Thread: Putting a collection of old equipment together

Wayne in the new shed build a 2 room place so I can move in you'll need help restoring those and setting up the Lignotec

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Wayne in the new shed build a 2 room place so I can move in you'll need help restoring those and setting up the Lignotec

Yes, you'll be most welcome at the new place Ray. I keep forgetting about the Lignotec gear. Would you believe that it's still in the box unpackaged? Even worse, the Hegner VB36 Master Bowl Lathe is still in its crate from England as well. Circumstances have meant that I haven't been able to spend any time at all on my playthings over the last 2-3 years, but I have continued to accumulate bits & pieces for the collection. Hopefully it will all be nicely installed within the next 12 months. You & Sue can come for a run up the F3 (sorry, now the M1) when it's all done.

Wayne

Excuse me while I drool!

I can take care of the VB36 for you and the Stubby.

How big will the shed be? 50x30?

Thanks Wayne retirement is such fun

Not shocked that everything is still packed building a new home and shed has its priorities what you plans are for setting this all up is awesome.

Originally Posted by Pat

Excuse me while I drool! I can take care of the VB36 for you and the Stubby. How big will the shed be? 50x30?

G'day Pat. The new shed will be 18m x 12m (60' x 40' approx) with an additional 12m x 4m (40' x 13') awning roof off one end. I plan to put the Lucas Mill, docking saw/bench, timber racks and blacksmith table & other gear etc out in the awning area, which should leave plenty of room inside for the various machines. It's surprising once you start setting panel saws & lathes just how much area they take up - I want to have a full bathroom/shower/toilet & separate kitchen area in there as well, so I'm sure all of the space will be utilised.

As you may know, the F600 Stubby is a dedicated bowl lathe as is the Hegner VB36. I haven't used either one at this stage, but soon..... soon..

I bought the F600 second hand but it's in very good condition and came with some nice accessories.

StubbyF600-2.jpg

The Hegner VB36 was imported from England earlier this year with all the bells & whistles. The packaging crate looks great! This is an internet image of the machine.

HegnerVB36.jpg


Wayne

Wayne,

A great collection you are forming!! Things have been a bit quite on this sub forum lately, so thanks for sharing. One machine looks very familiar (the Wadkin Jointer, did you buy this from around Gosford way in the past 6 mths)?

This is some history on Martin (German made machines) Experience perfection with MARTIN: 1922 - 1949 do you know what model it is?

I recently picked up a catalogue (1941) on Renniks. This is the cover and introduction:

image.jpgimage.jpg

a bit of Sydney history, just to show not all Australian machines were manufactured in Melbourne (now watch it backfire on me as someone tells me the machines were manufactured in Melbourne for Chas).

Looks like you are going to have a really great workshop, looking forward to seeing it develop.

Cheers,

Camo

Wayne

That's going to be some shed. The anticipation must be killing you.

Must say that my heart rate went up a couple of notches reading your post.

Not at all jealous, as I too am about to realise a lifetime of planning.

I've got a full toolroom of metalwork machinery and I started to collect old woodwork machinery about twelve months ago, and it's growing nicely. Lucas also on the list.

Please keep us posted on your progress. It will be heaven in a shed

Andrew

Nice one Wayne

The Gosford gear , I fell in love with that Wadkin jointer and some one snatched it before the auction ended

Well,, I had cash flow problems and it was a long long way to pick up as well so I didn't know what to do . what a beauty , well done.
I rang the guy and asked what had happened and he told me someone had walked in and made an offer and taken two or three of his machines.

Thanks for showing off your gear , nice Barker disc sander as well. Oh how nice it would be to have no space restrictions.
I have a big 36'' Barker Band saw out back that I will be cleaning up and fitting 5 HP motor to
one day.
Any one know if Macson and Barker related ? the castings on the Macson look exactly the same.

Rob

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

Rob, I bet it's the same machine you were looking at. A fairly big joinery business in Raverson Close, Somersby? I bought the Wadkin jointer, the Jonsereds thicknesser and the Wadkin radial arm saw all from there as a package deal - good price too. It turns out that his joinery is only 1 klm from our new property so it was serendipity. To make it even better, all of the equipment was originally purchased by his father in the early days of the joinery... and.... wait for it... his father was apparently a machine fitter for Wadkin in his early days - at least I think that's what he said. So all of the equipment is in pristine working condition - gotta love it!

