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  1. #61
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    Default And Another.

    Another from New Zealand.

    aRB 884a.jpg Front view of the machine.

    RB 884, test 42634, of 1952.

    aRB 884t.jpg

    It has the third "RD" type of fence...

    aRB 884g.jpg aRB 884f.jpg 1st RB version of the RD fence, sans handwheel.

    ... and the 4th type of handwheel...

    aRB 884h.jpg aRB 884i.jpg Cast aluminium, 3 spokes

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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  3. #62
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    Default October 2017 Update.

    The following is an updated list of known RB buzzers;

    RB 109, test 4359, 1926-30 - New Zealand (RIP in 1987);
    RB 113, test 4367, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 116, test 4374, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 117, test 4375, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 158, test 8623, of 1937 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 183, test 9335, of 1937 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 190, test 9407, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBV 255, test 2359/2559 of maybe 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 418, test 10699, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RBA 464, test 14604, of 1940 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RBA 497, test 25435, of 1945 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 512, (test no. unknown) - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 563, test 29408, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 567, test 29231, of 1947 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 734, test 35301, of 1949 - New Zealand;
    RB 745, test 35560, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 830, test 39773, of 1951 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 876, test 42337, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 884, test 42634, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 886, test 42636, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 921, test 45225, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 1010, test 50380, of 1954 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag.

    With RB 884 and RB 886 (just 2 numbers apart) having test numbers 42634 and 42636 (also 2 numbers apart), it's a reasonable assumption that test number 42635 was allocated to RB 885 (wherever that machine is now...)

    Cheers, Vann.
    Last edited by Vann; 23rd October 2017 at 07:37 AM. Reason: Tag info added.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  4. #63
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    Default And More.

    Another RB - this one is in a dealer's premises in New Zealand.

    aRB 567c.jpg Front view.

    aRB 567d.jpg Rear view.

    According to the seller, it's RB 567, test 29231, which would make it a 1947 machine.

    It has the third type of handwheel...

    aRB 567h.jpg Cast iron, 5 spokes.

    ... and the 2nd type of fence.

    aRB 567f.jpg aRB 567g.jpg Note the break in the fence .

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  5. #64
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    Default Another Lead Bites the Dust.

    I got a phone call from a friend in Christchurch last night. He's a rail buff. He's been cataloging files, photos, etc. for the local Canterbury Railway Society.

    I had asked him if he could keep a look out for the NZR Machinery Record cards from the Addington Railway Workshops (Christchurch), which closed at the end of the 1980s.

    If I can find a Machinery Record card for one of the twelve RB's bought in the late 1920s, it will tell me exactly when those early RBs were installed. As the Canterbury Railway Society's Ferrymead Railway has one of the machines (RB 113) I thought the chances were high.

    Richard reports that there are no Machinery Record cards in the files he's cataloging. He tracked down two former Addington employees who sorted through the records immediately after the workshops closed. One specifically remembers the cards, and concluded at the time that one-one would be interested in them - and they went into the skip.

    So that's one line of enquiry that's now closed.

    Of the other three workshops that had these RB buzzers:

    Otahuhu (Auckland) closed in 1993. There are no railway groups in Auckland with a strong interest in written railway history, so I don't believe anything other than blueprints survived that closure.

    Hutt (Wellington) is still open, though a shadow of it's former self. There are no buzzers still there, and no Machinery Record cards for the buzzers still there. Generally the machine records were offered to the new owners when machinery was sold off (such as when I bought my Wadkin PK). The listing for the Pattern Shop buzzer (RB 109) indicates it was scrapped in 1987 - but the cards are missing. This has me thinking that it might have been sold as scrap - to someone who intended to keep it working - someone within the railway who could get access to the records. The most likely "someone" is the guy who bought the Robinson recessor from the Pattern Shop (as a going concern), a guy I worked with until he retired in the 1990s (I had no idea he had a woodworking shop at home, at the time). He died a few years ago, and his widow disposed of his machinery. Another line of enquiry fades...

    Hillside (Dunedin): The administration office was handed over to the new owners when the Foundry and Pattern Shop was sold to an Australian operator, and the remainder of the workshops were closed, in 2013. I've asked the Pattern Shop supervisor if he has the Machinery Record cards for his machines, but he hasn't replied to any e-mails since I paid for my RB. There is a very good local historical library in Dunedin (the Hocken Library) - it's on my list to visit next time I'm down that way.

