Thread: Wilson Brothers (Leeds) Ltd - 'The Rex' Morticer Model D

Interesting machine I passed up, then slept on it and thought I'd go for it but sold under my feet today, this is the second time I've had to learn this lesson! Last time I hesitated buying a Thomas White Morticer. Well I am $300 better off (yup kicking myself) - hopefully someone on here nabbed it at the very least & carry on this post with more pictures ... I promise I won't get jealous
!
Wilson-Morticer01.jpeg Wilson-Morticer08.jpg Wilson-Morticer03.jpg Wilson-Morticer07.jpg Wilson-Morticer02.jpg Wilson-Morticer05.jpg Wilson-Morticer06.jpg

Anyway led me down the path of Googling Wilson and came across this:

Quiz run by the Woodwork Uk site in 2007:

Q. A Yorkshire firm who manufactured woodworking machinery from the 1860s we were also well-known for our railway engines and other engineering products. Who were we and where were we from?

A. The firm was Wilson Brothers (Leeds) Ltd who were established in 1862 and survived until the 1990s. The firm also known for it's manufacture of saw mills, complete with both stationary steam engines as well as railway shunting locomotives, although they do tend to turn up more in places like Australia or New Zealand than the UK. Wilsons arre reputed to have supplied contractors engines in the UK as well.

Oddly, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Wilson's was a progressive firm with many more modern designs than market leaders Wadkin and White (for example they were an early adopter of fabricated steel frame bandsaws some 10 years before Wadkin followed their lead)

Apart from non-motorised morticers I did come across this one over in WA posted by a member on here:
NOT a Stenner

Taking a look a Wilson Brothers - Photo Index | VintageMachinery.org I came across a very attractive Planner/Thicknesser - will add Wilson to my list of machines to keep an eye on!