Like so many joineries now, they have moved most of their production to CNC automated machines so the manual equipment becomes redundant. Anyway, that's good for us. I've since been back and bought the Martin panel saw, the Wadkin spindle moulder, the Renniks shaper, a double-header treadle operated dowelling machine, a large pneumatic dowelling machine for doing panel doors etc, a 4-bag dust extractor system... probably a few other things I've forgotten. Anyway, I've completely blown my play money now so it's off to work I go.

Like to have a look at your 36" Barker band saw when you've got time, or is it already on here?

Andrew, what sort of metalworking equipment have you gathered? I've never used a metal lathe or milling machine, although I have operated a guillotine and a sheet-metal folder, and have plenty of welders etc. My pride & joy at the moment is the blacksmith gear - the big anvil, the massive steel bench and the swage block. I also have a smallish forge which I've never used, but that's about it for metalworking. I'm sharing your enthusiasm for the Lucas Mill - that will be the next/last major investment. What sort of woodworking gear have you got so far?

Camo, thanks for the info on the Martin and the Renniks gear. Interesting that Martin is a German brand - I'll see if I can find the model no info etc on the panel saw. And yes, I understand that Chas E Skinner was based in Sydney but I'm not sure whether he actually manufactured anything or not. I know that he restored a lot of equipment and sold second hand gear, and was successful for quite a while. Apparently Chas Snr died a few years back and Chas Jnr took over the business and opened a commercial premises in Lake Haven on the Central Coast. I bought a few pieces from him earlier this year and he tried to sell me his business and the big shed with everything in it. The price was pretty reasonable too. He wanted to move down to Jindabyne or Thredbo. Apparently he's a bit of a ski-nut and was very keen to do a deal. Anyway, he must have found someone who was willing as he's now gone.

I'll keep you informed as to progress and/or new toys.

Wayne

Yes it's the same one , Somersby , that sounds right . here's a picture I saved off the eBay listing so I could dream away till one turned up down my way . About 1 thousand K's from me I think.
I reckon that slot in front of the cutter on the front table, the slot for the fence clamp, would come in handy for setting up a pair of 45 deg blocks to machine big bevels with. say on a table leg.
I don't have a rear shot of the Barker band saw ATM, this is from the day that it was picked up.

Rob

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

I understand that Chas E Skinner was based in Sydney but I'm not sure whether he actually manufactured anything or not. I know that he restored a lot of equipment and sold second hand gear, and was successful for quite a while.

I can confirm that at least in 1941, they were definately selling machines manufactured in Australia under the Renniks name, these are a few examples from the catalogue:

image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by auscab

Any one know if Macson and Barker related ? the castings on the Macson look exactly the same.

Rob

Rob,

This is probably a good post to read for more info. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f163/w...barker-173140/ As I understand it, Macson was Macpherson's machines, mainly metalworking, but there were also a few Barker/Macson badged machines, and of cause Macpherson's were definately distributing for L.S. Barker. I think there was definately a close relationship at times, although Matty is probably has more information on this subject.

Cheers,

Camo

Yes, as well as the distinctively scrolled LS Barker logo, the disc sander also has a Macphersons badge on it, Camo. It clearly shows that they were selling agents for LS Barker and Macson. The other badge is also very interesting, stating:

"This Equipment is the Property of"
"MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS"
"Commonwealth of Australia"
"REG. No. etc"

See the poor images below:

DiscSander2.JPG DiscSander3.JPG

There's probably some fascinating history there, and with the original Registered Number etc it may be able to be researched if I had the time or the inclination. In any case, a truly great machine! I'm really happy with it, even if I'm not exactly sure what to do with it yet?

Thanks for the further info re Renniks. Old Chas E Skinner was obviously somewhat of an entrepreneur and created quite a good niche business manufacturing & selling to an isolated Australian market. Unfortunately there's far too many foreign manufacturers competing for our AUD$ these days, and the great local companies departed long ago.

Rob, that Barker band saw looks very similar to the Macson. I'll be most interested to see what you do with it, or have you already started? Does ot have a cover for the belt-pulley drive?

Wayne

Thanks Camo I will have to check that link out, I remember seeing that one pass by and not reading much of it.

Wayne, I have not touched it yet. I have the 5 HP motor I want to fit to it.
I dont have a cover for the pulley drive or the wheels so will be making them when I get time. I think I will be doing it up and keeping the aged look about it just giving it a coat of clear estapol , the rubber wheels need re doing as well and I want to try gluing it on and machining it on the machine.
I have a forge as well and would like to give it a cool vintage look with a few forged brackets here and there. If it turns out looking to rough I can then always paint it up as a second option.

Rob