Photo Index - L. Power & Co. - Three-toed Jointer

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
L. Power & Co.
Philadelphia, PA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	16"
Submitted By:	Doug Westlind

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Three-toed Jointer
Date of Manufacturer:	unknown later model
Serial Number:
Last Updated	11/12/2004 10:10:16 PM

Comments:

I bought this jointer from a woman who was liquidating a shop that she aquired through a bankruptcy. She really did not know too much about the machines she had. This was listed as an Attwood 16 inch babbit bearing jointer. I knew that Attwood was probably the machinery dealer and not the manufacturer. I also knew that several companies made 3 toed jointers like this one including Moak, American, Clement, and Porter. The woman emailed lots of pictures and I was able to determine that the jointer was indeed a 16" but it was direct drive with ball bearings not babbit. I was also pretty sure it was an American Wood Working Machinery jointer. I was surprised when I found the remnants of the L. Power sticker on it. The asking price was attractive and I would brag about it, but if I did, I would also have to tell about the number of miles I put on my truck and the gallons of diesel I purchased to go pick it up which were both numerous.

The jointer has a 4" diameter by 16" long 4 knife cutterhead. The gibbs are somewhat unusual, there are 12 of them. Each knife is held in place by 3 gibbs each 5 5/16" long. The cutterhead has numbers stamped on it and each gibb is stamped correspondingly so they go in the right place. Each gibb is individually balanced. The tables are generously sized with an overall lenght of 96". The infeed table measures 48" X 22 1/2" and the outfeed table is 44" X 23" with an additional 3" rabbetting ledge. The fence is 48" X 5 1/2". The motor is a 3 hp Woods 220/440 volt 3 phase. The infeed table elevation wheel is 20" diameter and it is nice not to have to be under the table to raise or lower it like my old jointer. Overall I'm very pleased with the machine. The fit and finish of the machined parts is excellent as all the tables are nice and flat, the infeed and outfeed tables are perfectly parallel, and all the adjustments work smoothly. If anything I am a little disappointed in the cosmetic finishing. Power did not take the time to smooth out the castings and they on the rough side. I don't know when this jointer was made. There is no serial number stamped anywhere on it. I suspect it could be from the WWII era which might explain the lack of refinement to the finish, it is certainly not up to the quality of the Oliver or Powermatic machines that I've got. I'm glad they cut the corners on finish and not function. Many of todays machinery manufacturers do just the opposite.

Photo 1:

Comments: L. Power 16" Jointer, full frontal
Source: Doug Westlind

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: L. Power outfeed and fence
Source: Doug Westlind

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: L. Power knives and gibbs
Source: Doug Westlind

Direct Link
IMG Code