Photo Index - Acme National - Acme National Model 2C Edge Sander

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Acme National
Chicago, IL; Niles, IL

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Sander
Machine Size:	2 1/4" X 80"
Submitted By:	Keith Bohn

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Acme National Model 2C Edge Sander
Date of Manufacturer:	1960's (?)
Serial Number:
Last Updated	1/25/2004 1:12:14 PM

Comments:

There isn't a whole lot you can say about a machine as butt simple as this one but I will anyway. First off, if I had to list my favorite machines this one would be up in the top five. Partly because of it's simplicity but mostly because it does what it was designed to do and does it well. I also have a soft spot in my heart for abrasives machines.

Officially the machine is an Acme National 2C 2 1/4" X 80"Edge Sander.
The address for Acme National was:
5063 (or 5083) Elston Ave.
Chicago, 30 Illinois
Ph.: Kildare 5-0131

I do not know when the company started but I do know it was Ralph (R.A.) Ness who invented and manufactured the machine. Ness has since died but his company (R.A. Ness and Co./Woodworker'Emporium) is still in the retail woodworking equipment business in Niles, Illinois. I called the company and was told that Ness sold the business to Delta back in the early 90' and that the current Delta edge sander actually morphed from this machine.

I was also told that Ness ran the business out of a Chicago flat with sales occupying the first floor and manufacturing taking place in the basement. As this machine is made from heavy gage steel I don' see how any actual manufacturing could take place in such a small area and suspect that Ness had all the parts made and they might have been assembled in the basement.

The sander consists of a box made from 1/8" steel with an open top and bottom. To this a motor is attached at the drive end and a Delta No. 31-875 rubber contact wheel is fitted to the motor. At the idler end there is attached a piece of heavy gage steel and to that is attached a Delta No. 31-431 2 3/4" Back Stand Idler. And with a switch for the motor you have an edge sander. It doesn't get too awful more simple than that.

In addition to the 2 1/4" model Acme also made a 4C, which took a 4" wide contact wheel and idler drum, also from Delta. It of course can handle 4" wide belts.

I was able to get a copy of the operator's manual and exploded parts drawing from Ness. They can be contacted at this address.

R.A. Ness and Company
8888 North Milwaukee Ave.
Niles, IL 60714
800-368-6377

Restoration on the machine was fairly fast. There wasn't anything that needed to be purchased other than paint. I am in the process of making a longer platen for it and with that a longer table that will incorporate the drums. The existing table shown in the pictures is a Formica speckled laminate. The new platen will need new graphite cloth which I purchased from Woodworker's Supply who it turns out gets it from Process Engineering Corporation (people big in the edge belt/stroke sander and graphite for each business).

Acme made a stand for the machine but mine didn't come with one. The stand in the picture is actually a maple topped roll-around crafts bench, which I re-painted and added casters to.

If the machine has any shortcomings it would have to be the belt width. It will handle anything up to 2" or so but occasionally it would be nice to have something wider that would do assemblies like drawer boxes.

The machine shown was bought from an eBay seller in Wisconsin and I was able to pick it up thus saving freight. In all I have about $250 in it. My 1980 Paxton Patterson catalog lists the following prices for this machine.

Basic Machine with 3/4 Horse Single Phase Motor - $829
Magnetic Controls - $140
Stand - $134

Photo 1:

Comments: Acme National 2C Edge Sander
Source: Keith Bohn

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Photo 2:

Comments: Idler Drum End
Source: Keith Bohn

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Photo 3:

Comments: Motor and Contact Wheel
Source: Keith Bohn

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