    I'll keep looking through Archives NZ records, and there's a railway society with an archive here in Wellington - but I'm not confident I'll find what I'm looking for.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  6. #65
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    Default H.Morris & Co.

    Here's a Wadkin RB in war production - making gunstocks during WW2.

    RB Morris2.jpg RB Morris.jpg Full record for 'WOOD GOES TO WAR' (1509) - Moving Image Archive catalogue

    It's the early type main casting with the high arch, and first type of fence. Long (5') tables. Same as AndyRV's RB. Is that wood across the front to reduce shavings pouring through the arch?

    There's more Wadkins in that video (thanks to Jack for posting the link back in 2015 on CWW).

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  7. #66
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    Default The Origin of the Species.

    Quote Originally Posted by Vann View Post
    ...Then on 2nd September, 1925, they added a late specification, No.101, for the supply of 12 Bench Planers - High Speed...(snip)

    These tenders closed on 15th February 1926, and the tender for Specification 101 for 12 Bench Planers - High Speed was won by Wadkin & Coy. With the exception of 1 further Bench Planer (ordered in September 1928) Wadkin did not win any other orders for planers...(snip)

    A summary of winning tenders was published in July, 1926.

    Attachment 413818 Attachment 413817

    I haven’t found any further correspondence advising when the RB buzzers arrived. My Preston bandsaw was installed at Hutt workshops in February, 1929, so it would not be unreasonable to expect that the Wadkin buzzers were to hand about the same period. This suggests that Wadkin were producing the RB buzzer from around 1926-28.

    A further document dated 17th September, 1930, summarises all new machinery supplied.

    Attachment 413819

    Included is that the 12 Bench Planers - High Speed were shipped as follows:
    - 3 to Auckland (nearest port to Otahuhu workshops) – value £176 6s 9d;
    - 3 to Wellington (nearest port to Hutt workshops) – value £176 6s 9d;
    - 3 to Lyttleton (nearest port to Addington workshops) – value £176 6s 5d;
    - 3 to Port Chalmers (nearest port to Hillside workshops) – value £176 6s 5d.
    an average value of £58 15s 6d each.

    (snip)...for the tender from Wadkin & Coy. to have arrived in New Zealand by 15th February, 1926, it would have had to have been in the post by about 1st January, 1926 (there was some correspondence about 6 weeks being required for mail in each direction). This means that Wadkin's RB planer/buzzer must have been ready to go, at least in concept (if not already in production) by the end of 1925. So the period of production for the RB can be assumed to be from ~1926 to ~1954.
    I recently made my first (well, second actually) foray into the world of catalogue buying, the the purchase of a copy of Wadkin & Co.s Booklet No.173 "Electric-driven Woodworking Machinery"

    aCat cover.jpg

    Which, according to the printers data at the bottom of page 24, is one of 5000 copies printed in April, 1928.

    aCat 24.jpg

    Booklet No. 173 lists the electrically driven 6" RA buzzer, and the electrically cobbled together RC buzzer, in 9", 12", 16" & 22" versions...

    aCat RA.jpgcat-RC.jpg

    ...but no 9" RB buzzer.

    This suggests to me that the RB buzzer, tendered for in December, 1925, was not yet in production in early 1928.

    So I feel I need to change my conclusions in the above quoted post: "...the period of production for the RB can be assumed to be from ~1928 to ~1954."

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  8. #67
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    Default

    Of course, just because it was printed in April 1928 doesn't mean that the content was older. Might have been a re-print of earlier content.

  9. #68
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    Default Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - part 1.

    Another from the United Kingdom.

    193-1.jpg Front view of the machine.

    This one has been converted to single phase (according to the seller).

    It has the 4th type of handwheel, making it 1949 or later.

    193-5.jpg Cast aluminium, 3 spokes.

    And the third type of fence, placing it firmly in the early 1950s (~1952 or 1953).

    193-3.jpg RD fence, with two gates, but sans handwheel.

    ... and ... a Wadkin & Co. tag claiming it's RB 193, test 9452, of 1938 .

    193-8.jpg It looks like it's been overstamped from '153'.

    There's something weird going on here .

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  10. #69
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    Default December 2017 Update.

