Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - Model 122 facer

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Oliver Machinery Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	30" wide
Submitted By:	stephen thomas

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Model 122 facer
Date of Manufacturer:	40's
Serial Number:	(View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	5/9/2005 12:15:11 PM

Comments:

I bought this machine at Gallery of Machines "bankruptcy avoidance" auction, perhaps 8 years ago (somehwere between 6 & 10: it all runs together over the decades when you're collecting arn:^)). Gallery of Machines is a metal working machine tool rebuilder and no one at the auction new what this machine was. I had been looking for one that had a good bed and feed works, as these areas really get beat up on poorly maintained machines. What happens is, the feedworks gets dull so the operator increases pressure, so the bed starts to wear faster, the pawls or plungers (depending on age/style) get duller and start to skip, the operator(s) increase pressure, the wear accelerates and the feed rods start to bend. Now they can distort and curl down and maybe hang up on the machine or start to drag on the bed. Then if a wreck doesn't occur, everything becomes to beat to economically repair. For instance, in the 1980's, feed rods (the "axles" or "link pins" in the feedworks "chain") were about $21 each. This was actually a very fair price, but there are 55 in a facer. Next, since the problems all occur because the plungers or pawls get dull, they must be removed and sharpened. I've done a set of plungers for $3 each. There are 550 in the whole feed works, IIRC. Or, in the mid 80's, Oliver got about $7.50 each (x 550). Then the side links, there are 110 of those. I con't remember the prices, but think it was ~10. so another grand there. That's all before doing the machine shop work and rebuilding on the ways and tracks. It assumes that the bores in the carriers are ok and don't need replaced or bushed. I've seen several tables with nearly 1/4" wear, generally on a slope off to the right hand fence.

Anyway, this machine had forklift damage to the outboard table handwheel, breaking the bracket; the gibs and knives are missing, as it the motor for the feedworks. Otherwise it is pretty complete including ductwork. The critical issue is that the bed and feedworks are (ok, were) in very good shape.

People have commented on the "short" infeed table (right hand side of photo). I believe this was the conveyor option set up. Oliver offered shorter tables at either the infeed or boths ends, if they were to be installed in an active conveyor line. This has (thank goodness) the full length outfeed, and the conveyor option (short) infeed. Wear (lack of) does not seem to indicate it had been set up with a conveyor. Whne acquired, it had a laminated table clamped into the space.

The feedworks have the second style of pawls, which I have not used before. I have some experience with the earlier, Jackson-Church style straight spikes, and with the last version hollow ground plungers.

Storage in my neighbors' barn has not been kind to the machine, but it is sheltered and the space is free. I generally I would be embarassed to put a machine in this shape up on the site, but it seems to be considered rare, so here's an example. Maybe there will be a spur (or some vigilante posse :^0)) to encourage me to make space and get it together and running if not restored. Unfortunately, space really is a problem here that won't likely be addressed for at least another year.

Photo 1:

Comments: forlorn glory
Source: my camera,, neighbor's barn

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Photo 2:

Comments: shot of the feedworks pawls.
Source: my camera

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Photo 3:

Comments:
Source:

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