Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - Four Footed Shaper

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl.
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Shaper, Wood
Machine Size:	Heavy Duty
Submitted By:	Chris Kuehn

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Four Footed Shaper
Date of Manufacturer:	1948
Serial Number:	69-204
Last Updated	6/18/2012 10:16:19 PM

Comments:

Just like list mom Keef says, these old machines seek us out, this one did just that. Here is the story of how I found this little baby, 69-204.

I had taken a few days off when my wife was induced with our second child. It was Thursday night and I was planning to bring mom and the new baby home tomorrow at noon. I was coming home to stay with our oldest daughter and thus was getting home earlier than usual. After I put my daughter to bed, I had some time and picked up the paper (something I very rarely do). I took a look at the offerings in the classifieds section and came across "Industrial Router - $95?.
It was 9:30 pm and I was contemplating calling the number, it was a local one right around my town, something told me I had to do it. I called and the owner said that someone had just been out to see it and told him it was a Shaper. The potential suitor didn?t know if he could get the "right" bits for it and decided to look to see if he could buy them before buying the unit (lucky for me). I asked if he knew the make, ?Sure, its a Delta?. ?It?s missing some thing that goes on the top? he said (I immediately thought fence, but it turned out to be the ring guard.) He went on that it was big and heavy and he needed it out of his garage so his wife could park in it. "Ill take best offer to get it out of here?. I asked if I could come tomorrow morning, he said afternoon would be better. I explained that I had to pick my wife and new baby in the afternoon (and there was a small chance the wife would let me out after that!). He said come over between 8:30 and 9:00am, before he went to bowling league. I got directions, turns out he lived about 5 miles away, UNBELIVEABLE!
That night, I couldn?t sleep very well. I kept dreaming of the four footed shaper that I had seen recently on Ebay. I woke up about 3-4 times and tried to convince myself that it was probably nothing much, it was most likely the small ½? Homeshop unit, or on a long shot, a HD duty model. There was no way would it be 4 footed. My subconscious must have known better? I woke up before my alarm with such spring in my step, even after such a restless sleep.
I got there at 8:40 and we walked out to the garage. He turned on the light and lifted the garage door? the light came streaming in and?There she was. I gasped at the four feet, and immediately saw the fence, I quickly scanned for the doors. The doors were missing, and my heart sank slightly but I said to myself no big deal, those doors are always missing. Just then he said ?here are some parts for it?. Lying neatly on the floor were two doors and a misc. jointer fence! BONUS!!! I cried to myself inside.
I proceeded to check out the unit. After some poking and proding, I pulled my straight edge out and checked the table (this peeked the guys curiosity and I will probably not do this again with someone that doesn?t know as much about machines, since I think I could have had it for less had I not looked so "knowledgeable"). We talked a bit and he mentioned that he bought it at an auction and never did end up using it.
I said ?So best offer you were saying?? He looked at me carefully (suspicious from the straight edge evaluation) I threw out $70 since he was suspicious and I could tell. He pondered this for 20 seconds and said ?Will you take it now?? I said sure. He said $75 if you leave with it.

WHOOOO WEEEEEE! Happy Days!

I contained myself and we rigged it into the back of the Cherokee and I drove home at 15 mph with the gate and the four feet hanging a few inches off the back. I called my wife at the hospital giddy like a schoolgirl. She replied that I have a new baby and its not the on I just put in the garage!
My oldest daughter came out to greet me when I came home and said OH daddy, whats that? Its BEAUTIFUL, it?s so BROWN! It was affectionately called Rust Bucket until it no longer carried the trait for which it was named.

The previous owner tried to retard the rust by painting the sheet metal base and the four feet with silver Rustoluem. He also brush painted the two doors. I restored the unit in 5 weeks to the day with a minor hold up of the motor needing a professional attention to get it to reverse. This was my favorite restoration yet. Thanks to everyone that helped me out on this, most notably Bob Vaughan with countless emails and a lengthy phone call. Stay tuned for the "Naming".

Edit: The machine specs were updated on 6/18/2012 to change the manufacture date. Based on the Delta Serial Number list, this shaper dates to 1948. The original date of this photo entry was 4/21/2003. Admin/DG

Photo 1:

Comments: Front view as bought
Source: My camcorder

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Photo 2:

Comments: Side view as bought
Source: My camcorder

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Photo 3:

Comments: Restored to proper Glory
Source:

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