Needs Pictures: 0
Results 151 to 162 of 162
Thread: Extreme Wadkinitus
-
9th October 2017, 02:41 PM #151
Tags from Alberta.
A few from Crossfield Ab.
I will put the RS on your lathe thread Vann.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
-
9th October 2017 02:41 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
9th October 2017, 02:46 PM #152
More from Ab.
Killing time in Calgary airport but the internet is slow so can only do 3 at a time or it drops out.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
-
13th June 2019, 11:22 PM #153
Breaking News.
I haven't been supporting this thread for a while (short editing times are not conducive to this type of database), however I feel the following needs to be recorded:
From time to time we learn a little more about Wadkin and their numbering systems.
Just a few years ago we thought maybe the first two digits of the test number was the year of manufacture (even though it was obviously wrong in places). Then someone (wallace?) got hold of the test numbers for each year (from 1938 on anyway).
We thought that maybe the machine serial numbers started at 100 or 101, then someone (Jack?) heard from an old Wadkin employee that they started most series at 105 and (with the exception of NMs) that seems to be true.
I've been running a thread (or two) on Wadkin RB surface planers and noticed some anomalies in the test numbers. My own RB for example, is one of the first produced, being RB 116 (of 1925) with test number 4374. Two obviously later models: RBV 231 and RBV 255 have earlier test numbers (1041 and 2359 respectively). I asked at AMS about test number 1041 and initially they couldn't find it.
Originally Posted by AMS
wRBV 231 1041.jpg
Does that mean there were three machines with the same test number? Yes apparently .
Originally Posted by AMS
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
14th June 2019, 06:46 PM #154
Hi Vann
I have been trying to date my Wadkin MA mortise machine. I’ve had it since 1985. My master had it before me and his master had it before him.
Can you shed any light on this.
Thanks
Pete.
-
14th June 2019, 06:53 PM #155
This is it.
Don’t look too closely at the bar, it’s stuffed. I’ve been putting 180 mortise holes in dry Ironbark so I used an old bar and chain. Hard it is!
Pete.
-
14th June 2019, 08:52 PM #156
Hi Pete. Buy it some flowers, and offer to take it out for dinner at a nice restaurant...
But seriously.
First the bad news: it has an 'SC' test number. This means it was built by another manufacturer for Wadkin, and to Wadkin specifications, under sub-contract. It also means the test number doesn't fit the Wadkin Green Lane works test number system. So we can't accurately date it.
Now the good news: Wadkin changed to aluminium handwheels, about 1950 (possibly the end of 1949). They changed to that style of tag mid 1951. Assuming the grey paint is original, it's pre-1963 or 64 when they changed to green paint.
Sorry, that 13-14 year range is the best I can do. HTH.
Cheers, Vann.Last edited by Vann; 14th June 2019 at 10:08 PM. Reason: Age range narrowed following a check of tag styles.
Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
14th June 2019, 09:26 PM #157
Extreme Wadkinitus
Thanks Vann, that helps a lot.
I do try and look after her, at least a little.
Funny part of the story; I purchased her as part of a 50% of the business purchase from my master when I was a 4th year apprentice (1985). As time passed and the business grew, I sold her to a local business, as I needed the space more than I needed her. As time moved on I missed her and sort her out and bought her back for the same price I had sold her for ($3000.00). Now we are happily reunited, I would like to restore her to new and pass her on to my son. No parts are missing or damaged (except for the worn out bar), it all works fine, and she is absolutely original. I also have the original square hole setup too.
I expected that she was a post WWII purchase as that worked in with the stories I had grown up with. I had always thought it was an early 50’s purchase.
Many thanks for your insights and the generosity in sharing knowledge.
Pete.
-
14th June 2019, 10:27 PM #158
I've been over on the Canadian forum, looking at tag photos, and have edited my previous post, changing the range to 1951 to 1963-64.
There's something else that may not be accurate. It's possible that Wadkin allocated serial numbers to its sub-contractors. If we assume that MA 1583s can be considered as 1583 (without the 's') then it would have been made after MA 1505 of 1956 and before MA 1915 of 1963 - but we don't know if that works .
In that case, paint to RAL 7011 is very, very close to the original colour. Unscrew one of the tags to find a patch of un-faded paint.
Of course, some people think that battle scars in the paintwork add character - and repainting ruins that character. The original paint on that MA doesn't look too bad...
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
15th June 2019, 09:36 AM #159
Thanks again Vann.
They certainly didn’t keep their numbering system simple.
Yeah, the paint job is still pretty good. I was going to try a bit of polish and see how it looks.
Regards
Pete.
-
15th June 2019, 10:51 AM #160
It looks to be in great condition Pete. Lovely thing !! That will shine up nicely I think .
You still have the chisel attachment , That's a good bonus . Its so easy for parts to get lost over time and change of ownership.
On a job , do you swap between both using the chisel then the chain or the other way around?
Or do you mostly use one and not the other?
Rob
-
15th June 2019, 01:33 PM #161
Hi Rob.
I don’t use the square hole attachment too much anymore but I did when windows and doors with colonial glazing bars were more popular. I’d do the larger mortises with the chain and then once they were all done, I’d pop the bar, chain and sprocket off and put on the square hole attachment to do the glazing bar mortises. It is a very quick change over because it has a locator pin so alignment is assured.
It is a sweet machine and doesn’t take up much space either. I’m glad I have her back.
Pete.
-
8th September 2019, 05:40 PM #162
Tags September 2019
Vann, I drove up to Wayne’s acreage up the central coast.
Heres the tags off his EQ spindle and RC jointer.
Also pics of his lineshaft JT which has been converted to 2 elec motors possibly by the English mob on the last tag. The original I couldn’t find, it might have been covered by the elec control box.
I was interested in the JT but it’s been in the weather plus it would be a big job to convert back to run off my lineshaft.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
Similar Threads
-
Extreme Birdhouses
By cranbrook2 in forum WOODWORK PICSReplies: 8Last Post: 17th November 2010, 01:45 PM -
Extreme herding from the UK
By Woodwould in forum WOODIES JOKESReplies: 4Last Post: 7th July 2009, 07:04 PM -
Extreme Birdhouses
By cranbrook2 in forum WOODWORK PICSReplies: 10Last Post: 21st May 2008, 11:06 PM -
Extreme Birdhouses
By cranbrook2 in forum WOODWORK PICSReplies: 7Last Post: 20th March 2008, 06:51 PM -
Extreme Birdhouse # 33
By cranbrook2 in forum WOODWORK PICSReplies: 12Last Post: 2nd January 2008, 02:47 PM