Photo Index - Power Tools, Inc. - Tops Model 85083 Radial Arm Saw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Power Tools, Inc.
Chicago, IL

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Radial Arm Saw
Machine Size:	18 inch
Submitted By:	Ira Kass

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Tops Model 85083 Radial Arm Saw
Date of Manufacturer:	1960s
Serial Number:	P-521955
Last Updated	4/8/2011 3:03:22 PM

Comments:

Recent CL find. The guy told me he had it in his shop for a year or so and used it to cut aluminum window sashes. It came with a 16 inch carbide metal-cutting blade. He also told me he found it on Ebay from someone who had it in a lumber yard in Ohio. Of course, there were a number of amateur "improvements" made to this machine. There was a home-made pull-back unit installed, a large wooden box for the switch, a coating of some silver paint, and about 42 holes drilled into the table and the saw itself. There were some missing knobs and locking handles. The biggest alteration was that someone had fixed the motor unit in the yoke so that you couldn't bevel it. I've got some ideas on how to fix that.

I contacted Marvco Manufacturing in Elk Grove, Il. They still make a slightly updated version of these saws. I was told that they no longer make a 7.5 HP model, they could provide a lot of the missing parts. However, they're not cheap. I was also told that Power Tools, Inc was actually started by some former Skil employees who decided to start their own company to continue making the old Skil radial saw line
after Skil had phased it out in the early 60s.

If anyone has one of these old saws and wants to part it out, please let me know.

Photo 1:

Comments: Here's how it looked the day after I brought it home
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Photo 2:

Comments: Another shot showing the lousy paint job
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Photo 3:

Comments: It took me a while to figure out what they did. This piece was either broken or intentionally cut off. Holes were drilled into the yoke, and then the motor was bolted into place.
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Photo 4:

Comments: The other holes. There are two more holes on each side of the yoke.
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Photo 5:

Comments: The home-grown electrical mounting box. Yep, the leg is also bent slightly. I couldn't figure out why the table wobbled a little bit. A few whacks with a sledge hamme will take care of that.
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Photo 6:

Comments: Taken yesterday. Crummy paint removed from blade guard, table dismantled down to the original rear board. It's too far gone and oil-soaked to re-use. However it will be great for a template to locate all the mounting holes on a new board.
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