Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - Oliver 125 D

Machinery Photo Index

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

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Tenoning Machine
Machine Size:	5 Heads = Big
Submitted By:	Chuck Hess

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Oliver 125 D
Date of Manufacturer:	1951.
Serial Number:	77041
Last Updated	2/25/2006 4:12:06 AM

Comments:

Oliver 125-D Tenoner w/ tilting bed, serial # 77041, 1951 vintage.

Aloha, my tenoner just arrived on 8/8/05 from Fox Valley Vocational College in Oshkosh WI. I paid for this machine on 5-24-05. You have to be patient to live in paradise. There is another one of these tenoners on Maui, in a shop that is constantly on the verge of bankruptcy and I always sort of thought that I would end up with that machine eventually. I have another mortiser & tenoner both of which is Rye (England) that does round end tenons and slot mortises. Those are great machines, and actually very high on my list of favorites, but they are sized more for furniture and cabinetry. They are limited by the Rye tenoner maximum stock width of 5 1/2". Before now we did our tenons too large for the Ryes with a table saw jig. I was scouring the internet for an Oliver shaper when I spotted this on a machinery dealers list. The price was so low, I thought that it must be a typo or the machine was trashed, or it was sold years ago and the guy never updates his list. But when I made contact the dealer told me the story; the machine is in great shape and the shop teacher loves it. His higher ups ordered him to get rid of it citing it as a liability problem because it was not as modern as everything else the shop has. The dealers role in this is that he is supplying all of the schools new tools and was just helping them move this unit quickly. I rarely have had this much info about the providence of a machine I have purchased and I enjoyed that aspect of this deal very much. I was able to talk to the shop teacher and he told me they had the machine since 1983 and it only got used about 10 hours per semester since then. Before that it was in government storage and coated with Cosmoline for a long time. This is what caused the paint chips that you see in the photos according to him. He also informed me the machine was very complete and they had updated the cope heads from the old Oliver square heads to Leitz round heads w/ corrugated back inserts. He confirmed the dealers story that he hated to see this machine go because it was well loved in his shop.
When it arrived in Maui this was sporting the finest crate of any machine I've imported yet, and they only charged me $300 for that service. The freight was $1201 to the door. There is no rust on the machine but there are paint chips like they said. Paint appears to be original gray from the factory. We set the machine in place and wired it up to 480 volts and it is ready to go. These are so awesome; even with 5 heads running it is so smooth! The 3 horizontal heads are oil bath bearings. The shop teacher put freshly sharpened blades on all heads so we are ready to rock. That was mighty nice of him. This unit has 4 original sets of tenon knives only 1 of which has been used, 5 sets of original spurs only 1 of which has been used, 4 original saw blades, only 1 of which has been used and the original copes heads w/ 1 set of cope knives. It also came with the original Oliver manual and the College's training curriculum for this machine so I can home school myself. I was able to locate an Oliver knife setting jig, which was the only thing missing, so we have that rare accessory too. I know that most of you reading this feel like I already have everything, but this is one machine that I have really waited a very long time for. When I look at this machine in my shop it feels so good because I had to wait for it patiently. I have the 1st job waiting for this one; a Honduras Mahogany 8' tall entry door and side lights, full mortise & tenon construction, for a beach front custom home. This Oliver's a beauty!
Update: I just used this for the first time to do 12 tenons in Honduras Mahogany and this is now my favorite machine already. I dont have it hooked up to the dust collection system yet and I forgot how enjoyable it is to be covered with big fluffy shavings. The top tenon head throws shavings out the top port like a woodworking volcano! What Fun!!
Aloha,
Chuck

Photo 1:

Comments: Place of honor next to my desk & in front of the lathe..
Source: My beautiful wife's camera.

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Photo 2:

Comments: Makin' shavin's fly!
Source: My beautiful wife's camera.

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Photo 3:

Comments: First set of tenons. Ye Hah!
Source: My beautiful wife's camera.

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