Thread: Sight Seeing

Here are the pics. I am in the middle of a repair on the unit, so it's been sitting in the corner, neglected for some time. Let me know if there is anything specific you want a photo of.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Here are the pics. I am in the middle of a repair on the unit, so it's been sitting in the corner, neglected for some time. Let me know if there is anything specific you want a photo of.

I'm glad your planning to put the work into it, I'm sure it will be worth it. It can be time consuming to document work you do on a machine, but if you do get a chance to take some photographs when your mucking around, it would be great to see a post on it (oh and no rush, trust me, I would be the last person to comment on how long a machine has waited for attention, just ask the machines in my workshop). That photo is actually a good angle for what I need. It's always hard to give a definitive answer on these sort of subjects, but I would say that is a better match to the one in the 1937 catalogue, than the earlier model, and the one Dale showed.

The obvious difference between the earlier catalogue and the 1937 is the location of the Macson on the casting, the earlier one had it on the front of the base, and table casting. I didn't have the catalogue at hand on my previous post, but looking at it now, the earlier model had a table 32" x 32", and the later model was 32" x 30", so I would probably recommend measuring the table (let me know if it doesn't turn out to be 32" x 30").

The earlier catalogue is the No.34 (which I believe is a 1934 catalogue correction 1933, see Matty's next post for more details), and the one that looks like yours is in the 1937 catalogue. The next catalogue I have is the 1949, and the spindle moulder is an L.S. Barker badged machine. Based on this information, your machine probably dates somewhere between 1934-1949.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by camoz

The obvious difference between the earlier catalogue and the 1937 is the location of the Macson on the casting, the earlier one had it on the front of the base, and table casting. I didn't have the catalogue at hand on my previous post, but looking at it now, the earlier model had a table 32" x 32", and the later model was 32" x 30", so I would probably recommend measuring the table (let me know if it doesn't turn out to be 32" x 30").

The earlier catalogue is the No.34 (which I believe is a 1934 catalogue), and the one that looks like yours is in the 1937 catalogue. The next catalogue I have is the 1949, and the spindle moulder is an L.S. Barker badged machine. Based on this information, your machine probably dates somewhere between 1934-1949.

Cheers,

Camo

Cam,I would agree this model shaper I believe would of been made right up until the mid 1940's at least, then the transition period of Lot Sydney taking over the responsibility for McPherson's at some stage, I have a 1937 McPhersons catalog also and the same machine is still there as you say.
Barkers later shaper was quite different in the shape of the base, much larger more substantial, but some similar features remained, the hand wheel, table size and thickness etc.
It is these late Macson transitional machines that are sometimes the only evidence we see that at some stage in the late 1940's L.S.Barker took over manufacturing for McPhersons Macson line of machines.
Here is a great example of what I am talking about below, its a Macson branded 16 inch rip saw with a L.S.Barker decal on it ....






Cam, not to be picky but a kind fellow pointed out to me also that the no34 catalog is in fact a 1933, he said to have a look on the last pages and there is a date in the postal section.
Here are some catalogue pic's of that lovely Macson shaper any way, Vernon many thanks for showing photos of your machine, I have the later edition, new bearing a few years back it runs as quiet as, sometimes I forget its on, thank goodness for the power feed unit in the way...




Melbourne Matty.

Matty,

Love the catalogue shots, one machine per page, that's a fancy Mcpherson's catalogue. Thanks for picking up on the error in the No. 34, I had a look at mine and says March 1933 (corrected in original thread).

I was thinking about the one Dale photographed v's Vernon's machine, given the one Dale posted doesn't have the Macson on the casting, I was trying to decide if that makes the one Dale showed older or newer than Vernon's, any thoughts?

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by camoz

Matty,


I was thinking about the one Dale photographed v's Vernon's machine, given the one Dale posted doesn't have the Macson on the casting, I was trying to decide if that makes the one Dale showed older or newer than Vernon's, any thoughts?

Cheers,

Camo

Cam I would say the one Dale photographed is an earlier model, the first thing that stands out is the absence of the Macson name in the Casting, as you point out.
The second is the McPhersons Badge, it does not show any "agents for Macson", just McPhersons pty ltd, and Branches Melb Sydney etc..
It may be an earlier badge, also it is not uncommon for Macson/Barker machines to have no casting marks also, a good friend has a Barker Buzzer with no cast letters but it is with out doubt a L.S.Barker machine.

Melbourne Matty.

I love the decal of the dog on the Barker machine from Collie St.