Photo Index - S. A. Woods Machine Co. - serial number 8530

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
S. A. Woods Machine Co.
Boston, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	36"
Submitted By:	Robert Bernstein

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	serial number 8530
Date of Manufacturer:	1910 ??
Serial Number:
Last Updated	4/21/2005 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

I purchased this S. A. Woods bandsaw in March, 2005 from the Theron Wolcott Construction compnay, in Middlebury, Vermont. I worked at this concern doing both rough and fine carpentry and custom millwork in 1976 and 1977: there is an existing photograph of me using this machine in one of those years, almost thirty years ago. I owned my own 36" band saw in those days.

Wolcott purchased a number of machines from the Charley Rodgers waterpowered mill in Middlebury (now the Frog Hollow State Craft Center) in about 1960. This band saw was one of them, and had probably been in that mill since prior to World War II. I was very fond of Theron, who was a unique character, an old Yankee with very modern ways, and was pleased that he kept up a friendship with me. I appreciate having the chance to have his band saw.

The saw is the same or very similar to those pictured in the S.A. Woods catalogs of 1888 and 1893 pictured on this site. I believe the guides have been changed. The lower wheel brush is as shown in the catalog cuts. All other accoutrements, including various sawdust deflectors, upper blade adjusting features and the two weights (the counterweight for the guide bar and the blade tension weight) are as pictured. This saw has the original wooden table: the machine could be ordered, according to the catalog with either this or a cast iron version. The inner table is cast iron of a distinctive shape.

Patent 373031 covers this saw (though I believe the patent drawing shows a ten spoke wheel, which the catalog cuts show on a 38" machine).

I have conservatively guessed the age of this machine at circa 1910: if anyone knows better I would be pleased to hear from them.

An attractive open framed Westinghouse 1.5 hp 3 phase motor powered this machine.

Photo 1:

Comments: Woods band saw (w/DeWalt GA in back)
Source: R. Bernstein

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Photo 2:

Comments: Woods band saw showing disntinctive inner table
Source: R. Bernstein

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Photo 3:

Comments: Woods band saw detail showing wood rim
Source: R. Bernstein

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