Photo Index - American Machinery Co. (Grand Rapids) - 18" Jointer "The Oliver"

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
American Machinery Co. (Grand Rapids)
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	18"
Submitted By:	brian martin

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	18" Jointer "The Oliver"
Date of Manufacturer:	around 1900 (?)
Serial Number:	(post-mfg. sn is 19815D) (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	1/10/2011 12:18:23 AM

Comments:

I purchased this pattern maker's jointer a couple of years ago from a cabinetmaker in Oakland, CA. I understand it was first used in ship building, and was sold to a furniture/cabinet maker after WW2. It still works very well, and is used every weekend. It's driven by a very old 5 HP 3 phase motor and a leather belt. The cutter head is not the original. I believe the Orton Machine Co in San Francisco (see detail photo)replaced the cutter head with a 16-1/2" cutter head (so rabbets are no longer possible). The knives on the machine are 16". The Orton Co. kept the leather belt drive, so it's likely that the new cutter head was installed very early in the machine's life. It's my understanding that the second owner (the cabinetmaker who passed his business on to the owner prior to me) "installed" the electric motor. (It's bolted to the floor next to the jointer.) I'm the fourth owner (to the best of my knowledge).

Based on advice from other members, I've found a partial serial number on the infeed table. There is a "1-18" with some likely leading digits before the "1". The good folks at Magnaflux have kindly agreed to assist me in trying to recover the rest of the serial number. According to William Thomas (thanks, Bill!!), there should be three leading digits (including the 1) so I'm trying to confirm this and read the missing two leading digits. (It's very difficult to discern the 1-18, although a neighbor claims he can make out a "0" prior to the "1". If he's right, then we have "01-18" although I honestly cannot see the leading zero.) I hope the Magnaflux system will be successful.

Moving this machine is not for the faint of heart. My workshop floor was engineered for equipment loads, but I reinforced the joists under this machine just to be sure. The machine dominates my rather crowded shop, and that's just fine by me.

I'm attaching several photos, and can provide more if anyone is interested. I'd love to have a better pattern for the guard so that I can make a replecement, and I'm looking for replacement wheels/knobs. As it said, the jointer works beautifully.

Photo 1:

Comments: "The Oliver" jointer. I'm not sure of the age of this machine, but it's been in regular use it's entire life. While I admit it needs to be repainted, it works quite well. I do need a knob, one handwheel, and I would like to replace the guard.
Source: brian martin

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Photo 2:

Comments: infeed table side view. Note scales for height and angle.
Source: brian martin

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Photo 3:

Comments: This nameplate is on the front-infeed side of the jointer. An identical plate is on the rear-outfeed side.
Source: brian martin

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Photo 4:

Comments: This tag was apparently put on when the new cutter head was installed.
Source: brian martin

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Photo 5:

Comments: close-up of infeed table adjustment scales.
Source: brian martin

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Photo 6:

Comments: cutterhead - replaced some time early in the machine's life. The (very old) home-made woden guard is hanging below - the string attaches to an old sash weight that acts as a spring to keep the guard closed.
Source: brian martin

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