Photo Index - Montgomery Ward | Powr-Kraft - 184-WM-661 Tilt Table Bench Saw (made by Duro)

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Montgomery Ward | Powr-Kraft
*

True Manufacturer:
Duro Metal Products Co., Chicago, IL.

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Table Saw
Machine Size:	8"
Submitted By:	D.L. (Larry) Felton

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	184-WM-661 Tilt Table Bench Saw (made by Duro)
Date of Manufacturer:	1934-1935
Serial Number:	none
Last Updated	6/20/2014 2:31:45 PM

Comments:

This saw was offered for free on Craigs List. I didn't recognize it in the CL photos, but it had an interesting geared fence, so I got it. The owner's father died recently and he was cleaning out Dad’s garage. He said the saw originally belonged to his grandfather (William Liles), and probably hadn’t been used in many years. It has a Powr-Kraft decal, which I knew was a Wards brand, but of which I was otherwise pretty ignorant. I initially assumed it was a late 1940s machine, but after some research, it looks to be an early (1934) Wards Powr-Kraft “production size” tilt table saw, made by Duro Metal Products. (Wards catalog model 184-WM-661; Duro catalog 3015). I found only one example of a similar model in the photo index (http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=10892), so thought I’d better report it.

The earliest documentation of this model I've found is in the Montgomery Ward 1934 catalog. This geared fence shows up ONLY in the 1934 catalog; a different style of "friction roller" fence is shown for 1935 and subsequent years in both Ward's and Duro catalogs. While there are other relatively minor changes, this model was apparently produced until at least 1940. (Note, 3/26/2014 - saw with the same geared fence adjustment shows up in newly-scanned 1935 Duro catalog as well)

This saw is in pretty decent mechanical shape, aside from the facts that 1) both the table tilt and height crank handles are gone; 2) the plate that covers the blade on the right side is gone, and 3) the little spacers/bearings the guide the trunnions need to be replaced (look pretty simple to fabricated from 1/2" aluminum). And (of course) the blade guard is missing - but the miter gauge is still there! (minus the cut-off rods). It's arbor takes a 5/8" bore saw blade, which are readily available (unlike the 1/2" blades needed for some similar Craftsman tilt table saws). It came with a pretty heavy General Electric 1/2 HP 1750 RPM motor that runs, so after general cleanup, lubrication and replacing the arbor bearings (New Departure ENDEE 88013), I think it'll be good to go.

There are more detailed discussions of this saw at: http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=142445

Photo 1:

Comments: Front view; detail of Powr-Kraft decal.
Source: My Canon PowerShot

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Photo 2:

Comments: Left side; detail of New Departure decal.
Source: My Canon PowerShot

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Photo 3:

Comments: Rear and top views.
Source: My Canon PowerShot

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Photo 4:

Comments: Rear view, detail of distinctive table lock knob.
Source: My Canon PowerShot

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Photo 5:

Comments: 1934 geared fence details. Top view; side views with gear engaged with teeth on rail, disengaged.
Source: My Canon PowerShot

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Photo 6:

Comments: Catalog art
Source: 1934 Montgomery Ward catalog , page 4

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