    The following is an updated list of known RB buzzers;

    RB 109, test 4359, 1926-30 - New Zealand (RIP in 1987);
    RB 113, test 4367, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 116, test 4374, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 117, test 4375, 1926-30 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 158, test 8623, of 1937 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 183, test 9335, of 1937 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 190, test 9407, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RB 193, test 9452, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBV 255, test 2359/2559 of maybe 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
    RBA 418, test 10699, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RBA 464, test 14604, of 1940 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RBA 497, test 25435, of 1945 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 512, (test no. unknown) - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 563, test 29408, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 567, test 29231, of 1947 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 734, test 35301, of 1949 - New Zealand;
    RB 745, test 35560, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 830, test 39773, of 1951 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 876, test 42337, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 884, test 42634, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 886, test 42636, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 921, test 45225, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
    RB 1010, test 50380, of 1954 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  11. #70
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    Default

    Didn't wadkin become a Ltd company in 1935 and change the name in 36. Maybe using up some left over tags

  12. #71
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    Default Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - part 2.

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    ...Maybe using up some left over tags
    In 1938 perhaps, but surely not in 1952/53. But a further look suggests the base doesn't match the rest of the machine.

    Early machines have the classic RB stand half-round opening both front and back.

    RB61.jpg RB85.jpg AndyRV's RB 190 has this stand.

    Later RB stands had the rear opening closed in and replaced by an electrical cabinet to house the switchgear.

    RD62.jpg RB 830r.jpg RB 830.

    The electrical cabinet occupies half the base area.

    193-not.jpg Upside-down stand.


    This RB does not have the cabinet, but has the half-round opening at the back.

    193-6.jpg

    And the Wadkin & Co. tag is not a recent addition (the stand has been painted several times since the tags were fitted).

    193-8.jpg 193-7.jpg


    I'd say the machine is a bitsa. The stand casting is period correct for RB 193 of 1938. Everything above is off a later Wadkin Ltd. machine.

    Note the unusual power rating: 220v, 2-phase.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  13. #72
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    Default Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - part 3.

    A series of billboards, advertising a brand of beer, that ran here a few years ago.

    Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 9.03.44 AM.jpg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N344dhVNX5Q

    Next post will be back on topic... honest.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  14. #73
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    Default The Quest Continues.

    As part of my ongoing search for more RB buzzers to add to the list, I called in to see a guy (Liam) in a small town in the central North Island, to see his Wadkin RB (& Cresent bandsaw). Unfortunately the buzzer came from Rotorua where the sulfur had corroded the tin tag so we couldn't read it. The screws wouldn't move so we couldn't take it off the machine into better light.

    aRBLtag.jpg It's also out of focus - which doesn't help - 'though we couldn't read any more than shown in the photo - nix.

    It's very complete, with original switch and guards, although that's not the original motor (note the adapter plate under the motor).

    aRBL1.jpg aRBL3.jpg

    There are some additional electrical components on the back, and a mod to the belt cover.

    aRBL4.jpg aRBL2.jpg

    Anyways, it doesn't have the arch in the main casting, making it 1938 or later. It has the second style of fence making it post-1936 but pre-1952. And it has cast-iron 5-spoke handwheels which makes it almost certainly manufactured between 1947 and 1949 (the period of use of cast-iron spoked handwheels is a little vague and may vary a year or two at each end of the range).

    The cutter guard looks like a Wadkin OEM part - except it appears to be made of aluminium, not brass .

    Liam also put me on to a local business that has an RB, but being New Years Eve and a Sunday I couldn't go look.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Last edited by Vann; 4th January 2018 at 05:24 PM. Reason: Note re: cutter guard added.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  15. #74
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    Default A Sequential Tag.

    Looking through a thread over on CWW I found this RB tag in a post by Camoz.

    WC22b.jpg RB 733, test 35300, of 1949.

    There's no info about the machine (nor its location), but the Test No. precedes RB 734 by one:

    RB 733, test 35300, of 1949 - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
    RB 734, test 35301, of 1949 - New Zealand;

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  16. #75
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    Default And They Keep On Coming.

    Another one to add to the list:

    RB 1024a.jpg

    RB 1024, test 50316, of 1954 - the highest numbered RB so far.

    wRB 1024 50316 NZ.jpg

    It appears to be very complete - missing just the screw-in handle from the fence.

    RB 1024b.jpg

    Apparently it was at a high school or technical institute until 5 years ago - where, judging by the condition of the table lips, it had an "interesting" career .

    RB 1024c.jpg

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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