn’t call in working order simply because I don’t trust the old cloth wrapped power cords, perticularily the ones built without grounded power.(old 2 prongs) I’ve never bought an antique tool. Just inherited them from people who bought them new…

-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.

I have to figure out this pic thing so I can show you guys some realy old tools.

-- http://www.federalsaw.com

I have a Fay-Egan table saw Model 501C I’m guessing lat 1940 or 1950. All of the official records of the company were destroyed when the last living hier passed away and the family threw out all of his personel psssesions. “The Official Company Books”

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

im goint tomorrow to pick up a 13” sears thickness planer that i am recieving from my uncle that he says is around fifty years old, il prob end up restoring it eventually

My age: 22, my youngest tool (joiner) is 20, my oldest toll is a cast iron base bench table saw being 71 years old made in 38’. my average tool age: about 60. I have about 12 medium size tools and have a total of $800 in it all.