In the early 1940s, Spiegel department stores and mail-order catalogs sold a couple of lines of small woodworking machines. The machines used the names "Journeyman" and "Precision-Bilt", roughly equivalent to Sears' Dunlap and Craftsman lines. Most, if not all, the machines were made by Power King Tool Corp.
Information Sources
- Thanks to correspondent Rich McGowen for notifying us of an eBay auction of a 10-inch Spiegel bandsaw.
- Rich provides us a scan of the relevant pages from the Spring & Summer 1941 Spiegel catalog. Information on the products made (except the 10-inch bandsaw, which is not shown in that catalog) came from this catalog. Thanks to Brian Kachadurian for identifying the maker as Power King.
- A search of the Photo Index of bandsaws did not reveal any exact matches. The closest resemblances are with the Darra-James and Duro 10-inch saws.
- We have seen a 10-inch bandsaw labeled "PRECISION BILT / MODEL NO 600 474 / SPIEGEL". Although the bandsaw is not an exact match for any known make, it is similar to bandsaws from Darra-James Corp. and Duro Metal Products Co.
- Another 10-inch bandsaw, a Spiegel model 600 RS, was made by Raymond Tools Co.
- An OWWM.org topic in Jan2013 revealed a Power King 120A 15" scroll saw, badged "Precision Bilt".