[WarnerConstInc.]

Man, I think I have a problem. The problem is I just can't get enough of these early 1880's machines.

This is a Bental jointer, original fence, original paint, and yes that is a horse shoe cast into the base. It has good luck cast into the horse shoe.

This will look great next to my Bental planer.

This one came in under my average Bill.:laughing:

 

[Steve Neul]

Maybe you need to move to Dallas. You can't find any vintage equipment here without driving over a thousand miles one way. I've been looking for a jointer like that for years. The closest thing I've found is a 1950's Northfield but it has a short bed.

 

[GeorgeC]

As long as you have plenty of money and storage space there is no problem.

George

 

[cabinetman]

That's some jointer. What is it...12"? Bigger?

.

 

[WarnerConstInc.]

It is a 16" machine.

 

[dodgeboy77]

Great find - and lucky!

Do you usually have to re-cast the babbitt on a machine like that? Do you ever switch over to ball bearings instead?

Bill

 

[WarnerConstInc.]

Great find - and lucky!

Do you usually have to re-cast the babbitt on a machine like that? Do you ever switch over to ball bearings instead?

Bill

I have one machine that needs new babbitt poured. As long as there are shims left I can usually scrape the bearings and get them as close to perfect as possible.

Switching babbitts to ball bearings is a sin in my book. I would never hack up a machine to put ball bearings in.

In the overall picture, babbitt bearings are far superior (they will last a lifetime) to ball bearings. It was the advent of direct drive motors and not having to do much maintaining that killed the babbitts.

I prefer babbitt machines for the most part.