Thread: Wolfenden Bros Footsgray. Mortiser

Here are some other pictures from the back and the front. It originally and still does run with flat belt, the 3 phase motor added by Matty down low. so I'm guessing the three upper pulleys managed the flat belt that went up from them to the roof ? or down ? and that is to power the large pulley [ Big red arrow ] that turns either the drill in the chisel or the chain . [ The chisel attachment is not with it. ]

Now if you look at the front , there are two upper pulleys arrowed in red.

What are they for ?
The large arrow on the front points to the shaft that does all the work on the machine. or so I think .

Could it have been that it was driven one way for the chain ,and with the chisel attachment fitted it was driven off the smaller pulleys ??

Rob.

Now that is a familiar sight !!
I had to let go of that one about 10 years ago when I purchased my Wadkin MA secondhand, I had bought the old Wolfenden mortiser from a Machinery Dealer in Mordiallioc.
I recall not paying much for the old girl back then as she was in bad shape, it came with another 3 phase motor needing work and a broken curved spoke pulley.
Upon a visit to a scrap metal and machinery dealer in Dandy, I proceeded to find a new AGE 3 phase motor and a good complete flat belt pulley.
Slung the motor to one side of the machine welded some mounts and a few other repairs, got parts moving etc, and the Wolfenden was a goer.
This will test my memory a bit, but I recall there were remanence of a cut of stub axle at the rear of the base, basically to run the fast and loose pulleys up to a upper line-shaft.
I have marked a Blue arrow on the pic below..


Rob, Im not sure what the other two pulleys were for exactly, I recall staring at them for many years, the only thing that came to mind was some kind of sharpening jig for touching up the chains, bit of a mystery though...
Oh BTW, there was no badge over the Wolfenden Bro's Footsgray logo, those hole's were where the old switch was mounted when I first got it, didn't even know it was a Wolfenden until I got it home.
I'm Glad its ended up with you Rob !

Melbourne Matty.

G'day Rob
Have an old mortiser and I have been trying to work out who made it. See some similarities with a couple of the wolfenden machines but haven't seen one that I would call identical. Keen to see some pictures of yours when you get it going. If you have any ideas on mine I would be keen them.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f163/u...rticer-152926/

Tony

I cant help you with a name right now Tony , It's a very nice looking machine though isn't it ?

I have an old English cabinet Makers Dairy at work from around 1928 I think , it has a lot of machinery advertisements through it, Matty has had a look through it and photo copied the adds , It may be that one has been advertised in that book , apart from that I would not know. I'm new at this vintage cast iron business and am warming to it very quickly.

Rob

G'day Rob, I have virtually the same machine,although it has a different drive system. Mine is a chain and chisel mortiser, but its missing the chisel attachment and I'm more than happy to use it just as a chain mortiser,but would love to get my hands on the chisel attachment just to make it complete. I'd love to see some pics of the chisel set-up on yours.By the looks of my machine ,it appears that it would just bolt on and engage the bevel gear. If interested,You can see pics of my machine in this section of the forums under the title "Restored Wolfenden chain mortiser". I fitted a 3hp single phase motor to mine,and altered the pulley sizes to get the correct RPM,and it does very clean,accurate and quick cuts in redgum posts. Cheers Greg

Hi Greg, I saw your post and it's a beauty , what colour Grey is it that you used on your machine ? I like it .
I went out with Matty today and we had a great day in an old shed in the bush north of Melbourne. I got another mortiser identical to yours I think , with the chisel attachment set up on it and with some chains. so I can show you some pictures of that. we were talking about the older black machine and it may have only ever had a chain set up on it . Possibly that is the way they were sold at that stage. Matt was telling me this.

I can take more detailed pictures of that as well. both machines are sitting at work ATM , pictures may take a little time. we will be putting up pictures of what we got today , I didn't take any detailed pictures of the chisel attachment under it's guard though.

Rob

Rob, just thought I would put up some catalogue cuts of Wolfenden Mortise machines, both chisel and chain





Rob the last pic is a close match to yours, noticing the two little wheels up top again !
I am beginning to wonder if there is a belt change to use the chisel attachment shown separately to the top Left side above....
Melbourne Matty.

G'day Rob, well done on your new purchase. I'm very keen to see some pics. I just bought a few cans of White Knight rust guard epoxy enamel from bunnings for my machine. The color was called "machinery grey", and I just applied a few light coats after undercoating all surfaces with an undercoat/primer made by the same mob,and am very happy with the finish and its durability. It must be lots of fun checking out old machines with Matty,and I cant wait to see the video. Cheers Greg

Fantastic pictures Matty , thanks

Greg , did you use spray cans ? And thanks I will look into it.
will do the pictures now.


Rob

Originally Posted by greggyboy

I cant wait to see the video.

Me too!

Originally Posted by greggyboy

It must be lots of fun checking out old machines with Matty

I can just imagine it, "hey look over in the corner Matty, I didn't expect we would see one of those", Matty replies "actually I think I have a catalogue of one of those....ah yes here it is, in my back pocket...and here is the user manual".

Cheers,

Camo

G'day Rob, I just used spray cans,and am happy with the result,but have now got myself a spray gun to fit to my compressor, and will go down that path on my next restorations. I saw the pics of your new mortiser,and it looks great. In the pics of mine, i didn't have the belt guard fitted, but it is identical to yours even down to the mounting brackets. Cheers Greg

Here are the pictures of what is under the cover on the second Wolfenden Greg.
Good luck with the hunt. if you need any other information ,just let me know.

Cheers Rob