Photo Index - Tannewitz Works - Tannewitz type-F table saw ser# 3297

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Tannewitz Works
Grand Rapids, MI; Jenison, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Table Saw
Machine Size:	16-18"
Submitted By:	William Thomas

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Tannewitz type-F table saw ser# 3297
Date of Manufacturer:	1925-1930
Serial Number:	(View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	7/16/2009 6:19:52 PM

Comments:

I bought this table saw at a machinery auction for $125.00, and nobody there could understand why I was so excited. This is a direct drive 5 hp saw which will take up to an 18" blade. Tannewitz has been known to insiders as the maker of the most accurate table saws, and this one is no exception. Because it is direct drive there are no belts to cause vibration. The blade is mounted right on the end of the motor arbor. I put a glueline rip blade on it, and the pieces come off the saw looking as if I had hand planed them.

The reason no one else wanted the saw is because it has a tilting table. Yes, they are dangerous, but I have no intention of tilting the table. Besides, it has a tilting rip fence.

As is the case with many table saws, there is a lot of open space under the table for dust to escape from. I made a rubber gusset which is screwed to the underside of the table and the outside of the blade housing.It is made from thick butyl rubber so I'm not worried about it getting near the blade. It greatly increases the effectiveness of the dust collector.

I had to do one major repair to the saw when I got it. Like many older machines, the motor is mounted on the base casting and the table slides up or down to change the depth of cut. The bevel gears which drive the elevating mechanism were worn out and needed to be replaced.

The table, although worn, still retains around the edges the hand checkering that was originally done to make it perfectly flat. Checkering is a very expensive hand finishing process usually reserved for the manufacturing of machine tools.

Photo 1:

Comments: Tannewitz direct drive table saw
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 2:

Comments: Side view showing sawdust chute and rubber dust gusset
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 3:

Comments: Fence with tilting provision. The locating pins were missing so I made new ones. Note the checkering in the table surface.
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 4:

Comments: New dust door cast by Cattail foundry. Original borrowed from Mike Wiggins
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 5:

Comments: Table tilted to show Louis Allis 5 hp motor
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 6:

Comments: Motor tag
Source: Bill Thomas

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