Thread: Extreme Wadkinitus

Killing time in Calgary airport but the internet is slow so can only do 3 at a time or it drops out.
H.

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

I’ve looked at the old test books and there are two machines with the test number 1041 but neither of them are a RBV so I can’t be sure of the age as we speak. Is the test number definitely correct?

Two machines with the same test number !!! And neither of them the one I asked after. I checked the number and it was definitely correct.

wRBV 231 1041.jpg

Does that mean there were three machines with the same test number? Yes apparently .

Originally Posted by AMS

After they started they used test numbers up 9000+. This sequence went on until circa 1930. The machine with number 1041 in this sequence was MB 357 in 1923.

They then started again at test number 1000 in 1931 and used this new sequence until 1938 when they appear to have just stopped. The machine with test number 1041 in this new sequences was AZA 159 in 1931.

At the same time they restarted with the second sequence at 1000 they also started a new sequence beginning back at number 1 in 1931 and continued this third sequence until they finally closed down in 2009. It is this third and final sequence that included RBV 231 as test number 1041 in 1932.

So it would seem that any machine prior to 1938 could be numbered in one of three sequences. That explains why there are Wadkin Ltd tags in amongst the Wadkin & Co. tags - different sequences.

Cheers, Vann.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

I have been trying to date my Wadkin MA mortise machine....

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

...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...

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 .

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

...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...

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

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.

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

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.

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.