Photo Index - Chicago Machinery Exchange - No. O, 32" Wood Rim

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Chicago Machinery Exchange
Chicago, IL

True Manufacturer:
Sidney Tool Co., Sidney, OH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	32"
Submitted By:	Lynn Harvey

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	No. O, 32" Wood Rim
Date of Manufacturer:	1919?
Serial Number:	6700 (Badged 0145-4)
Last Updated	6/19/2014 11:09:28 AM

Comments:

I purchased this tool on e-Bay from a gentleman in New Jersey. It somehow ended up there from the original retail floor in Chicago.

This tool is badged "Gustafson & Son" and stamped "Chicago Machinery Exchange". Neither is a manufacturer (both were retailers, Gustafson also sold and installed safety conversions). I believe the front blade guard was an after-market add-on by Gustafson to comply with safety regulations. Gustafson may have also been a secondary reseller. It is likely that Chicago Machinery Exchange contracted a "store-brand" build through Sidney Tool Company in Sidney, Ohio. If this saw would have been sold directly by Sidney, it would be of their "Famous" line. This saw traveled a minimum of 1,700 miles over the last century before landing back home in Ohio.

While the manufacturing date I entered is an educated guess, I have learned that Chicago Machinery Exchange opened around 1906 (Sidney much earler). While reading a Sidney catalog stamped "The Machinery Merchants, Inc.", I noticed this saw with the cages attached as an option from Sidney. The Machinery Merchants changed their name in 1919 to Morey and Company, so the catalog had to be pre-1919. A Chicago Machinery Exchange Catalog printed in 1919 showed this saw with an open base on one page and a solid base on another, all previously-printed catalogs show it with a solid rectangular base. Therefore, I have determined that this saw was probably not produced before 1919. Sidney started incorporating ball bearings into their No. 1 bandsaws in 1916. It is likely that within a few years ball bearings would have been incorporated into all models. Since my saw has an open base (new school), but babbett bearings (old school), I put the year of manufacture at approximately 1919.

I plan on doing a complete restoration of this saw. I will keep this page posted with photographs.

This will be in daily use in my full-time cabinet shop. Thanks for looking.

Photo 1:

Comments: Safety garbage off. Ready to restore.
Source: Samsung Galaxy 3s

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Photo 2:

Comments: Front
Source: e-Bay

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Photo 3:

Comments: Top Wheel
Source: e-Bay

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Photo 4:

Comments: Badge
Source: e-Bay

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Photo 5:

Comments: Upper Guide
Source: e-Bay

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Photo 6:

Comments: Best view to identify Sidney 32
Source: Samsung Galaxy 3s

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