Thread: The Charles & Hunting "Alta" Combination Machine.

H, just to kick proceedings of, I will get a post started on these little Wolfenden Table saws anyway and we will see where it goes....
Any talk on woodworking machinery is good talk.

Melbourne Matty.

A Woodfast combo is currently in a Grays Online auction.

I watched this woodfast Alta go of this afternoon, I just could not belieave my eyes !!

Rip saw / buzzer / dowler combination | eBay

Melbourne Matty.

Who didn't Woodfast take over Tough also I believe around then. Thanks for a great thread Matty not only do you always provide a large amount of technical information and photo's, the picture you paint with the personal history add's so much. We forget how many great producer's of fine machinery we have lost.

Regards Rod.

[QUOTE=L.S.Barker1970;1612211]I would like to see that H, I have see a spindle moulder and boring machine made by C&H but not a Mortiser.

Matty,
Pic of an old photo of the morticer.
H.

H, that is something !!

Such a compact little machine too, there are some familiar handles on that mortiser, the same as the Alta I'm guessing.
Very nice heavy cast base and back pillar, the electric motor looks like a later edition or may have been reconditioned perhaps ?
I can see the C&H lettering in the cast and a decent counter weight on the back of the handle.
Did you have it long H ?

I'm impressed with this little mortiser, C&H machines are a bit of a favorite as they were made local to where I grew up, thanks so much for putting it up H !!

Melbourne Matty.

A Good mate of mine had seen one of the Alta combination machine's we had restored a while back and asked me if I would keep an eye out for one.
These are an invaluable machine and as he is a young Carpenter I could defiantly see him getting some use out of such a machine.
I really encouraged him on purchasing one that was on Ebay recently, and he managed to get it for a half decent price considering the last one we saw went for well over a thousand.
He was quite happy to go all the way with the restoration considering it was still in reasonable working order.
We are replacing bearings on the 6 inch planer, all the belts, they were pretty shot, the electrical was a nightmare, and all needs replacing including the switch.
Sand blasting and Powder coating was a great idea considering all the surface rust to the base, it came up well.
The most interesting thing about this machine was that it still had all its accessories plus more, in particular the original saw guard and riving knife, I had only seen in catalog pic's



Massive extension table for the saw, something I have never seen before on these little machines, it is very much a original factory fitted item.



A little rusty at the base but nothing a little sandblasting won't fix.





The base all Sandblasted clean.



Planer/Jointer and parts sandblasted, taped up and ready for powder coating.



Masking up process, basically where you don't want to be powder coating to go.



The Base coated and fresh from the bake oven.



A ute full of parts, ready to assemble together, stay tuned for more !!

Melbourne Matty.

Matty,

Another one on the factory line, you must be able to strip these down with your eyes closed by now. Matty that is a great example. How was the fine adjust on this one (any signs of it tipping in the past)?

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by camoz

Matty,

Another one on the factory line, you must be able to strip these down with your eyes closed by now. Matty that is a great example. How was the fine adjust on this one (any signs of it tipping in the past)?

Cheers,

Camo

Yep tipping had occurred, Cam I have only see one of these fine adjustments in prefect condition, most are broken and welded as was this one !

Melbourne Matty.

Matty

These machines look very robust for their size I can understand why carpenters liked to have them on the job site

Another C&H chisel Mortiser down in Tassie on Gumtree. It's for sale with a chain mortiser and a tennoner for $1000

Chain mortiser,Chisel mortiser, Tenoner | Miscellaneous Goods | Gumtree Australia Waratah Area - Wynyard | 1029724910

The C&h gear would make a nice medium size, vintage, Melbourne made workshop look Matty .
With an Alta, the dove tailing set up and the chisel mortiser .
Did they make any thing else in woodworking machines ?

Rob

Originally Posted by auscab

Did they make any thing else in woodworking machines ?

Rob

Rob, I have seen and used a Shaper and sander also by Charles and Hunting.

Melbourne Matty.

Matty, I have an ALTA F526 combination machine which is missing the guide and rail the guide slides on. Do you know where I could source these parts from? Thanks.

Are they known as an F526 ? Ive not noticed that . When you say " which is missing the guide and rail the guide slides on" are you talking the fence and that round bar and the adjustment end as well ?
I would bet it got taken off for repair and is still leaning in some ones work shop some where , or worse, has been thrown out.
Like Matty said they were top heavy and they tipped real easy when balanced on those two wheels . we have had two of those Alta's here and both were broken there.

Missing parts ? I think you would be very lucky to come across any Alta ones . Even from Matty whose driveway looks like an Alta dealership at times

Your chances may increase if you copy that picture with the Red Arrows I put on and post it in Camo's thread which is in here as well , with a story , and a picture of your Alta would be interesting to see as well

If you didn't find one you would have to convert an old one off another saw or buy a new one and fit it I think.
I did a conversion of a Wellcome saw fence onto my Wadkin Bursgreen 10 AGS , Its great IMHO.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f299/missing-machine-people-look-181922

Rob