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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Adelaide, SA
    Age
    87
    Posts
    239

    Default ARTISAN Home Joiner Combo

    Does anybody remember these?

    Found 1 in a local 2nd hand place.

    Rough description
    9 or 10 inch saw with a very small table.
    no angle facility
    table raises and lowers
    fence rather flimsy and no calibration
    mitre guide missing

    6" jointer - table about 2'6" long
    in feed table raises and lowers with saw table

    thicknesser - maximum thickness 6"
    has a feed, couldn't see if it still works

    large spindle and small bed at right hand end. Could have a been for a spindle moulder, looks too heavy for disk sander.

    3 hp single phase motor (240V or 480V)

    appears not to have been used for quite a while.

    All cast iron and despite being small - very heavy.

    The 2 main adjustments are made with big winding handles and work fine.

    Owner knocked back $550 (not from me) - seems a bit high to me but any comments from anybody else.

    Could it still be worthwhile or is it just a museum piece?
    GeoffS

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Adelaide, SA
    Age
    87
    Posts
    239

    Default

    Just a couple of further comments-
    The spindle at the right is obviously for horizontal mortising - although I'm not sure how you would attach a drill and getting the height of the table right would be hell.
    The saw does not have a splitter.
    I am sure I remember ads for this (or very similar machines) in the 50's or 60's.
    Surely there is sombody out there older than me who remembers them!!!
    Thanks to the moderator for moving this.
    Last edited by GeoffS; 29th June 2003 at 09:17 AM.
    GeoffS

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    5,773

    Default

    Sounds scary to me!!!

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Stawell. Victoria
    Age
    81
    Posts
    116

    Default

    Dear Geoff,
    Just came across your quiery re 'Artisan' combination
    machine. I remember them well........... the best of their type back
    in the late 50's and 60's.
    Two models were available, the one you described is
    the smaller, the larger had 12" saw, 8"buzzer and 8'x8' thicknesser........... I have this particular model.
    I still use it today, an excellent machine. The factory that made them closed down about 15 years ago, however last time I spoke with the manager a few spare parts were still available (that was about 8 years ago; located in Thornbury)
    The manager was a Mr Tilley as I remember and I think traded as Artisan Foundary or something similiar,
    If you are still interested, I try and find exact details for you, however it may be too late for you.

    Kind Regards,
    Ron A.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Adelaide, SA
    Age
    87
    Posts
    239

    Default

    Ron
    Thanks for the info. No, I didn't buy it, went for about $750 from memory. Appeared a bit too high to me. Now if it had been the 12" machine I just might now own it.
    It is certainly a solid machine. Used to drool over that type of gear back when they were new but as a newly-wed etc they were way beyond the budget.
    Thanks again
    Cheers
    GeoffS

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Darwin
    Posts
    2

    Default

    I also have one of the larger machines and it is superbly handmade by Artisan Woodworking Machinery Pty Ltd. The buzzer, thicknesser and saw operates beautifully. Unfortunately, as a beginner, I don't know what the removable side table that slides on to the lifting handles is for. It has a short guide rail (for the cast iron fence?) The guide is at right angles to the saw shaft. The cast iron subtable also has a mitre gauge slot cut to line up with the saw blade shaft, and the pulley end of that shaft appears to have a concentric hole with a taper thread. Maybe it is for a shaper, sander or morticer? What bits made today would fit?
    The whole lot is powered by a rather silent 3 ph 5 hp motor, that actually outputs the full HP, together with at least a 50% overload factor. These days, the power is measured by caculating the motor's input wattage, and that is quite unrelated to the power output.
    Anyone out there can advise me please?
    Cheers from Darwin

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    40

    Default Artisan

    When we were young and in our new home, my wife and I would buy each other usefull things because we didn't have enough money for useless gifts, I bought her a sewing machine, and she bought me at ARTISAN combination bench saw one Christmass from McEWANS in Elizabeth St. We still live in the same house which thanks to this piece of equipement is twice the size and two story. I realize that like most of my other old tools this seems rather antiquated to most of you younger men but at the time this was top of the range for a home workshop and probably cost about $700 in 1966. The motor on mine was one horsepower which was all you were allowed to use on household single phaze in those days. I actually believe that it was the equivalent of much more today. The little table on the Right was a dowell table and I had a thredded spigot made so it would take the 3/8 chuck from my new SHER drill. All in all it was very satisfactory for the times and I am still using it. I am not one to go on about anything old being better than anything new, but I do wonder if one of the new ones would have lasted as well. The bearings are still running well and I am on my second moter. I have always had a second job and this saw has worked really hard over the years.

    so when you see one think kindly of it, before you go home to your lovely modern JET and CARBATEC workshop.

    Frank

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Darwin
    Posts
    2

    Smile Artisan combo machine

    Thanks Frank. I will utilise the little table as a doweller as you suggest, and perhaps also make a sanding disk to fit.
    Our families seem rather similar and much of the furniture and structures around our home bear teeth marks from the Artisan. If the Artisan home versions were $700, I wonder what the bigger pro jobs cost? Even $700 was equal to nearly $5000 in today's money.
    Knight

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    40

    Default artisan

    At the risk of sounding like a cross between everybodys grandfather and a political activist, I should point out that it is only over the more recent times of tarrif reduction and comparatively free trade that we have been able to purchase the wonderfull range of cheap power tools that we now can. When I purchased the Artisan 40 odd years ago it was considered rediculous that a hobbyist would buy such a thing. And we should all contemplate the advantages to us and our buying power if the USA free trade agreement succeeds. This would actually make a good thread on its own.

    Frank

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Adelaide, SA
    Age
    87
    Posts
    239

    Default

    Thanks to all - but not!!!!
    After all the praise this little machine has received I am beginning to regret I didn't bid on it - hindsight and all that.
    Cheers
    GeoffS

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    albury
    Posts
    24

    Default

    Sorry late for reply I just joined forum. I worked for Artisan woodworking Machinary between 1969-1973 It was located in ford cresent Thornbury and indeed Mr Tilley was the owner.They also made commercial dish and glass washing machines.Fond memories back as a 16 year old.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    albury
    Posts
    24

    Red face

    Sorry late for reply I just joined forum. I worked for Artisan woodworking Machinary between 1969-1973 It was located in ford cresent Thornbury and indeed Mr Tilley was the owner.They also made commercial dish and glass washing machines.Fond memories back as a 16 year old.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mt Waverley, Melb.
    Posts
    1

    Arrow Wanted: A manual for the artisan combination thicknesser.

    Hi
    Was just wondering if anyone had a manual for the Artisan Thicknesser?
    If so you can contact me directly on [email protected] so we can work out about copying and posting.
    Thanks all.
    :confused:

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    1

    Default Another late reply

    Another late reply. My mates 95 year old Grandfather moved into care because he became too blind to (among other things), work in his workshop. None of his offspring wanted his Artisan combination machine (1960s) and 26 inch band saw (1940s), so I got them for $250.

    My Artisan combo is also the large one with the 12 inch saw and 8inch planer/thicknesser and dowelling drill. It also has some levers to allow it to be used as a cut off saw. I think it is a foot operated system to make the saw blade rise and fall.

    These posts read like they refer to pictures but I cant see them. I would love to see some pictures of a complete, good condition Artisan, as mine is definitely in need of a birthday.

    I"m new to the site and need to explore it. I'll post some pics. The band saw I got is an awesome looking old machine.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Sydney, Northern Beaches
    Posts
    1,189

    Default

    Welcome to the forums Hoffa. I look forward to seeing your machinery photographs.

    prozac

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