Wards Powr-Kraft was the brand name used on most woodworking machinery from department store and catalog retailer Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc. of Chicago. The trademark filing indicates first use of "Wards Powr-Kraft" in 1932. The filing lists various products, including the following woodworking machines: Jointer-planers, bandsaws, drill presses, scroll saws, jointers, belt sanders, lathes, and planers.
Montgomery Ward tools at one time offered three levels of quality:
- Eclipse Quality-Good
- Lakeside Quality-Better
- Master Quality-Best
We have also seen a fractional horsepower motor badged as "Blue Line" from Montgomery Ward; the example we saw is believed to have been made by Northwestern Electric Co.
We have seen "Wardway" motors, and at least one example also said "Montgomery Ward & Co." The Wardway name was used on household products such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen scales, cast iron skillets, and washing machines. These items are outside the scope of this Vintage Machinery website. It is likely that Wardway motors were originally powering washing machines; washing machines from the 1930s and earlier typically came with motors of standard construction and labeling except that the base may be different.
Makers of Woodworking Machines for Montgomery Ward
The following 1950s Powr-Kraft model numbers were manufactured by Rockwell/Delta (Note: these are the numeric portion of the Powr-Kraft model number):
- 2313A
- 2359A
- 2486A
- 2514A
- 2576A
- 2577
- 2671A
- 2739
Delta is still able to provide some of the parts. You will likely have to find the equivalent Rockwell or Delta model number, and from there find their part number for what you need.
The following is a list of manufacturers found in the alphabetic portion of the model number. This list has been derived from research and companies that are still in business to confirm the info. For additions or corrections please contact the registry steward, Brian Kachadurian.
Serial Numbers
On machines made by Duro Metal Products, the first two digits of the serial number are the year in reverse. For example, a serial number beginning in "54FD" was made in 1945.
Additional Information
More Montgomery Ward product information is available in the Wiki, including an article on rebuilding the blower on a Montgomery Ward scrollsaw.
Information Sources
- The trademark filing indicates first use of "Wards Powr-Kraft" in 1932. The filing lists various products, including the following woodworking machines: Jointer-planers, bandsaws, drill presses, scroll saws, jointers, belt sanders, lathes, and planers.
- 1935, 1936, 1941, 1943, 1958 catalogs.
- From a 1950 issue of "Popular Mechanics": Address Montgomery Ward, 618 W Chicago Ave, Chicago 7, Illinois.
- Correspondent Brian Kachadurian provided the information on manufacturers.
- Thanks to Dan (bluemerle) and Tom Spears for finding and identifying a Tomlee-built Powr-Kraft 2706A horizontal belt sander.
- Thanks to Dick Linn for identifying code TLE as Lincoln Electric
- Information on dating Duro (FD) serial numbers came from an owwm.org forum post.
- Thanks to correspondent Will Russell for informing us that Century Tool & Equipment made Powr-Kraft welders with model prefix TTZ.
- Thanks to Dan and John for confirming TPC as Portable Electric Tools in this topic.
- Thanks to correspondent Craig Bieganowski for identifying code GIL