Thread: Can anyone identify this sawbench?

I dont think you will find out. There used to be rows and rows of engineering sheds along the Yarra in South Melbourne. There were hundreds of lathes etc etc they turned out everything and anything for the Government. I believe if the Government wanted that saw that place would make it and the surplus would be sold off. So chances are thats what that is, If its built like a brick dunny its likely to be government.

Originally Posted by beer is good

G'day all,

McColl Electric Works in Melbourne. Fancy that, a motor made in Australia!!
Does anyone recognise the sawbench? Is there a brand name or model number? Any history about it??

Thanks in advance,

Taken over

You get the idea?

I'm going to read some of the hits now.

No idea, but I will compliment you on a good colour choice for an elegant looking machine. Your Dad did a nice job on the shroud too. Fancy Australia once having a manufacturing sector. Must have been before globalisation, eh?

That is a serious looking chunk of steel. How big is the blade?

I think it is 10 inches. (It's late, it's raining so I haven't been to the shed to measure it!) Dad had various cutter heads as well for making his own moulding. It's certainly a chunk of steel, I reckon it would weigh 200 kg - I dismantled it to shift in and it was still a struggle.

I forgot to mention, I have seen a pic of one of these before, I think it was either on this forum or OWWM. I can't recall any details though, sorry.

Can't be sure but it looks like a Wolfenden , made in Melbourne .
There was one very similar in the joinery shop I started my apprentership at ,early 50, this machine gave me the title Nine fingers.
regards John.

Originally Posted by nine fingers

Can't be sure but it looks like a Wolfenden.

Aha! That sure sounds like it:

Allan Wolfenden Machinery P/L
4 Halsey Road
Airport West VIC
3042
Phone (03) 9338 3300

Hi Beer,

Your Beautiful little saw is made by the English maker W.B.Haigh of Oldham England.

W.B.Haigh & Co were Established 1854 and so were one of the very early English makers.
In 1912 interestingly they were joined up with J.Gruban who had come from Germany in 1895 to set up Kirchner's branch office in England.
the firm of Ernst Kirchner & Co. was founded in Leipzig Germany in 1878 and grew to be very successful in the production of wood working machinery.

From 1912 W.B.Haigh & Co became W.B.Haigh, Gruban & Co ltd, But in 1916 Gruban pulled out.

After world war I in 1919 the name became just Haigh's (Odham) Ltd.
A Receiver was appointed in 1925 due to financial difficulties and in 1927 amalgamated with another English firm of T & L Lees from Hollingwood to form Haigh & Lees, and were still in business up to 1939.
At some stage before Haigh's (odham) known as Haigh & Co Ltd. Lees origionally of Hollingwood after the amalgamation both firms were reputed to have moved to Haigh's branch works in Derker street Oldham.


In Australia Gibson Battle were Representatives for W.B.Haigh
Gibson Battle was a major importer of agricultural, mining equipment and Machinery. It also established workshop in Alexandria and an iron foundry in Waterloo. The company was founded in Sydney in 1883 and expanded to Melbourne in 1912.

I hope this ties up a few loose ends, I was also noting that the fence on your saw is not original to the machine and the electric motor was probably a later edition after the flat belt pulleys and belt change were removed.
None the less still a fine example.


Melbourne Matty.

Thanks so much for that infomation Matty. I am really chuffed

My saw certainly looks like the photo in the brochure, although I don't remember the fence which came with the saw. Dad got someone to make the current fence many years ago and bolted the wooden fence to some plate steel on the other side. I think Dad also fitted a fine adjustment to the saw but I don't know if it ever had the same fitting as the one in the photo.

I know there are better benches around with proper dust control and easier ways of raising and lowering the table, but I haven't got room for two benches and I can't bring myself to sell it.

Thanks again for your info and your interest.

Originally Posted by beer is good

Thanks so much for that infomation Matty. I am really chuffed

Its a Pleasure !
That little saw is a keeper, I have never seen one like it.

Melbourne Matty.