Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - type B patternmaker's jointer

Machinery Photo Index

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

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	24" wide X 9' long
Submitted By:	William Thomas

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	type B patternmaker's jointer
Date of Manufacturer:	ca. 1909
Serial Number:	(View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	6/12/2011 9:35:36 PM

Comments:

This jointer was the original version of the model 12 patternmakers jointer. I have a reprint of the 1906 catalogue where it is listed. Mine has the round cutterhead, which means that it was either made after Oliver adopted the round head (1909), or was retro-fitted. The only numbers on the entire machine are the numbers "135-24" stamped in the infeed table. I believe this is the serial number, possibly indicating the 135th 24 inch jointer that Oliver made. I have since spoken with other owners of type B jointers and they all have the same two numbers, with the numbers following the dash corresponding to the jointer's width. The special feature of these jointers is the infeed table (5 1/2' long!), which is mounted on curved trunions. These allow the table to tilt sideways so that the jointer can be used to plane "draft" into patterns. In other words it will bevel the face of the board as it is planed. A nice feature for patternmakers. When I got this jointer it still had the original three bearing set-up with a flat belt pulley for lineshaft drive with the two knife clamshell cutterhead. The cutterhead was in excellent condition, so I opted to keep it intact. I modified the drive by cutting the outer bearing off the cutterhead bearing casting and bolting a steel plate to the base outrigger which allowed me to connect a direct drive 5 hp motor to it.

Update, March 1, 2007:
Following a lengthy discussion on owwm.org about clamshell cutterheads and news of two recent accidents involving them, I made the descision to replace the cutterhead in this jointer. I was able to find a three knife 26" Whitney cutterhead from a babbitt bearing planer. I had it shortened and the journals turned down to the correct size to match the jointer babbitts. The head then needed to be dynamically balanced. Once that was done the "new" cutterhead was installed and is working perfectly.

Photo 1:

Comments: overall view of jointer
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 2:

Comments: Gives an idea of the massive scale
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 3:

Comments: new three knife cutterhead installed, showing how a flat was milled for balancing purposes
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 4:

Comments: cast nameplate
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 5:

Comments: calendar shot
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 6:

Comments:
Source: Bill Thomas

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