Photo Index - Hildreth Brothers - Double head Wood Splitter/Power Axe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Hildreth Brothers
Harvard, MA

True Manufacturer:
Hildreth Brothers, Harvard, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	42"x6" Flywheel & 16/18" Capacity with table off
Submitted By:	TFLundyB275 .

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Double head Wood Splitter/Power Axe
Date of Manufacturer:	Late 1800-early 1900
Serial Number:	Unknown
Last Updated	1/12/2017 2:05:51 PM

Comments:

After years of searching for one, bought from a nice couple at their farm in eastern Pennsylvania. He had acquired it from a man in Massachusetts. No other known history.

Appears to have the original(pine?)wood frame with old red paint in some spots, perhaps the only original frame left based on online picture searches. At the legs the wood is deteriorated some. Still has some company and patent info stenciled at top,again, perhaps the only record of it left in existence.

Capacity with the table removed is up to 18" log. With the adjustable table on, its about up to 16" log. Pulley of the splitter is 42"x6".

I built a platform for it, and built the jackshaft for it. I had to do it to both stabilize the machine and to slow its speed down. An equivalent machine from American Sawmill Machinery Co. says to run their machine (pulley of 32"x6") at 150. Running the Hildreth at what I think was 114RPM was insanely fast. Current jackshaft has it running at 50RPM with the Allis Chalmers CA running as slow as possible (400RPM at the belt). This is a very manageable speed, but a bit slower would be more efficient.

The American Sawmill catalog states a single head can split 5-10 cords a day, while a double head can do 10-20 cords a day. It is not an exaggeration! A real pleasure to use, and although appears dangerous, it is not as much as one would think. Keep hands on side of log and think safety at all times.

Since the patent info might be the only one left, I am submitting pictures of it for historical record. The Hildreth listed has a few patents listed for this machine. The last patent on this machine appears to be July 14 1885, which places it with patent 321,969. But that patent shows a double pulley on the shaft, where this machine and the later patent only has the one large one. I am assuming the company changed the design then re-patented it eventually with this machine having some of both features or simply the newest one. This at least narrows down the manufacturing date.

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Photo 2:

Comments: Patented in U.S. July _. 1878. June _. 1882. Aug. 13. 1882. July 14. 188_
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Comments: Patented in Canada April 22 1885
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Comments: Hildreth is seen.
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