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  1. #1
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    Default Earliest Wadkin bandsaw

    The earliest Wadkin bandsaw to my knowledge, this would of been manufactured by Preston of Canada around the early 1920s for Wadkin to help out with the overwhelming amount of orders Pryor to green lane works being built in 1922..

    IMG_20220430_203409.jpg
    IMG_20220430_203258.jpg
    IMG_20220430_203242.jpg
    IMG_20220424_200835.jpg
    Melbourne Matty

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Looks good!
    Definitely looks older than this one, I'm not sure what sort it is.


    Old Wadkin 1.jpg

    Old wadkin 2.jpg

    Have fun,

    Alli

  4. #3
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by L.S.Barker1970 View Post
    The earliest Wadkin bandsaw to my knowledge, this would of been manufactured by Preston of Canada around the early 1920s for Wadkin to help out with the overwhelming amount of orders Pryor to green lane works being built in 1922...
    Nice one Matty. That looks identical in nearly every detail to my 1928 Preston 30” No.132. Only the top guard is different; and mine has Chaco guides. Preston Bandsaw

    I cant see how that one is powered (direct drive/lineshaft/vee belts).


    If you’re still communicating with the guy who’s got it, could you ask for me:
    - does it have “Preston” cast into the top arm and/or “Preston Woodworking Machinery…” cast around the back (just above the drive) like mine has; and
    - is there a serial number stamped on one corner of the table.

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

  5. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Allison74 View Post
    Looks good!
    Definitely looks older than this one, I'm not sure what sort it is...
    Hi Alli. It looks like a DO (36") or DN (30") to me. Nice. Is it yours?

    I see it's tagged "Wadkin & Co." so that makes it pre-1936 - but then Wadkin had already moved on to the next model, their DR bandsaw by 1936.

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

  6. #5
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    Thanks Vann.
    It belongs to a friend.
    I have a DR & a big Agazzanni. No room for another big bandsaw.

    Have fun,

    Alli

  7. #6
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    Default Catalogue Cuts.

    Quote Originally Posted by L.S.Barker1970 View Post
    The earliest Wadkin bandsaw to my knowledge...

    IMG_20220424_200835.jpg
    Interesting that it's classified FF. That would tie in with the next Wadkin bandsaw being an FG. Note the 36" version is an FG.

    DH DN FG.jpeg Catalogue cut from Auscab.

    Whereas a few years later the 36" version was classified in line with the DH and DN as DO.

    DH DN DO.jpg Catalogue cut from Chris McM.

    I think Auscab's catalogue dates to the mid 1920s, and Chris McM's to ~1928.

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

  8. #7
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    Default

    Vann, what size is your preston, how does it compare with number of spokes in the wheel etc.

  9. #8
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    Default Spokes.

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    Vann, what size is your preston, how does it compare with number of spokes in the wheel etc.
    Mine is only the 30" model - with 10 spokes (which is the same as the 36" model - I think).

    Preston upper wheel.jpg

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

  10. #9
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    Now that's a nice saw!
    Tensioning a blade must push it through the ceiling though!
    Is that what the hole is for?

    Have fun,

    Alli

  11. #10
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    Default Holy Carp.

    Quote Originally Posted by Allison74 View Post
    ...Tensioning a blade must push it through the ceiling though!
    Is that what the hole is for?...
    To get the saw to fit under the ceiling I had to lower the upper wheel 3". When tensioned there's 15-20mm clearance. I sent away the blades that came with the saw to have them shortened by 6".

    Plan 'A' was to poke the upper wheel through the ceiling - but after positioning the saw under that slot I decided it needed to be turned 90 degrees - and that would have resulted in the need to take a chunk out of a joist above. I didn't want to do that.

    Thing is, lowering the upper wheel doesn't affect the depth of cut. And shortening the blade from 17' 6" to 17' 0" doesn't effect the life of the blade much either. Putting the top guard back on would affect the depth of cut unless I modified it - and as it's the original ~1928 guard I'm not prepared to do that.

    I haven't had a blade come off... yet .

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

  12. #11
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    Default

    Why would an agent of wadkin put a FF tag on a preston machine. I think that tag has been put on their later in its life.

  13. #12
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    Default Badge Engineered.

    Quote Originally Posted by L.S.Barker1970 View Post
    The earliest Wadkin bandsaw to my knowledge, this would of been manufactured by Preston of Canada around the early 1920s for Wadkin to help out with the overwhelming amount of orders Pryor to green lane works being built in 1922...
    16th December, 1924 to be precise. I managed to get a copy of the test page.

    FF 111 2445.jpg

    The handwriting is a bit hard to read, but it looks like once the machine arrived from Canada they replaced the rubber tyre on the upper wheel, modified the upper guard, and test ran the saw for 4 hours. Matty tells me they also ground the "Preston" off the top arm.

    Then they stuck a "Wadkin & Co." badge on it and sold it as their own. Not that different to buying a Taiwanese woodworking machine today - all made in the same factory, but available in many brands.

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

  14. #13
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    Default

    Does it say after 4 hours test duration "top wheel re rubbered"

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Camelot View Post
    Does it say after 4 hours test duration "top wheel re rubbered"
    That's what it seems to say (all opinions on deciphering that handwriting appreciated). It's not clear whether the new rubber was applied before or after the testing.

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

  16. #15
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    Default

    Well its a remark, which also says bearings cool (which implies following the test) and would you want a new customer to have a machine with a used rubber?

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